We took an Enneagram Test so you don’t have to… (Talkin’ Truth Ep. 5)
(Show Notes)
Are Enneagram tests valid and should you bother taking them?
Enneagram tests remain popular, yet many Enneagram teachers and coaches don’t recommend them. Many tests that were once free, now charge a fee for results, so it’s time to more critically assess what, if any, role they can play in the Enneagram journey.
In this episode Brett and I go through one of the most popular Enneagram tests, scrutinizing each question to assess the reliability and validity of the test.
This episode also provides insights in common Enneagram mistypings as each question we disagree on sparks a dialogue about the similarities and crucial differences amongst Enneagram types that are frequently misidentified with one another.
Regardless of a test’s validity, we conclude by discussing why you shouldn’t rely on tests (or perhaps even take them at all), and outline a better approach to figuring out your type and transforming through the Enneagram.
Enneagram Test that we assessed: https://enneagram-personality.com/en
1) Episode Introduction and Goals
“At least if we can agree that the questions point to a specific type, then there’s there’s some measure of validity to this test”
2: Testing the Enneagram Test / Critiquing Questions
“You could make the case for several types…it’s a bad question”
00:10:47 – Start taking the Enneagram Test
00:12:35 – Debate 1 (4,5,9) lose self in dreams and fantasies
00:15:50 – Debate 2 (4 vs 9 listening and patience
00:18:24 – Debate 3 (1 vs 6) detect errors to the last detail
00:19:58 – Debate 4 (A 9 question?)
00:21:08 – Debate 5 (1 vs 6) planning vs improvising
00:23:15 – Debate 6 (5 vs 9) quieter than most
00:24:57 – Critiquing shallow Enneagram Type 2 Questions
00:26:27 – Debate 7 (4 vs 9) merging
00:27:37 – Debate 8 (8 vs 1) personal code of honor
00:29:10 – Tommy Shelby, (Peaky Blinders) Enneagram 8 tangent 0
0:30:38 – Debate 9 (2 vs 3) please and seduce others
00:32:06 – Debate 10 (7 vs 9) enjoy most things in life
00:33:08 – Yet another type of person Brett doesn’t like (Image Conscious Hippies and Life Coaches)
00:35:05 – Debate 11 (3?) personable, adapt to new people
00:36:14 – Debate 12 (3 vs 7) seeing the positive
00:38:08 – Debate 13 (1 vs 5) regulate emotions and impulses
00:40:00 – Debate 14 (6 vs 8) confront others to bring out the truths
00:42:11 – Debate 15 (4,5,9) I need a lot of alone time to unwind
00:42:56 – Debate 16 (8 vs counterphobic 6) loyalty and vengeance
3: The Results Are In
At the end of the day, you’ve got people who don’t really understand the system, but they just know “I don’t want to be my type anymore”…that’s one of the problems with tests
00:44:06 – Test Background and Type Distributions (most common/rare Enneagram types)
00:45:56 – The problem with taking the test if you’re already familiar with the Enneagram
00:47:10 – How many questions we had issues with
00:47:53 – The anatomy of a bad test question
00:48:58 – Why you shouldn’t bother with Enneagram tests even if they are “valid”
00:50:16 – Self-Absorbed Personality Test Culture
00:53:31 – Identifying with your type vs using the Enneagram to break patterns of identification
00:56:31 – Self-awareness and test taker honesty
00:57:54 – The problem with “figuring out your type” via a test
00:59:23 – Enneagram types vs Astrology signs
01:00:46 – Denial, not liking your Type
01:05:43 – Struggle and Confusion is an important part of figuring out your type
01:08:14 – Introspection and Improvisation / learning the “right”, transformative way