There are several typology groups I follow on Facebook, including two or three about Enneagram. One of these, Progressive Enneagram administered by Paul Meeter, periodically offers a rather different type of Enneagram testing. This test takes places over the period of four weeks, with interim results reported at the end of weeks one through three and final results at the end of the fourth. I was able to sign up and participate in the Winter 2023 Test. Six days a week I would eagerly anticipate answering sets of questions related to Enneagram types and instincts, rating each from 0 (absolutely not) to 10 (absolutely) like me–based on the parts of the statements with which I resonated least.
Type
In some respects, the test confirmed what I already knew about my primary type and instinct. I am definitely a 1 SX, and that’s how my results turned out on this test. On the other hand, there were some surprises. At one point during testing, I even had a 3 fix, which I have never had on any previous test. In the final results my second and third fixes ending up switching places from those on my latest testing with Katherine Fauvre. The wing on my lead fix also was a surprise. According to this test, I am 1w9 5w4 4w5.
Instincts
Although I remain an SX, on this test SP came in a close second, whereas this is almost always my least prominent instinct. It seemed to me that the statements testing the three instincts were somewhat different than the descriptions with which I had previously been familiar. Paul Meeter suggested that my introversion may also be a factor that influenced my higher score for SP on this test.
Reactions
I really enjoyed this testing experience. Taking the test over a period of time would, I believe, lessen the impact of transient emotions that could influence the results. I was happy to receive a detailed analysis of all my interim and final results, and their interpretation under various systems. It will take some time to digest all the findings. At this point, I still believe that I am probably a 146, as Katherine indicated, but with 5 wings on both 4 and 6, the 5 influence would be pretty strong. I don’t know what to make of the 9 wing on my 1. That will take some heavy-duty investigating on my part.
As a member of the Attitudinal Psyche group on FaceBook, I immediately spotted a post by the group’s founder and administrator, Rob Zeke Collopy. In it he offered to give a free typing analysis for anyone who responded by the deadline, providing a video in which he/she answered a set of questions he provided. Naturally I had to participate. I got a copy of the questions and wrote out my answers. Then I created a video of myself answering the questions, uploaded it to YouTube, and provided Rob with the link.
A number of people responded to this offer; there were so many that Rob had to move up the deadline. Eagerly I waited for my turn to come, and finally it did.
An Analysis Both Expected and Surprising
My Reactions to the Typing
I first want to express my deep appreciation for the opportunity to have Rob analyze my video to identify my AP and Enneagram types. I was very impressed with his insight and the relaxed, friendly demeanor he exhibits as he provides commentary. The overlay which shows the emergence of different elements of the typing is helpful, too.
I should mention as well that Rob has typed me before, with both an online live interview and his AP-QAI test based on my written answers to several questions. I have also taken several versions of his online tests available on the AP website. As a result, some of his findings in this recent typing video were not surprising: my 1L-1 and 3V-1 have been consistent across the various tests. What was new to me was the idea that accentuated types can access all of the various subtypes for that element to some degree. That makes a lot of sense to me. It also helps me understand how Rob typed me as 4F-4. The AP-QAI had me as 4F-1 and recent online tests typed me as both 4F-1 and 4F-2. Even in my video I can see the truth of the statement that 4F-4 types “can fall into patterns of carelessness about the physical world” (disgust with dusting) and are “strongly secure in what they have and how they currently feel physically.”
What was a surprise was that I turned out to be a 2E-3. In the AP-QAI and online tests, I was pretty consistently a 2E-2 (and possibly once a 2E-1), so this was a change. I can see the “strongly opinionated,…usually artistic” character of the 2E-1 in myself, as well as the person who “discusses learned lessons of life and how their relationships have affected them”; other elements of this subtype I don’t see as much of in myself. As for the 2E-2, I can see myself as able to “withstand nonstop emotional pressure and anger,” but not as “most talkative…and emotionally open.” I am usually able to “notice emotional manipulation with ease,” but not always. Sometimes it takes a bit of time. I am still considering how well the 2E-3 fits me and will contemplate that for a while. In view of previous testing, I am tempted to conclude that I am a 2E-2, who is able to access more than one E subtype.
