1w2 vs 5w4: (A Comparative Analysis)

In this article, we will compare 1w2 vs 5w4 personalities from the Enneagram types. We will do that by describing and comparing both personalities in-depth and see how these personalities are similar and different from each other based on their triad, traits, childhood conflict, basic fear, basic desire, strengths, weaknesses, core problems, source of stress, workstyle and preferred jobs. 

1w2 vs 5w4

 If we consider  1w2 vs 5w4 and compare them, we find that they share similarities as well as differences. Both personalities are similar as they want to be helpful and useful to other people. Both can get detached from people at times and are sensitive to criticism. Similarly, both care about their self-image. At the same time, they are different as well since type 1w2 belongs to the instinctive triad, has secondary characteristics of type 2, has a childhood conflict of self-judgment, fears immorality, and desires to stand for the rights of others. In contrast, type 5w4 belongs to the thinking triad, has secondary characteristics of type 4, has a childhood conflict of intimacy-rejection, fears incompetence, and desires to acquire knowledge.

Enneagrams

Enneagrams are a map or typology of human personalities. It has its roots in spirituality, philosophy, and psychology. Multiple people contributed to its development among which George Ivanovich Gurdjieff, Oscar Ichazo, and Claudio Naranjo are the most prominent. 

It is divided into nine personality types that are spread across 3 triads i.e. Feeling triad, Thinking Triad, or Instinctive Triad. It describes a person’s fundamental psychological orientation in the form of good or bad traits and sees which triad quality i.e. emotion, intellect or instincts is most characteristic of his or her personality. Basic Personality Type is the most characteristic of a person. Whereas wings add elements to the overall personality i.e. it is the second side of it. 

A Comparison of 1w2 vs 5w4

Triad

Type 1w2 belongs to the instinctive triad. The positive and negative traits of these personalities are dominated by instinct. When these types are healthy, they can relate to their environment with great wisdom from within. Thus, they can become good leaders. When they are unhealthy, they are out of balance and find it difficult to relate to their environment and people. 

Type 5w4 belongs to the thinking triad. The positive and negative traits of these personalities are dominated by thinking. When these types are healthy, their thoughts make them distinct and admirable for their introspective qualities, insights, and ideas that have scientific, creative, and practical applications. When they are unhealthy, they are out of balance with respect to their thoughts and are difficult to interact with.

Personality Overview and Example

Type1w2: ‘The Advocate’

Enneagram Type1w2 includes basic type one personality traits and complementary traits of type 2. Both types of traits support each other. These types of people have the drive to be good in accordance with values, are righteous, balanced, selfless, rational but also warm, action-oriented, thoughtful, compassionate, empathic, kind, and idealistic personalities with an interpersonal focus. They try to educate others, do the right thing, and feel like it’s their obligation. 

One may find type 1w2 involved in reforms and public causes. Although these types have high self-control, they allow themselves channels of emotional expression. Yet, they can also be perfectionistic with a strict conscience and possibly have high self-satisfaction with doing the right thing. When they disagree about something, they are vocal about it and express their anger towards others for not following their suggestions. 

It is hard for type1w2 to be criticized by others on their ideals. So, they may try to emotionally manipulate others into feeling guilty for doing so. Unconsciously, they may deceive themselves into believing they are being righteous even if they are not. A sense of entitlement is also prominent in them. During stressful situations, type1w2 turn to outlets against their core values e.g. drugs, drinks etc. Similarly, they may also have repressed aggression that exhibits indirectly through physical problems, conversion-like reactions, nervous breakdowns, or compulsive habits. 

Example of type 1w2: Mahatma Gandhi.

Type 5w4: ‘The Iconoclast’

Type 5w4 has basic traits of type 5 and secondary traits of type 4 personality. Both types reinforce each other and influence subtype 5w4 to withdraw and turn to their inner world of imagination. They feel like there is something missing that they need to find in order to live more fully. They struggle with self-confidence to take action due to self-doubt and confused identity. As a result, they have trouble being grounded and forming relationships. 

Type 5w4 are introverts and emotional but can be social when required. They take a special interest in the intrapsychic domain. They also have a special ability to be artistic and intellectual at the same time. 

Healthy versions of this subtype are knowledgeable, aesthetic, sensitive, and insightful. They make good writers, artists, musicians, directors, and choreographers. They do well in academia, have a unique way of looking at things, are analytical, imaginative, and systematic. In science, they are drawn to areas of intuition and comprehension rather than pure hard scientific aspects. They are alert and find beauty in truth, objectivity, and knowledge. They also like to uncover new areas of knowledge and are fans of innovation. 

Average versions of this subtype are emotionally independent, dislike deadlines and restrictions. They are internally-oriented and can detach from their environment to focus on their thoughts and emotions. They can use their analytic powers to not get emotionally invested in people rather they try to understand them from an objective point of view. At times, they can be moody and sensitive to criticism especially on their work because that is directly related to their self-esteem.

Creativity and imagination propel them to withdraw and spend time in an alternate universe of their imagination. The idea of these fantasies is more scientific than romantic. Activities like reading, intellectual games, and courses to improve their skills attract them greatly. Their self-expression can take dark and horrific forms. Some types may turn to drugs, drinks, etc to escape their complex and pessimistic thoughts.

