Enneagram Character Development
The Enneagram personality architecture is a system of nine personality types that explains patterns and motivations in how different people manage their lives and emotions and how they understand the world around them.
This system is not only incredibly beneficial in self discovery as just an independent human being, but it is incredibly valuable as we begin to build out complex, unique character arcs.
Considering the Enneagram types for your characters, especially your MC, will give you a unique perspective in character motivation and authentic behavior representations.
The Enneagram is separated into three “centers,” with three Enneagram personalities falling into each: Body Center, Heart Center, and Head Center.
The Body Center
8, 9, and 1
Characters falling into the body center types have
incredible physical intelligence
and, when healthy, they successfully rely on their instincts.
The Challenger
Natural leaders who are driven to protect others
Challengers’ motivations point toward having an impact, protecting themselves from outside control, achieving self-reliance, and avoiding appearing weak or vulnerable.
Think: Jeanne Matthews (Divergent). Alastor Moody (Harry Potter). President Snow (The Hunger Games).
At their best, Challengers are confident and inspiring. They empower others and show empathy.
At their worst, Challengers are controlling, vengeful, and overly passionate and intense.
Consider diving deeper into the ethos of the Challenger if you have a character who is really driven to make a change in the face adversity without sacrificing their appearance of strength.
The Peacemaker
Harmonizers who display generosity and steadiness.
Peacemakers’ motivations point toward achieving stability, peace, and harmony. They are driven to feel loved and important.
Think: Lara Jean Covey (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before). Remus Lupin (Harry Potter). Primrose Everdeen (The Hunger Games).
At their best, Peacemakers are very diplomatic, accepting, caring, open-minded, and patient.
At their worst, Peacemakers are anxious, suspicious of others, and exhibit and unhealthy avoidance of confrontation.
Consider diving deeper into the ethos of the Peacemaker if you have a character who is driven to prove they are worthy of love and acceptance because of some type of trauma in their past or early life.
The Reformer
Ethical and Principled leaders who believe in justice
Reformers’ motivations are pointed toward achieving a just and true existence and fairness and creating a better world and society.
Think: Caleb Prior (Divergent). Hermione Granger (Harry Potter). Gale Hawthorne (The Hunger Games).
At their best, Reformers are organized, bestow wisdom naturally, and exhibit a high level of integrity and diligence.
At their worst, Reformers are critical, have unattainable standards, and project perfectionism and resentment.
Consider diving deeper into the ethos of the Reformer if you have a character who soaks up knowledge quickly but struggles to communicate and relate fully with those around them because of their heightened mental capabilities.
The Heart Center
2, 3, and 4
Characters falling into the heart center types have
deep connections to their feelings.
These characters value connections and relationships and are very concerned with image.
The Helper
Generous and warm friend who is incredibly adaptable and compassionate.
Helpers’ motivations are pointed toward feeling wanted, loved, and needed.
Think: Hagrid (Harry Potter). Peeta Mellark (The Hunger Games). Alice Cullen (Twilight).
At their best, Helpers are thoughtful, helpful, pragmatic, nurturing, selfless, and genuine.
At their worst, Helpers are needy, passive aggressive, and overbearing.
Consider diving deeper into the ethos of the Helper if you have a character who feels it is their responsibility to solve other people’s problems, even if it approaches unhealthiness or danger for themselves.
The Achiever
Ambitious and driven motivator.
Achievers’ motivations are pointed toward feeling valuable to the causes and others around them.
Think: Draco Malfoy (Harry Potter). Emmett Cullen (Twilight). Caesar Flickerman (The Hunger Games).
At their best, Achievers are self-sustaining, incredibly energetic and motivating, leaders, optimistic, and productive.
At their worst, Achievers are condescending, pretentious, competitive, narrowly focused, and selfish.
Consider diving deeper into the ethos of the Achiever if you have a character who appears to be incredibly focused on accomplishment and performance, but they perhaps aren’t sure why they care so much about them.
The Individualist
Intuitive and sensitive individuals who have high emotional intelligence.
Individualists’ motivations are pointed toward feeling significant and unique.
Think: Edward Cullen (Twilight). Liesel Meminger (The Book Thief). Luna Lovegood (Harry Potter).
At their best, Individualists are incredibly empathetic, creative, and thoughtful.
At their worst, Individualists are moody, withdrawn, self-absorbed, and melancholy.
Consider diving deeper into the ethos of the Individualist if you have a character who can be incredibly emotional (and at times misunderstood) but who also seems to be incredibly adept at communicating thoughts and feelings for other people and themselves.
The Head Center
5, 6, and 7
Characters falling into the head center types have
strong foundations in logic and thought processing.
These characters value a centered mind and focused thoughts.
The Investigator
Observant analysts who are introspective and curious.
Investigators’ motivations are pointed toward appearing capable and confident.
Think: Arthur Weasley (Harry Potter). Klaus Baudelaire (A Series of Unfortunate Events). Haymitch Abernathy (The Hunger Games).
At their best, Investigators are very perceptive and thoughtful, self-motivated, independent, and resilient.
At their worst, Investigators are pessimistic, critical, and hard headed.
Consider diving deeper into the ethos of the Investigator if you have a character who are incessantly inquisitive and are often underestimated in their quick problem-solving skills.
The Loyalist
Trustworthy and reliable companion.
Loyalists’ motivations are pointed toward achieving feelings of security, safety, camaraderie, and togetherness.
Think: Narcissa Malfoy (Harry Potter). Stella Lane (The Kiss Quotient). Neville Longbottom (Harry Potter).
At their best, Loyalists are prepared, supportive, responsible, and vigilant.
At their worst, Loyalists are resistant to change, anxious, and doubtful.
Consider diving deeper into the ethos of the Loyalist if you have a character who seems unsure or unsteady but exhibits strong ties to upholding promises and requests from friends.
The Enthusiast
Spontaneous, fun-loving optimist.
Enthusiasts’ motivations are pointed toward achieving feelings of satisfaction and contentment.
Think: Sirius Black (Harry Potter). Peter Pan (Peter Pan). Peter Kavinsky (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before).
At their best, Enthusiasts are charming, confident, imaginative, quick witted, and productive.
At their worst, Enthusiasts are rebellious, selfish, and destructive.
Consider diving deeper into the ethos of the Enthusiast if you have a character who is very charismatic but sometimes uses that characteristic to manipulate others.
I cannot wait to hear how you’ve incorporated the Enneagram personality profiles into your character development! Please let me know how you’ve used the information to create more well rounded and intentional character profiles.