The Enneagram analysis was also very insightful and accurate. The one surprise was how little of the 5 showed up in my video. I have taken two recent Enneagram tests online. The most recent one was through a Facebook group over a period of about a month; in that one I turned out to be 1w9 5w4 4w5 sx/sp. The other was Katherine Fauvre’s test, followed by an online interview with her to analyze the results. Although that test came out 145 sx, Katherine identified my type as 146 sx, based on a 7 card in my Enneaspread. It is interesting that Rob found some 7 in my answers. The 1 lead type was no surprise, nor was the 2 wing attached; these are typical for me in previous tests. I would assume, based on Rob’s analysis, that my 4 has a 5 wing, since there was no 3 at all. I will have to contemplate, however, whether the 7 he found is my 6 wing or an indication of a healthy 1 moving to 7.
The instincts results are unique to this typing, since Rob does not use the standard sp/sp/sx categories. The new categories originated with a friend of Rob, and Rob fleshed them out with subtypes. These categories are:
Self-Survival (SS)
Security (SY)
Fortitude (FD)
Self-Management (SM)
Interpersonal (INT)
Community (CY)
Sex (SX)
Bonding (BG)
Purpose (PUR)
Existentialism (EX)
Self-Significance (SS)
The Unknown (UN)
I approve of the new set of categories and feel that Rob was accurate in determining mine as Self Significance, then Bonding, and finally Self-Management. I also note that my scores for Existentialism and Community were higher than my Self-Management score. I was surprised that none of the interview questions really drew out my deep longing for intimacy of ALL types with a partner (soulmate?). I don’t know whether that would have influenced the results, had such a question been included.
After participating in a Facebook group in which participants tried to assist with revisions to the test, I decided that I had to take the test when it was offered again this summer. As usual, I enjoyed the testing experience.
Insights Gained
While I expected to see my 1 show up as my primary fix, the degree of consistency in these results as compared to the previous (Winter 2023) test surprised me. My initial (Week 1) result was 146, which is how I have been typed by Katherine Fauvre.
Although the results of weeks 2 and 3 evidenced some differences, the final result was the almost the same as last time’s (1w_ 5w4 4w5). One difference was that my 9 wing on 1 was no longer present. A 9 wing on my main fix surprised me last time, because I usually test with a 2 wing; however, as 9 and 2 seem to be defined/described in this test, I believe the “no wing” is more accurate.
I cannot explain how the 5 fix ends up in second place on this test, when it is usually the 4. The consistent, relatively strong showing of sp as my second instinct, when I usually test as sx/so, is puzzling to me. Paul explained that introversion can cause sp to score higher than it might otherwise, so perhaps that is the reason.
Another surprise is the really low scores for 7. It was the appearance of a 7 card in my “Analogous Enneaspread” on the Fauvre test that led Katherine to conclude that my third fix was 6 (because I swing between 5 and 7).
Comparison with Previous Test Results
When my results vary from one test to the next, I always wonder what the differences are and why they occur. I compared the results of this summer test with the one I took last winter, and created a chart to show the similarities and differences. Click here to see the chart.
Satisfaction with the Experience
I am satisfied with this testing experience (and will do it again next time if possible). This test provides additional insights, as well as raising some questions about my heart and head fixes. I am still trying to figure out why 5 shows up so strongly here. Perhaps it was because both my 4 and 6 have a 5 wing, but I am still not confident about this conclusion.
Improvements Suggested
I am not sure whether further alterations on the questions would make much of a difference. They certainly didn’t for me, at least at the end of the test. I do wonder about the suggestion someone made about including pictures in the test. Fauvre’s enneacards do this, but they also contain words and short phrases representative of each type or instinct. Her test does not ask the test-taker to tell how strongly each card is like him/her, however, but rather has him/her sorting cards in order of preference.
Likes and Dislikes
I like taking the test over a period of time. It seems to allow more for different moods, etc., on the test-taker’s part. I know I looked forward to answering the questions each day and seeing the weekly results each Saturday.
I am not sure I have a “least favorite” part. If I had to choose anything, I would identify waiting for those results each Saturday.
