Does anyone use the Enneagram in character development?

jjo826 · Mar 20, 2007

Hi-

I read a bunch of books about this about 7 years ago and forgot all about it until it was discussed in a writing book I was reading. I got curious about it again, and reacquainted myself with the types. I was surprised at how my characters all had a dominant type.

I have found it particularly useful in building character arcs, and for keeping behavior consistent. I was wondering if anyone else used the Enneagram to help them with their character development?

I also found this great chart that highlights the personality types in a one page PDF that I have found very useful. It’s a free download, so I just wanted to share.

http://www.enneagraminstitute.com/file_downloads/enneaChart.asp

I’m new so I hope the link works.

Jen

P.S. I have no affiliation with the website.

Shadow_Ferret · Mar 20, 2007

I never even heard of an enneagram or whatever it is.

But then I don't know what a character arc is, either.

Why can't I just keep my characters on 3x5 cards?

giftedrhonda · Mar 20, 2007

I love enneagram for quick character motivations/actions...

janetbellinger · Mar 20, 2007

Nope but I drew up an astrological chart for one of my heroines

jodiodi · Mar 20, 2007

I'm with Shadow Ferrett. Never heard of this thing of which you speak. My characters just tell me what they do and that's what I write. I don't plan them or make them up.

PeeDee · Mar 20, 2007

I never heard of it. But I took one look at it and went "Holy crap," and backed away slowly.

If it helps, great, but I figure...people don't come with a chart or a proper story arc, why should characters?

Judg · Mar 20, 2007

Lots of good stuff to reflect on in there. Thanks.

Devil Ledbetter · Mar 20, 2007

jodiodi said:
I'm with Shadow Ferrett. Never heard of this thing of which you speak. My characters just tell me what they do and that's what I write. I don't plan them or make them up.

Yep, me too. And they tell me when I'm wrong, too.

DL

rugcat · Mar 20, 2007

PeeDee said:
I never heard of it. But I took one look at it and went "Holy crap," and backed away slowly.

I usually feel the same way about such “New Age” systems, but the Enneagram has been around for quite a long time and can be a very useful way of thinking about different personality types. I was introduced to the ideas many years ago by a brilliant woman named Helen Palmer, whose books did a lot to resurrect and codify the basic ideas.

At base, it’s simply a way to look at and get a handle on how people’s personality types drive their motivations and reactions to situations. I’m not sure how useful it would be as a planning tool in writing, but it’s interesting for anyone interested in human psychology. For anyone interested, the Wikipedia article on it is simple and not too far out.

I, BTW, am a counter phobic six. And now that I think about it, by an incredible coincidence, so is the MC of my novel.

PeeDee · Mar 20, 2007

I agree that it's definitely interesting from psychological standpoint. From a writing standpoint, it makes me want to climb walls.

jjo826 · Mar 20, 2007

I completely agree, I don’t plan out a character type I let them talk and see what happens. I did find it was interesting that they fell into a clear type, and I’ve found it helpful to point out where my characters are acting inconsistent.

Originally Posted by PeeDee:
From a writing standpoint, it makes me want to climb walls.

It was just something fun to look at; I didn't mean to drive you crazy.

Jen

veinglory · Mar 20, 2007

People, IMHO, aren't really all that typey in real life. I mean you can play around with star signs, archetypes, personality, trait yadda yadda--but for me it works best at the intuitive level. The character's way of looking at the world is central not the world's way of characterising that sort of, um, character.

PeeDee · Mar 20, 2007

jjo826 said:
It was just something fun to look at; I didn't mean to drive you crazy.

Jen

Yes you did! All this, this rocking the boat and coming in here with things and stuff, and, and....*huff huff*

Jack Nog · Mar 20, 2007

Ow, that chart hurts my little eyes...

Seriously (well as serious as I can be usually) I'm not sure where I can find a use for this. When I write my characters, at least the first draft, I'm with jodiodi, they tell me what to write.

Going back on second draft, I'll usually go through and edit, revise and rewrite when it looks like Hannah Banana the librarian wouldn't actually stab the janitor. It's not really in her make up to do so...

