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One of the most common questions I am asked when introducing people to the Enneagram goes something along the lines of: "Yes, but is it real? What scientific evidence is there?" It was exactly that question that prompted me to do my PhD research a few years ago. I could see the Enneagram worked for me but I wanted to know if it could stand up to rigorous psychological research. In this article, I have tried to summarise the published research on the Enneagram so that next time someone asks you that question you can answer confidently, "Yes, there is good evidence of its validity, let me tell you about it..."
Why do research on the Enneagram?
Much of our Enneagram knowledge has been built up through narrative and experience. The use of panel interviews, books with quotes and stories, videos, anything that uses examples from other people's experience to make the types come alive is the way most of us learn about the Enneagram. We have deep, rich understandings and descriptions of the nine types. So why do research?
I believe solid research is important for two reasons. First, it helps to justify our use of the Enneagram. There are unfortunately a lot of fads and fashions out there, particularly when it comes to understanding and developing ourselves: "personality tests" on the web that can tell you what kind of animal you are, books aimed at improving your life based on nothing more than anecdotes of what worked for one person. Anecdotes are all very well and good in piquing someone's interest but as professional Enneagram practitioners, part of our role is to demonstrate that the Enneagram is not just another fad, that the stories and experiences we use to flesh out the types are not just convenient but are real illustrations of the similarities and differences between people. It is only through well constructed and rigorous research that we can build up this evidence base and establish the Enneagram as a reliable and valid model of human personality and development.
The second reason it is essential that we have good research is to sound a note of caution that we do not lose the reality of the Enneagram in idiosyncratic interpretations or...