Enneagram type 4 — the individualist

artist, romantic, mystic, over-analyzer

type fours tend to build their identities around their perception of themselves as being somehow different or unique; they are thus self-consciously individualistic. type fours tend to see their difference from others as being both a gift and a curse — a gift, because it sets them apart from those they perceive as being somehow "conventional," and a curse, as it so often seems to separate them from the simpler forms of happiness that others so readily seem to enjoy. thus, type fours can manage to feel superior to others while also secretly harboring some degree of longing and envy. a feeling of being a member of the "true aristocracy" alternates with deep feelings of shame, and fears of somehow being deeply flawed or defective.

type fours are emotionally complex and highly sensitive. they long to be understood and appreciated for their authentic selves, but easily feel misunderstood and unappreciated. They tend to withdraw in the face of a world that seems harsh or crude and are often somewhat moody or temperamental. they are emotionally centered and spend much of their lives immersed in their internal mental landscapes, where they feel free to cultivate and analyze their feelings. a desire to manifest this internal world often leads type fours to an interest in the arts, and some do become actual artists. whether artistic or not. however, most type fours are aesthetically sensitive and concerned with self-expression and self-revelation, whether it be in the clothes they wear or in the overall nature of their often-idiosyncratic lifestyles.

type fours are somewhat melancholic by disposition, and under stress tend to lapse into depression. they also tend to be self-absorbed, even under the best of circumstances, but when unbalanced, easily give way to a self-indulgence which they perceive as being fully justified as a way to compensate for the general lack of pleasure they experience in their lives. rather than look for practical solutions to their difficulties, type fours are prone to fantasizing about a savior who will rescue them from their unhappiness.

basic propsition — you will feel loved, whole, and complete if you can find the ideal love or perfect circumstance.

strengths — creative, empathetic, idealistic, capable of emotional depth, and compassionate.

challenges — moody, withdrawn, self-absorbed, over-sensitive, demanding, unsatisfied with what is.

defense mechanism — introjection — unconsciously incorporating the characteristics of a person or object into one’s own psyche.

type fours use introjection to avoid ordinariness and maintain a self-image of being authentic. positive introjection helps overcome feelings of deficiency by seeking value from an idealized relationship or experience. using negative introjection, type fours tend to blame themselves for whatever goes wrong in personal connections.

type 4 self-mastery indicators

	what it means	what it looks like in type 4
low self-mastery	primarily reactive low productivity behavior low personality integration deep identification with beliefs	the defective one bitter, depressed, emotionally volatile, hypersensitive, and self-absorbed • feel deeply wounded by perceived slights or rejections • tormented, ashamed, alienated, rageful, withdrawn, or aggressive — accusing individuals and life of intentionally harming them • artistic expression has a tragic quality.
moderate self-mastery	responds mainly from habit some personality integration more flexible to change	the unique one dramatic or reticent, seeking authentic relationships and conversations • imaginative, transforming their inner experience into artistic expression • use self-referencing words such as i, me, and mine • tell personal stories and redirect conversations to themselves • compare to others, with difficulty being self-accepting • yearning, moody, and melancholic • reflective, empathic, and gifted.
high self-mastery	aware of inner experience responds productively, flexibly high personality integration self-acceptance	the appreciative one centered, tranquil, and calm • universal artistic expression • grateful • graceful, with inner wholeness and constancy • gentle empathy and genuine concern draws others to them • able to reflect on own experiences and objectively understand other viewpoints and related contextual factors.

awareness practice

observe your habit of mind or focus of attention — "what is missing?" — with as little judgment as possible. ask yourself the following questions, while noticing your feelings and how your body responds:

how have i focused my attention and energy on what was missing?
in what ways do i experience a sense of longing or envy?
how have i diminished or disdained the ordinary or mundane?
do i feel pride in being special or unique, or feel shame in being less than my ideal?
in what ways have i felt misunderstood?

type 4 in business

the introspective, artistic type — expressive, temperamental, self-absorbed, and dramatic. type fours deliver personalized service and/or develop distinctive products known for their refinement and sense of style. they can be uncompromising in their pursuit of the right effect, word, or design and of gauging the personal impact of a product. they dislike tasks that they feel are not creative or give them room for their personal imprint. they may be hypersensitive to criticism and can deteriorate into moodiness and erratic work habits. at their best, they bring intuition and creativity into the workplace and enrich it with their sense of depth, style, and appreciation of the personal dimension.

what they look for	communication, listening, acceptance, and emotional honesty
what gets in the way	insisting on having all their emotional needs met immediately; manipulating by being temperamental and making others walk on eggshells.
leadership paradigm	creating environments that are meaningful, leading to organizations with people inspired to do excellent work
natural qualities as leader	visionary leaders, type fours tend to enlist talented people within their teams. they have a value-driven approach to leadership and combine this with high standards. they have the ability to recognize excellence in others and will typically motivate people to perform at their best. they may be known for many qualities, including creativity, aesthetic sensibility, intuition, hard work, empathy, and earnestness in their approach to human interaction. they care about the people with whom they have contact and tend to develop strategic relationships with customers, and competitors. they respect their staff as much as their leaders and approach their work with an enthusiasm that engages others in the effort.
areas for development	working with the type four can be a challenge, as their passionate energy and drive to get things done can be very intense to others. employees may fear that they are not able to keep up and worry about losing respect. type fours can occasionally be moody and may be seen by others as panicky or fearful. people learn to keep their distance from the leader in these times.

focal points for self-awareness and leadership

ultimate development goal	realizing that in the present moment we are supported and loved, lacking no essential quality or ingredient, and recognizing the interdependence at play below individual uniqueness.
what hinders growth	letting strong feelings run the show falling into inaction resisting “changing who i am” for fear of losing individuality feelings of not measuring up or being let down by the world becoming self-absorbed downplaying improvements that are not dramatic and becoming discouraged.
furthering growth	take up body-based activities to learn to ground yourself. when your emotions become very strong, track them back to the first feeling which was the trigger. it may be very different from what you feel now. notice your attention going to what is wrong or missing and learn to value the positive of the here and now. remind yourself that “abandonment” happened in the past and is not inevitable. find something to celebrate every day. start to value and enjoy the mundane: see the extraordinary in the ordinary. recognize your specialness and self-absorption as a way of masking fears of abandonment. focus on what is important to the other. set up structures in your daily life which help you to stay consistent when feelings start to build. complete things that will benefit you in a grounded way. notice when strong feelings make you feel special and right: take time to consider before acting upon them. notice your use of sarcasm and anger as a way of blaming others for your suffering, and thus perpetuating the pain by not realizing that it is born from your expectations. discover the qualities in yourself that you envy in others. maintain a consistent course of action despite fluctuating feelings. delay reacting until intense emotions begin to subside. honor your own idealism, and your ability to empathize with others’ pain, without getting attached to them or fixing them.
specific leadership development	focus on others more than on yourself — use personal stories and the words “i”, “me”, “my”, or “mine” only 10% as much as you currently do. think about how others feel, not how you would respond if you were in their shoes. turn down your intensity — in both what you say and how you say it, cut your intensity level in half. let conversations end before you want them to, resist the need to constantly hold the other person’s attention, and learn to express yourself in less dramatic ways. learn to forgive and let go — learn to think, feel, experience, and then move on, rather than dwell on difficulties or holding something against another person for a long period of time. followers need this sort of emotional balance in their leaders.

adapted from different sources including Ginger Lapid-Bogda, Don Riso & Russ Hudson