I mean, why would she? Wait a minute...I think there's a story there...

Shady Lane · Mar 20, 2007

I always use enneagram! I do extensive astrological profiles, extrovert/introvert-sensor/intuitive-feeler/thinker-judger/perciever...it's the only backstory I do, though.

Mr. Fix · Mar 20, 2007

Was that eminemigram? (Who's slim shady?)

I took a look at the site and found it way too confining for any of my characters. I suppose it could be of help in some circumstances. When I write I let my characters be who they are, as in; I know what I want my characters to do, how they think or act is a proccess of character development for me.

I do use a chart like that as a timeline to keep track of events and actions.

Angelinity · Mar 20, 2007

didn't think of it before -- but sounds like a great idea to help me understand a character's motivations and build his skelleton / structure. thanks!

The Lady · Mar 20, 2007

I know that enneagram quite well. I'm a counter phobic six also but it only took me nine years to figure that out, which is pretty speedy for a six(another trait we have is that we can't make up our minds) When you know the enneagram well , and have it taught to you by a great teacher, which I was lucky enough to find, then it is a brilliant tool for helping you to get along with other people. It's amazing when you finally understand that the whole world is driven by completely different things.

I don't use it to figure out my characters though, but a good rule of thumb for realism in a character is, for me, if you can type them afterwards.

BTW, the enneagram in the wrong hands is a horrible thing. It can be very negative and confining. I did an enneagram course once with a woman who hated herself. Ooohhh, so not a good person to do a personality typing course. I kept bumping into people from that course for months afterwards who said the course had profoundly depressed them, as it had me. The course ended with a question and answer session where about half the class cried. Not me though, I waited till I went home.

Azure Skye · Mar 20, 2007

Shadow_Ferret said:
I never even heard of an enneagram or whatever it is.

But then I don't know what a character arc is, either.

Why can't I just keep my characters on 3x5 cards?

If you bend the 3x5 card a little from both ends it will form an arch. Or is that not the same thing?

Now that I'm done being a smarty pants.

To answer the question: I've never heard of it. But you learn something new just about everyday on this board.

Now that I looked at the link. It looks rather interesting.

Siddow · Mar 20, 2007

I'm a type 8 with a sexual variant.
Hmmm...

I haven't used these for character creation because I enjoy learning the character and don't feel like I actually create them. However, I am quite familiar with personality types and that probably influences the portrayal of my characters. But more than types, I tend to consider the environment my character is in, what kind of person would want to be in (or out of) it, who are the people they know, do they like them? A long mind-list of what-ifs.

Oddsocks · Mar 20, 2007

I haven't used enneagram, although I do know about it. I've used astrology and those myers-briggs (ENTP, ISFJ, etc) ones before when developing characters. For me it's usually more finding one that fits the person than picking one and basing a character on it, although it's nice when you pick one based on some elements and then get other ideas from other aspects that go with the type.

Akuma · Mar 20, 2007

PeeDee said:
I never heard of it. But I took one look at it and went "Holy crap," and backed away slowly.

If it helps, great, but I figure...people don't come with a chart or a proper story arc, why should characters?

Seems good for organizing, but I myself wouldn't start firing answers off to create a character.

If that's what you're thinking.

Julian Black · Mar 20, 2007

I've used the Enneagram as well as Myers-Briggs, but never to create a character. My characters just seem to show up, with all sorts of baggage, and I've used both systems of personality to figure out how to write even the biggest whackjobs among them in a logical, consistent way.

Oh, and I'm such a 5, it's not even funny...

Shady Lane · Mar 20, 2007

Julian Black said:
I've used the Enneagram as well as Myers-Briggs, but never to create a character. My characters just seem to show up, with all sorts of baggage, and I've used both systems of personality to figure out how to write even the biggest whackjobs among them in a logical, consistent way.

Oh, and I'm such a 5, it's not even funny...

Fives are awesome! I'm an unbelievable 3.

Jamesaritchie · Mar 21, 2007

Enneagram Charts

Honestly, I'd rather give up writing, and spend the rest of my life eating marbles and crapping ground glass than to go anywhere near such a system.

Does anyone use the Enneagram in character development?

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