Description of Type Four: The Romantic

Fours are motivated by the need to understand and express their deepest feelings and to discover what is authentic in themselves.  They want to feel special and unique, and avoid being seen as ordinary.  Their attention is focused on whatever is missing, distant, and idealized.

Healthy Fours Are: Imaginative, sensitive, intuitive, creative, and compassionate.  They are introspective, self-aware, and in touch with the hidden depths of human nature.

Unhealthy Fours Can Be: Self-absorbed, hypersensitive, impractical, self-loathing, moody, depressed, and envious of those who seem more fulfilled than they are.

Enneagram Type #4 in Relationships  

Strengths (healthy attributes)

·      Honesty, intensity and depth of feelings

·      Introspective, rich inner life

·      Heartfelt empathy for other’s suffering

·      Creative disposition, aesthetic flair and elegance

·      Quest for authenticity, uniqueness and the extraordinary

·      Romanticism and idealism

·      Good analytical skills

·      Compassion, warmth, and relationship orientation

·      Can be extremely playful, witty, and charming

·      Highly principled and passionate about helping people

Weaknesses (average to unhealthy attributes)

·      Self-absorption and self-centeredness

·      Contrariness, focus on differences and what’s missing

·      Excruciatingly painful feelings of inadequacy and deficiency

·      Emotional instability and drama

·      Depression, self-pity and moodiness

·      Difficulty accepting constraints

·      Hypersensitivity (especially to criticism and rejection)

·      Can process feelings endlessly (can live in a dream world)

·      Put off doing what they should do (until in the right mood)

·      Push-pull dynamic in relationships (withdrawal/pursuit)

·      Difficulty feeling satisfied with what’s present and ordinary

·      Feel different than others, desire to be seen as special

·      Crushed idealism and disillusionment with partner

·      Withholding of affection and attention when hurt

Questions?  Comments?  Suggestions?  My e-mail address is:  grussrowe@cox.net

This page was last updated on 05/29/05.