I Seriously Need More Ppl To Hop On Board The Enneagram Character Analysis Train, It's Lonely Out Here

i seriously need more ppl to hop on board the enneagram character analysis train, it's lonely out here

Fruits Basket Personality Types Part 1: an Introduction to the Enneagram

If you've never heard of the Enneagram, it's a personality typing system that looks at your core motivations and the childhood wounds that inform them. I love it because it's entirely internal; while it's true that people of the same type tend to have some traits in common, what's most important is that deep-seated, all-encompassing belief that drives you. In this post, I will give a brief overview of the 9 types to refer back to when I analyze the characters of Fruits Basket. I plan to analyze all the cursed Sohmas, plus Tohru, Arisa, Saki, Kazuma, Kakeru, Machi, and possibly some more minor characters (like Kimi, Megumi, Kyoko, Katsuya, and anyone else who captures my interest).

As I've been writing fanfiction, I've been using the Enneagram as a tool to better understand the characters and their motivations. When I've been stuck on how to write a character, I try to figure out their Enneagram (and sometimes their MBTI) to get a better sense of who they are, what drives them, how they think, etc... It's a wonderful tool for writers, and I highly recommend learning about it if you ever struggle to understand a character (as a writer or a reader/viewer!).

When I first learned about the Enneagram, I connected strongly with 1, 2, 4, and 7. I connected slightly with 5 and 6, and not at all with 3, 8, and 9. Can you guess my Type (and Wing) from that information? Answer is at the bottom of this post!

[Information in this post about each type comes from the following sources: EnneaApp, Enneagram Explained, The Enneagram Institute, Helping Writers Become Authors, The Narrative Enneagram, and Truity.]

Type 1: The Reformer

Wound: heavily criticized

Wounding message: It's not okay to make mistakes.

Core desire: to be right/good

Core fear: being defective, morally flawed, wrong

Defense mechanism: be above criticism

Strengths: conscientious, rational, idealistic, responsible, can improve the world for themselves and others

Challenges: resentful, rigid, overly critical, obsessive, easily frustrated when things don't live up to their very high standards

When healthy: more spontaneous, joyful, optimistic, and self-accepting (like healthy Sevens)

When unhealthy: moody, irrational, melancholy, envious, withdrawn (like unhealthy Fours)

Wings: 9 and 2

Type 2: The Giver

Wound: loved only for utility to others

Wounding message: It's not okay to have your own needs.

Core desire: to be wanted, needed, loved

Core fear: being unneeded, unloved, unlovable

Defense mechanism: gain love and approval by giving to others and becoming central in their lives

Strengths: kind, generous, nurturing, relationship-oriented, selfless, warm, can nurture and care for the world around them

Challenges: intrusive, needy, possessive, people-pleasing, manipulative, martyrish, repress personal needs and feelings

When healthy: more self-nurturing, emotionally aware, accepting of painful feelings (like healthy Fours)

When unhealthy: aggressive, controlling, argumentative, blunt, demanding (like unhealthy Eights)

Wings: 1 and 3

Type 3: The Achiever

Wound: rewarded only for achievements

Wounding message: It's not okay to have your own feelings and identity.

Core desire: to be loved for who they are, to be valuable and worthwhile

Core fear: being worthless, insignificant; failure

Defense mechanism: strive for success and to distinguish themselves to gain admiration

Strengths: productive, adaptable, successful, pragmatic, driven, bear witness to the intrinsic value in themselves and others

Challenges: vain, overworked, inauthentic, impatient, competitive, emotionally out-of-touch, reliant on validation

When healthy: more committed to others, aware of feelings, authentic (like healthy Sixes)

When unhealthy: complacent, withdrawn, disengaged, apathetic (like unhealthy Nines)

Wings: 2 and 4

Type 4: The Individualist

Wound: abandoned

Wounding message: It's not okay to be too functional or happy.

Core desire: to be seen and loved for who they are

Core fear: having no personal identity or significance, being flawed and missing out on some basic aspect of happiness that other people have access to

Defense mechanism: amplify what is different and special about themselves, search for niche where they can be appreciated

Strengths: sensitive, introspective, expressive, idealistic, deeply-feeling, creative, compassionate, can release the past and live fully in the present

Challenges: dramatic, moody, self-absorbed, withdrawn, over-sensitive, envious, stubborn, depressed

When healthy: more objective, principled, disciplined (like healthy Ones)

When unhealthy: over-involved, clingy, jealous, testing of relationships (like unhealthy Twos)

Wings: 3 and 5

Type 5: The Investigator

Wound: lack of affection

Wounding message: It's not okay to be comfortable in the world.

