1w9 vs 9w1: What is the difference? (An Enneagram guide to personality)

In this brief guide, we will look at the difference between 1w9 vs 9w1 enneagram personality types, and we will also explore some related concepts like Enneagram 1 and Enneagram 9 Personality types.

1w9 vs 9w1: The Difference

The difference between 1w9 vs 9w1 is mainly that while enneagram type 1w9 is idealistic and moralistic, following their sense of right and wrong, the enneagram type 9w1 is more peace-loving and calm, but they may want to do the right thing for their society.

The type 1w9 personality tends to be very idealistic, and they may have most of the traits of the typical enneagram type 1, with the added mellowness of the type 9 personality, whereas in the enneagram type 9w1, the core traits are that of the enneagram type 9, that is, this person may want to avoid conflict but at the same time they care about doing the right thing and making the right decisions.

1w9 is the personality type that likes to stick to the rules because they believe that the rules are needed to make the society a better place; the 9w1 might stick to the rules and do what is legal or right because they don’t want to create too many waves.

The 9w1 may also not be too likely to stand up for things, though they may have somewhat set ideas of what they should do and how they should do things, whereas the 1w9 might stand for their beliefs and ideals in a calmer way than the typical enneagram type 1 would.

The 1w9 may also have a strong inner critic voice that may not be present in 9w1, and if someone is particularly confused between 1w9 and 9w1, it may also help to try learning about the more precise subtypes.

Enneagram 1w9: The Optimist

The enneagram type 1w9 or One with nine wing has the primary characteristics of an enneagram type one, but they may also show some traits of the enneagram type nine, which means that while they may be rather judicial and rational in their behavior, they will also be more calm and balanced than other type ones. 

The 9w1 personality type has a great sense of and desire for justice and they like the concept of equality very much, which gives them the ability to see both sides of any issue easily. 

The personality type 1w9 is also highly motivated by a strong sense of right and wrong and they may often try to do the best thing possible in any situation, which may make them very loyal and correct.

One wing nine personality type is very afraid of being unethical and corrupt and all their actions may surround this basic fear, and they may often act in ways to circumvent this.

The 1w9 type may often avoid making morally wrong choices, and the unhealthy type of this personality may often be the kind of person who may obsess about their decisions and the right and wrong of it (think Chidi Anagonye from the tv show “The Good Place”).

They may also like to think about philosophical ideas and ponder some of the mysteries of life, but at the same time, they can be objective and emotionally reserved.

On the other hand, the basic desire of the typical 1w9 personality is to be morally good, which is why they may often want to advocate for the rights of others through teaching and discussion.

This personality type may possibly respond to negativity in one of two ways, they may redirect their emotions or by avoiding them entirely or they may push themselves deeper into their work.

The 1w9 personality also has some basic desire to avoid conflict, which means that they may engage in the typical type 9 defense mechanisms.

Below is a summary of the core traits of the enneagram type 1w9:

  • They may strive for change and justice through teaching
  • They may go after what they believe is right
  • They often choose rational and objective alternatives
  • They have a need for love and admiration from those around them
  • They have a desire to attain awareness and understanding of the world

Enneagram 9w1: The Negotiator

The enneagram type 9w1 is someone with type nine traits with some of the one type, which means that they are hardworking, creative, and friendly in their behavior. 

The typical type 9w1 is idealistic and serious like the type 1 personality type, but at the same time, they may also be somewhat conflict avoiding and peace-keeping compared to type 1.

The basic fear that drives the 9w1 personality type is the fear of being separated from the rest of the world and losing what matters to them the most.

The basic desire that drives the 9w1 personality type is the need to attain peace, in an internally and externally based environment, and they may often want an idealized, peaceful world around them, which may often become a reality with their efforts directed towards this cause.

Given below are some of the well-known traits of the 9w1 personality type:

  • They are capable of maneuvering through challenging situations on the basis of their optimism.
  • They may have a strong sense of right and wrong that they like to support without causing too many obstacles to others.
  • They are good at seeing many perspectives of a situation
  • They have a strong need to help and improve the lives of others and they have the 
  • They are calm and rational people
  • They can be very easygoing in their approach to a difficult situation 
  • They have the capability of bringing peace to the world around them
  • They display a very strong work ethic and focus.
  • They have a very deep sense of motivation and purpose.
  • They have the innate ability to remain open-minded and open to new ideas and people.

