7/8/22, 6:58 PM Type 8 - Enneagram

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Type 8
The leader, the challenger

Tommy Shelby (Peaky Blinders)

Michael Corleone (The Godfather)

Katherine Pierce (Vampire Diaries)

Overview

8s are confident, forward, resourceful and competent, motivated by the need to be independent and
have control over their lives. They are audacious and intense, action bound and love taking on a
challenge, having initiative and making things move forward. They are more interested by being
respected than being loved, and are thus able to get what they want in spite of criticism and opposition.
They often have a personal code of honour, and a sharp sense of justice which pushes them to act when
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7/8/22, 6:58 PM Type 8 - Enneagram

they perceive injustice. 8s are natural leaders who often need to have control over their own
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surroundings and want to have a big impact on the world.

Avoidance compulsion

8s search at all costs, and sometimes subconsciously, to avoid weakness. They do everything they can
to avoid being weak, feeble, vulnerable, depend on others, unfair (or restrictive) rules and being
controlled or manipulated.

Center of attention and motivation

8’s attention is mainly focused around questions of power: who has it and especially - “is it being used
fairly?”. They often summarise things and are more interested in the whole picture rather than the details,
which they will look at if they feel the need to.

They are autonomous and are motivated to develop their independence to become their own authority.
They are also motivated by contributing to have an impact on the world. They do not need to be loved
but they need to be respected. They need a sense of fairness and equality in their relationships with
others.

Vice and defense mechanism

When they are in the grips of their compulsion (avoiding weakness), their ego makes them excessive and
can push them to extremes. They are quick to respond and can react excessively, answering in a strong
way to what triggered their compulsion. They tend to push things to the maximum, make too much of it,
become too intense and not want to limit themselves.
They may have too much faith in their own justice
and truth. Their defense mechanism is denial: They can deny or repress (often unconsciously) the
vulnerabilities, weaknesses or more tender feelings they may have, especially when they are in the
action.

In harmony

When they are at peace with themselves and manage their compulsion, 8s are confident, brave, fair,
responsible, clear, stern, protective, keen for action and can make good leaders.

They are at ease when others are loyal, innocent and sincere, and when they are the only ones to have
control. Then, they lean towards their integration type (type 2) and the latter’s positive traits are
incorporated into their behaviour. This way, they become more affectionate, generous and humble.

In imbalance

In the grips of their compulsion, 8s can become intimidating, impulsive, dictatorial, irritable, lecherous,
aggressive and merciless.
If the situation doesn’t improve, they lean towards their disintegration type (type 5) and the latter’s
negative traits are incorporated into their behaviour. They can thus have more paranoid thoughts and
become more distant and withdrawn for a certain period of time.

Wings
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7/8/22, 6:58 PM Type 8 - Enneagram

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Type 8’s neighbouring types are 7 and 9. The “wing” is the neighbouring type that appears to have the
most influence on the base type.

8w7s are more energetic, audacious and entrepreneurial but can also be more impulsive and prone to
addiction.

8w9s are calmer, more receptive and stable, but can also be obstinate and indifferent.

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