The Individualist Back to Enneagram
Type Four
The Sensitive, Intuitive and Expressive Person
AKA: The Artist, The Individualist, The Sensitive One
Typically: Fours are sensitive, intuitive, creative, and able to deeply feel and express their emotions. They value originality, elegance, refinement, and emotional sensitivity. They relate with authenticity and empathy and are good at listening to and understanding the challenges and problems of others. Fours see possibilities in ordinary activities and approach tasks with originality.
When stressed: Fours withdraw and become pessimistic, doubtful of their abilities, and disappointed with their own life experiences. They can become depressed and overly focused on their dark feelings and fantasies. They can be impractical, hypersensitive, and melancholic dreamers. Oversensitive and easily hurt, Fours can be overindulgent and wallow in self-pity.
Point of View: "It is important to me to be creative and express my individuality."
Examples: Michael Jackson, J.D. Salinger, Joe DiMaggio, Dennis Rodman, Judy Garland, Johhny Depp, Jackie Onassis, Prince.
Focus on: What has been left out or taken away.
Important Issues: Refinement, creativity, nurturance, poor self image, envy, lack of productivity.
Approach to Problem Solving: "I fell this problem more acutely than other people."
What They Like in Others: Refinement, sensitivity, creativity.
What They Dislike in Others: Coarseness, conformity, superficiality.
How They Frustrate Others: Moodiness, withdrawing, self-absorption.
Chief Asset to Team: Originality. Fours have a heightened ability to see the uniqueness and specialness in themselves and others. They are great creators and appreciators of beauty and originality.
Core Struggle: Fours feel a profound sense of disconnection from both themselves and others. They feel a sense of loss and abandonment that they try to make up for by searching for their own identity and originality.
Unconscious Contradiction: Fours feel compelled to explore their own specialness and "flaws," but become resentful when others point out any shortcomings. They can’t resist exploring the darkness or sorrow in their lives, but are angry that they don’t see a silver lining.
Coping Strategy: Introjection. Fours find a sense of comfort in their sorrow, so they introject all the negativity they see around them, providing themselves with a constant source of soothing discomfort.
Vice: Envy, which manifests itself in jealousy of others’ seeming lack of flaws.
The Lie Fours Tell Themselves—"I’ll never get what I truly want, but I must not stop hoping that someone or something will rescue me."
Counterproductive Trap—Authenticity. Fours set themselves up for frustration by insisting that everything they experience is authentic or "just so."
Area of Avoidance—Despair (Lost)/Simple Sadness. Fours avoid both the enormity of the impact of their sense of disconnection and the simple sadness that we all feel at times, which would only serve to make them feel ordinary.
Anti-Self Behavior—Self-controlling. Fours fear the shame they may feel if others get to know "the real me." They therefore limit access by withdrawing and isolating themselves.
Potential Strengths as Leaders: Encourage quality performance and self-development; have long-term vision.
Potential Weaknesses as Leaders: Can be self-obsessed; withdrawn; melancholic; and moody.