Unhealthy versions of this subtype are vulnerable to depression and aggressive impulses. They are envious of others yet desire to be separate from the world. Their intellectual conflicts impact them emotionally and emotional conflicts impact them intellectually. So, they can become neurotic, nihilistic, full of self-hatred, and hopeless. They are prone to cutting off their needs, socially isolating, having chronic depression, getting addicted, or turning to take their lives.  

Examples of Type 5w4: Vincent Van Gogh, John Lenon, Emily Dickinson, Kurt Cobain, Tim Burton

Childhood Conflict

Core childhood conflict that makes type 1w2 the way they are is ‘self-judgment’. This means that they try to be their own worst critic so that by doing so they can prevent anyone from criticizing them. They are highly vigilant of any mistakes they make and abide by strict rules and ethics to justify their existence.   

Core childhood conflict that makes type 5w4 the way they are is ‘Intimacy-Rejection’. This means that they try not to get too close to people for fear of being perceived incompetent. So, they make effort to develop mastery in a particular area in order to live fully and survive.

Basic Fear: 1w2 vs 5w4

Type 1w2 fear immorality. Hence, they strive to make ethical choices.

Type 5w4 fear being helpless and incompetent. They prevent that from happening through overcompensating and excessively acquire knowledge and skills to feel worthy and useful.

Basic Desire: 1w2 vs 5w4

Type 1w2 desire to fight for the rights of the weak and less fortunate. They are driven to make a difference in the world. Regarding emotions, they have a tendency to redirect their feelings in order to feel in control. This backfires at times when their emotions spill in the form of sudden external outbursts. 

Type 5w4 desire to be helpful and useful. For that, they pursue knowledge and try to understand the world. They protect themself by withdrawing from others which can create feelings of loneliness. 

Strengths: 1w2 vs 5w4  

Strengths of type 1w2 include the following:

• Stand for the rights of others
• Sensitive towards the needs of others
• Try to serve humanity
• Engage in societal level problem solving
• Put the needs of others before their own

Strengths of type 5w4 include the following:

• Creative thinking and self-expression
• Observant and detail-oriented
• High focus and attention level
• Can work independently

Weakness:1w2 vs 5w4

The weakness of type 1w2 includes the following:

• Easily get frustrated
• Obsessive about self-image
• Can be overly controlling
• Critical of self and others
• Detached

The weakness of type 5w4 includes the following:

• Overly sensitive
• Over-focus on themself
• Distance from others
• Struggle with realistic or practical application

If you’re facing this, it may be a good idea to seek the help of a therapist or other mental health professional. You can find a therapist at BetterHelp who can help you learn how to cope and address it.

Source of Stress

Source of stress for type 1w2 includes the following:

• Receiving criticism from others
• Being unable to meet others needs
• Not living up to standards or expectations of others

Source of stress for type 5w4 includes the following:

• Spending time with others
• Feelings of incompetence
• Difficulty expressing themselves
• Criticism

Core Problems

Type 1w2 has common problems with repression and aggression.

Type 5w4 has common problems with insecurity and anxiety.

Workstyle and job

Type 1w2 prefers to work in jobs involving human interaction with the possibility to serve others and impact the world positively e.g. judge, nurse, doctor, social worker, etc. 

Type 5w4 are deep thinkers with good imagination and creativity. They like abstract thoughts over real-world issues and are deeply engaged in the philosophical side of things They prefer to work in jobs that allow them independence, personal space, and a chance to grow e.g.author, scholar, novelist, inventor, etc.

Other Enneagram type 1  comparisons

1w2 vs 1w9

1w2 vs 2w1

1w2 vs 2w3

1w2 vs 3w2

1w2 vs 3w4

1w2 vs 4w3

1w2 vs 4w5

1w2 vs 5w6

1w2 vs 6w5

1w2 vs 6w7

1w2 vs 7w6

1w2 vs 7w8

1w2 vs 8w7

1w2 vs 8w9

1w2 vs 9w1

1w2 vs 9w8

1w9 vs 1w2

1w9 vs 2w1

1w9 vs 2w3

1w9 vs 3w2

1w9 vs 3w4

1w9 vs 4w3

1w9 vs 4w5

1w9 vs 5w4

1w9 vs 5w6

1w9 vs 6w5

1w9 vs 6w7

1w9 vs 7w6

1w9 vs 7w8

1w9 vs 8w7

1w9 vs 8w9

1w9 vs 9w8

FAQs: 1w2 vs 5w4

Conclusion

In this article, we compared 1w2 vs 5w4. We found that they share similarities as well as differences. Both personalities are similar as they want to be helpful and useful to other people. Both can get detached from people at times and are sensitive to criticism. Similarly, both care about their self-image. At the same time, they are different as well since type 1w2 belongs to the instinctive triad, has secondary characteristics of type 2, has a childhood conflict of self-judgment, fears immorality, and desires to stand for the rights of others. In contrast, type 5w4 belongs to the thinking triad, has secondary characteristics of type 4, has a childhood conflict of intimacy-rejection, fears incompetence, and desires to acquire knowledge.

I hope you found this article interesting. If you have any queries or comments, please state them in the comment section 😊

Citations

https://www.crystalknows.com/enneagram/type-1-wing-2

https://www.crystalknows.com/enneagram/type-5-wing-4

https://www.psychologyjunkie.com/2020/03/10/the-childhood-wounds-of-every-enneagram-type/#

Personality Types – Using the Enneagram for Self-Discovery by Don Richard Riso with Russ Hudson

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