The Enneagram for Teensنموونە

Type Five: The Deep Thinker

Type Fives are known as the Investigator, the Observer, and the Thinker. They are incredibly cerebral and have an insatiable thirst for knowledge. They love to learn something new and are unafraid to make decisions, since they’re usually based in logic or fact.

Because they feel like they have to protect their limited resources and energy, they are typically more introverted and prefer to be alone. They have amazing attention to detail, which allows them to solve problems easily and work efficiently. They’re great at figuring things out and at their best they are pioneers of innovation and unique ideas.

The struggle of being a type Five is the isolation they often resort to as a means of protecting their energy. During this alone time, they are likely studying up on something or creating ideas and opinions—and if they’re not careful, that can give them a superiority complex. They can cling to this sense of being smarter than others and become stubborn if they don’t keep their mind open to other’s ideas or opinions. This can put a strain on their relationships, because those around them feel pushed away and ignored.

The Five’s core fear is being useless or helpless. They use knowledge as a defense mechanism, hiding behind facts to protect their vulnerability. This applies to both emotional and physical vulnerability. On the physical side, they feel like if they know everything about their environment, they will be protected from any threats that may come up. And emotionally, many times they don’t feel comfortable or welcome in the world around them, so knowing everything they can on a topic helps them feel like they belong.

The Five’s wounding childhood message is “You’re a square peg in a round hole everywhere you go.” They have often felt rejected by their peers and even their parents, so they are usually observers who spend a lot of time processing before they build up confidence to express themselves. The message they’ve internalized is, “The more you know, the higher your value,” so learning everything they can about something allows them to feel a sense of self-worth and achievement.

Their core desire is to be competent and capable. They pride themselves on their independence and not needing much from anyone. This comes out in their hyper efficient problem-solving, but it can also make it difficult for an Enneagram Five to ask for help or admit when they don’t know something.

As far as a Five’s relationship with faith goes, it can be challenging for them to trust that they don’t have to be self-sufficient and can lean on the people around them for strength. Not only is their community there to support them, but the God of the universe is too!

While there are plenty of scientific and historic facts about Jesus’ life, miracles and Christianity, the nuance aspects of faith that are rooted more in feeling than observable fact (like the Holy Spirit and God’s guidance in our lives) are often a struggle for Fives. But when they grasp the whole picture of how the two sides work together to support the reality and love of God, they’re able to walk in the freedom that an intimate relationship with God brings.

In their faith journey, Fives might be especially interested in reading resources that contain facts and historical accounts that help ground deeper elements of faith. When I think about Fives and faith, I’m reminded of Christ being called the “Good Shepherd” and how closely a shepherd watches over his flock, tending to them and providing for their needs. Psalm 95 talks about us being his sheep, which means God is tending to us, providing for our needs so we have all of the resources we need to thrive. God wants the Enneagram Five to know they are loved and provided for in every way through him.

Are you a type Five? Before we move on to the next type, there’s one thing I want you to know. You can ask the Lord for what you need. He is listening and waiting for you to draw near to him. He wants to bless you, so open your hands to what he has ready to support your weary heart. Walk in confidence, dear Five, and know that you can rest in him.