On the other hand, here are some weaknesses of the type 9w1:

  • They may come across as somewhat cold or aloof when they are experiencing stress due to their internal problems 
  • They may go to great lengths to avoid conflict, sometimes to the extent of leaving situations, they may need to face.
  • They may have difficulty facing conflict head-on, and they may retreat as a defense when they are not sure about what they can do. 
  • They may be too idealistic about the world and when they are not able to achieve these they might be prone to intense disappointment and they may stop trying altogether.
  • They may often lose sight of the practical things in the chase of idealistic goals.
  • They may have the tendency of overlooking their own needs because they are always trying to take care of those around them.
  • They may be overly critical of themselves and fret about right and wrong too much.
  • They may be hypervigilant about making choices and if they have negative feelings arising from the conflict they may internalize it.

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.

Enneagram type 1

Enneagram type 1 is known as the Perfectionist, the Reformer, the Idealist, and the Rational.

The type 1 personality is driven by the sense of right and wrong, and these people may have a strong sense of balance and equality, and they may often be found trying to achieve justice.

The enneagram type 1 may also often show a tendency to go against the established practices in society and they may constantly try to stay away from choices that are immoral and wrong.

There can be unhealthy enneagram type 1s as well, and they may come across as too rigid, and sometimes they may be strict or rational to a cruel extent, enforcing rules and regulations in order to right wrongs.

The unhealthy enneagram type 1 may have a steadfast sense of morality and ethics that does not consider the presence of potential gray areas that exist everywhere in society and where humanity is concerned.

The unhealthy type 1 may not care about the benefit of the doubt and they may expect absolute perfection all the time, trying to justify things as black and white, rather than factor in the fact that human experience exists on a continuum.

The healthy Enneagram type 1s are smart, just individuals who want a better society, and often they come across as very dependable and fair, and one need never be afraid of being cheated or hurt around them because they like making sure they create the best world possible for those around them as well as in general.

Enneagram type 9

Enneagram type 9 tends to be accepting, trusting, and stable. 

This personality type is known as the peacekeeper and this is because they are very heavily invested in avoiding any conflict that they can and they do not like to be involved in anything that disrupts the peace, inside or outside.

This personality type is also very creative, optimistic, and supportive, but they have a strong tendency to go along with others to keep the peace if they feel the need to do so. 

Type 9 generally wants things to go smoothly and for their inner and outer world to be without conflict, which can sometimes make them somewhat complacent as they may go about simplifying problems and minimizing anything upsetting that they don’t want to deal with. 

The enneagram type 9 may also not like to stay still, which means that sometimes they may have trouble being stuck.

The basic fear of the type 9 personality is that of being separated from loved ones or just suffering great loss due to conflict.

On the other hand, the Basic desire that they chase is to have inner stability and achieve “peace of mind”.

Conclusion

In this brief guide, we looked at the difference between 1w9 vs 9w1 enneagram personality types and also explored some related concepts like Enneagram 1 and Enneagram 9 Personality types.

There are many different approaches to understanding personality, so you feel lost between 1w9 or 9w1 or other types, don’t get worried, the more important thing to do is to be self-aware and know what drives you and what makes you tick.

Whether you are a 1w9 or 9w1 or any other type, it may be easy to figure out with an enneagram test and if you are not interested in this theory or personality, there are various others to choose from, or you could even go to a professional and get a formal personality assessment done.

If you do have any questions or comments about 1w9 vs 9w1, please feel free to reach out to us.

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 5w4

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

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): 1w9 and 9w1

What does Enneagram 9w1 mean?

Enneagram 9w1 means someone with the core traits of the Enneagram type nine, but also has several traits with the one type. 

This personality type may be hardworking, creative, and friendly in their behavior.

The enneagram type 9w1 is usually also more idealistic and serious than other nines but they are not as rigid tor strict as type1s. 

What is a 1w9 Enneagram?

1w9 enneagram is a type of enneagram personality theory which involves the personality traits of type 1 with some of the type 9 traits as well.

Enneagram type 1w9 is known as type one wing nine, and these people may be judicial and rational but they are calmer and more balanced than other type ones, who may find themselves fretting about the right and wrong of their actions too frequently.

Enneagram type 1w9 may have a deep desire for justice and equality as well as a very strong sense of right and wrong.

What is the rarest Enneagram type?

The rarest enneagram type is considered to be enneagram type 8, which is also known as the Challenger, and other rare enneagram types include types 4 and 5.

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