Table Of ContentThe Enneagram for Teens
Discover Your Personality Type
and Celebrate Your True Self
by
Elizabeth Wagele
PLI Media
Copyright ©2014 by Elizabeth Wagele
All rights reserved.
Published in the United States by PLI Media
PLIMedia.com
The Enneagram for Teens
Discover Your Personality Type and Celebrate Your True Self
ISBN: 978-0-9831995-1-9
Cover design and illustrations by Elizabeth Wagele
Interior design by Red Letter Day Graphic Design
First Edition
Table of Contents
Preface
Chapter 1: Enneagram Type 1 – The Perfectionist
Chapter 2: Enneagram Type 2 – The Helper
Chapter 3: Enneagram Type 3 – The Achiever
Chapter 4: Enneagram Type 4 – The Romantic
Chapter 5: Enneagram Type 5 – The Observer
Chapter 6: Enneagram Type 6 – The Questioner
Chapter 7: Enneagram Type 7 – The Adventurer
Chapter 8: Enneagram Type 8 – The Asserter
Chapter 9: Enneagram Type 9 – The Peace Seeker
Chapter 10: Developing Leadership Using the Enneagram
Appendix I – Drawing Exercise for Hope and Healing
Appendix II – Resources for Adolescents
Preface
The Enneagram for Teens introduces you to the nine types of people described
by the Enneagram system of personality. Here’s an opportunity to discover your
own personality type and learn more about your family, your friends, your
teachers, and yourself. Adults in many parts of the world already use the
Enneagram for help with personal growth, relationships, work, and more.
In adolescence, it’s common to bounce between opposites:
The young always have the same problem—how to rebel and conform at the
same time. —Quentin Crisp
I wish I’d had the Enneagram for understanding myself and members of my
family when I was a teen. I would sometimes feel angry with my mother for
making me do chores, though I later appreciated her teaching me how
contributing to the family is an act of love. I would sometimes feel angry with
my father for his criticism of my schoolwork, though the skills he taught me
helped me succeed in high school and college. I wish I had understood then what
motivated me and my parents, and that it is normal to bounce from loving one’s
parents to being angry with them. I now know it’s normal to feel both loving and
angry at the same time.
I hope you feel loved and safe in this time of your life between childhood and
adulthood. Many adolescents have not been treated well, however, and live
under difficult conditions. Depending on your situation, you may:
feel a pull to stay closely connected to your parents and their way of life
want to prove to the world and yourself you are self-sufficient
simply want to avoid pain and feel good
At an age where you may be experiencing many contradictions, the Enneagram
will help you find out who you are and teach you how to relate well with others.
Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who you are. —Chinese
proverb
The Enneagram
The nine-point shape stands for the Enneagram system. “Ennea” is Greek for the
number 9; “gram” means a drawing. Enneagram, pronounced A’ny a gram,
means a drawing with nine points.
The Enneagram gives you tools to see how your strengths are different from
those of your friends and your parents so you can live positively. Are you a
gentle Peace Keeper in a family that values being tough and powerful? Are you a
poet or musician whom your family doesn’t understand, or so tough many don’t
approve of you? The Enneagram teaches acceptance of those different from us. It
has been used to help Israeli and Palestinian youth get along. It has helped
children and adults of different races focus on their real differences instead of the
color of their skin. It will help you honor what’s important to you and learn to
express what you want and need.
What is your type?
Answering the questions below will help start the process of deciding what type
you are. If you know your type right away, check just one “yes.” If you can’t
decide, check the two or three most likely “yes” options and narrow it down to
one after you read all the chapters. Each number matches one of the personalities
on the Enneagram circle.
1 – The Perfectionist
Are you orderly and conscientious, and do you tend to follow rules?
Yes __ No__
Perfectionists want to live life the right way, improve themselves and others, and
avoid anger.
2 – The Helper
Do you like to have many friends and help others feel happy?
Yes__ No__
Helpers want to be appreciated and to express their positive feelings toward
others.
3 – The Achiever
Do you like to work hard and set ambitious goals for yourself?
Yes__ No__
Achievers want to be productive, to succeed, and to avoid failure.
4 – The Romantic
Do you appreciate beauty and think about the meaning of life?
Yes__ No__
Romantics want to understand their feelings, to be understood, and to avoid
being ordinary.
5 – The Observer
Do you try to learn as much information as you can about the world?
Yes__ No__
Observers often like to be alone, to be self-sufficient, and to avoid looking
foolish.
6 – The Questioner
Do you try to stay safe and/or make sure you can handle whatever situation
comes up?
Yes__ No__
Questioners want to receive approval and to feel taken care of. Some do this by
being assertive or rebellious.
7 – The Adventurer
Do you make sure you have options and plans for keeping yourself entertained
so you won’t run out of fun and interesting things to do?
Yes__ No__
Adventurers want to be happy, keep busy, and avoid pain and suffering.
8 – The Asserter
Do you often end up in charge and make sure others don’t try to control you?
Yes__ No__
Asserters want to be self-reliant and strong, to make an impact on the world, and
to avoid being weak.
9 – The Peace Seeker
Do you like to keep things calm and do you dislike conflict?
Yes__ No__
Peace Seekers want to connect with others and to avoid conflict.
What Each Type Wants
You’ll learn more about your and others’ personalities in the nine type-chapters
from:
quizzes based on comments by other adolescents
biographies written by adolescents and former adolescents
the seven goals for adolescents
You and others of your type will discover ways to strengthen each other. The
other eight types will model refreshing new ways to behave. For example, I’m a
5-Observer. When I first learned the Enneagram, my 2-Helper friend had certain
social skills I was weak in. Now, many years later we’ve moved apart, yet I still
use her as a model for doing things well that don’t come naturally to me.
Learning the Enneagram will sharpen your ability to observe. Mary tried not to
be overly helpful to her boyfriend when she realized she was a Helper type and
he was an Observer type. He doesn’t like to be given advice unless he asks for it.
Though you are mainly one type, you’ll see how the nine Enneagram
personalities also exist within you. Teachers, parents, employers, employees,
neighbors, couples, children, and adolescents all benefit from learning the
Enneagram.
Real generosity toward the future lies in giving all to the present. —Albert
Camus
Seven Goals for Adolescents
Psychologist Eric Erikson said, “The goal of adolescence is the establishment of
a clear and stable sense of self.” In each chapter you will be reminded about
these seven goals to help you develop habits for living as gratifying a life as
possible—now and in the future. The goals are:
1. To develop good work habits.
That which we persist in doing becomes easier—not that the nature of the task
has changed, but our ability to do has increased. —Ralph Waldo Emerson
2. To be mindful of your body.
Learning to be responsible begins here. The next step is to take responsibility for
the health of the Earth and the environment.
Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do. —John Wooden,
outstanding basketball coach
3. To be mindful of your social life.
One of the most important personality differences between people is whether
you are an introvert or an extravert. Introverts are concerned with their inner
world and are likely to have two or three good friends. Extraverts are more
concerned with the external world of people and events and are likely to have
dozens of friends.
