Everything you should know about the Enneagram Help you understand and learn more about what motivates your behavior. The ways in which you interact & relate to others Enhances self-awareness What Are Enneagrams? The Enneagram system uses different personality types to help people better understand themselves and what motivates them. The exact origins of the Enneagram system are a bit murky, but researchers note that its roots trace back to South American philosopher Oscar Ichazo in the mid-20th century. Research in the American Journal of Psychiatry defines the Enneagram as “a personality theory describing nine strategies by which the psyche develops a worldview and relates to self and others. The system has been used by psychiatrists since the 1970s, according to researchers, who note that the theory proposes that by adulthood, individuals have developed a predominant personality strategy to cope with the external environment” The Enneagram system has a personality type for everyone, which Ian Morgan Cron, a psychotherapist, Enneagram teacher, bestselling author of The Road Back To You and podcast host, explains as something “we gravitate toward and adopt in childhood as a way to cope, protect ourselves and navigate the new world of relationships in which we find ourselves.” Cron says that each type has “a core motivation” that influences the way someone acts, thinks and feels on a daily basis. “The Enneagram provides a framework for how we can begin to live into the highest expression of ourselves,” he says. “It’s a powerful system for personal growth and a great resource for transforming our relationships in every sphere of life.” A review of 104 independent studies found Enneagrams have mixed evidence of reliability and validity[2]. With that said, the review also noted that some studies have shown that Enneagrams can be helpful for both personal and spiritual growth. NOTE: Not everything in the description of your basic type will apply to you all the time because you fluctuate constantly among the healthy, average, and unhealthy traits that make up your personality type.