Core desire: to have needs met, to be competent and understand their environment

Core fear: being overwhelmed by their own needs and those of others

Defense mechanism: withdraw from relationships and emotions, focusing on gathering information as an escape from the demands of the world

Strengths: perceptive, thoughtful, dependable, calm in crisis, objective, curious, independent, can observe themselves and others without judgment or expectations

Challenges: detached, isolated, withholding, arrogant, cynical, critical of others, secretive, nihilistic

When healthy: more assertive, self-confident, decisive (like healthy Eights)

When unhealthy: dissatisfied, indulgent, distracted, hyperactive, scattered (like unhealthy Sevens)

Wings: 4 and 6

Type 6: The Loyalist

Wound: unpredictable, unsafe environment

Wounding Message: It's not okay to trust yourself.

Core desire: to be safe, secure, supported by others

Core fear: being unprepared and unable to defend themselves from danger, being without support and guidance

Defense mechanism: prepare for every possible turn of events, seek support and reassurance from others, project emotions onto others

Strengths: perceptive, sensitive, loyal, engaging, witty, courageous, prepared, responsible, trouble-shooters, true courage and capability when standing up to life's challenges

Challenges: anxious, hyper-vigilant, pessimistic, contrary, paranoid, self-doubting, rigid, unpredictable, suspicious

When healthy: more relaxed, calm, less anxious, optimistic (like healthy Nines)

When unhealthy: afraid of failure, keep busy to distract themselves, competitive, arrogant (like unhealthy Threes)

Wings: 5 and 7

Type 7: The Enthusiast

Wound: deprived of nurturing

Wounding message: It's not okay to depend on anyone for anything.

Core desire: to be satisfied, to maintain freedom and happiness

Core fear: being deprived or experiencing pain

Defense mechanism: constantly seek out fun, exciting, and novel experiences; rationalize feelings to avoid pain

Strengths: adventurous, playful, imaginative, energetic, optimistic, quick-thinking, spontaneous, share joyful celebration of existence with those around them

Challenges: hedonistic, self-absorbed, unrealistic, uncommitted, impatient, unfocused, superficial, restless, impulsive, rebellious, escapist

When healthy: more focused, restrained, okay with painful things, fascinated by life (like healthy Fives)

When unhealthy: rigid, critical, pessimistic, angry, perfectionistic (like unhealthy Ones)

Wings: 6 and 8

Type 8: The Challenger

Wound: lack of safety

Wounding message: It's not okay to be vulnerable or trust anyone.

Core desire: to have people who are loyal to them, to be independent and protect themselves

Core fear: being vulnerable, powerless, controlled, or harmed

Defense mechanism: be strong and in control

Strengths: principled, courageous, determined, generous, loyal, resilient, direct, confident, resourceful, stand up for those weaker than them

Challenges: lustful, afraid of vulnerability, confrontational, insensitive, manipulative, possessive, rebellious

When healthy: compassionate, open-hearted, caring (like healthy Twos)

When unhealthy: detached, cynical, secretive, fearful (like unhealthy Fives)

Wings: 7 and 9

Type 9: The Peacemaker

Wound: overlooked or neglected

Wounding message: It's not okay to assert yourself.

Core desire: to avoid unpleasant emotions, to preserve things as they are, to matter

Core fear: separation, disconnection, loss

Defense mechanism: submit to the desires of others to be included, avoid internal and external conflict, "numb out" to avoid going too deep

Strengths: calm, excellent mediators, caring, non-judgmental, amiable, optimistic, good listeners, easy-going, reassuring, trusting, stable, bring healing to the world around them

Challenges: stubborn, ambivalent, forgetful, conflict-avoidant, indecisive, passive-aggressive, insecure, resigned, self-effacing, complacent

When healthy: assertive, present, energetic, self-developing (like healthy Threes)

When unhealthy: anxious, self-doubting, suspicious, worried (like unhealthy Sixes)

Wings: 8 and 1

Even as I was putting together this guide, my opinions on the Enneagrams of some characters changed. Who did you recognize? Who still has you stumped?

Did you figure out my type? I'm a 1 with a 2 wing. I connected to those two as well as 4 and 7, which corresponds to where Ones go when we're healthy or unhealthy.

Fruits Basket Personality Types: MBTI | Tohru | Akito | Kyo | Yuki | Haru | Kisa | Momiji | Hatori | Ayame | Rin | Hiro | Ritsu | Kureno | Shigure | Kagura | Kazuma | Saki | Arisa | Machi | Kakeru | The Hondas | Kaibara Students