Can Enneagram 2 Be Introverted? (A Complete Overview)

In this article, we will attempt to answer the question – “Can enneagram type 2’s be introverted?” If you would like to understand the how and why of this phenomenon, keep reading further.

Enneagram is a theory that offers an explanation for understanding the human personality in terms of nine different types. It explains the different types of personalities with the help of a geometric figure like that of a regular nine-sided polygon.

Can Enneagram 2 be an introvert?

Yes, it is possible for an Enneagram 2 to be an introvert. Type 2’s are the most intuitive and compassionate type of personalities whose main goal is to love and be loved. The two main reasons that can be attributed to this are:

2 with a presence of type 1 wing
2 as an instinctual social type

They often struggle with opening up to other people as a result of which they may be reserved and more introvert in nature. We will discuss these details further in this article.

Enneagram defined

The word enneagram comes from the Greek word “Ennea” which means nine and “Gramma” which means something that is written or drawn. Enneagram consequently literally means nine different types of illustrations. According to this theory a person’s personality can be identified as one of the nine possible combinations that are inclusive of one’s beliefs, values and motivations.

The formal definition of Enneagram is as follows:

“A system of classifying personality types that is based on a nine-pointed starlike figure inscribed within a circle in which each of the nine points represent a personality type and its psychological motivations influencing a person’s emotions, attitudes, and behaviours.

What is the Enneagram type 2?

The enneagram type 2 also known as “The Helper” or “The Giver”, falls under the feeling centre in the personality spectrum. These individuals are warm, compassionate, generous and sensitive to the needs of other people in general. They have a unique ability of feeling and experiencing emotions deeply which can be a boon or bane depending on the situation.

Individuals who are type 2 personality have a basic fear of being unwanted or not worthy of receiving love. As a result, they are motivated by wanting to express love and elicit appreciation from them in return. Being able to help people in need gives them joy and they may often come across as highly submissive. In reality, twos are self-sacrificing and sentimental individuals for whom being resourceful gives the most meaning to their life.

Enneagram type 2’s as extroverts

Type 2’s are highly people oriented individuals because they like social interaction and making meaningful connections with others. They want to have many friends and often do as they end up attracting a lot of people owing to their warm and soothing temperament.

Specifically speaking, type 2’s with a 3 wing are often more extroverted individuals as they are more outgoing. Such individuals focus greatly on being successful professionally & socially. Naturally, they tend to pay a lot of attention to their appearance and how other people perceive them. As dominant type 3 traits, they may sometimes also come off as people-pleasing individuals which is true of them at unhealthy levels of development.

The other contributing factor that makes 2’s more extroverts is the instinctual sexual type. Type2’s who are a sexual subtype are charmers and aim to connect with people on a one-to-one level. They are motivated to offer support both emotional and moral to garner appreciation which boosts their self-concept greatly. As a result, they try to make multiple connections for their gratification as they secretly wish for someone to fulfil their needs without being asked for.

Enneagram type 2’s as introverts

Owing to the core nature of desire for having deep emotional connections, it is a high possibility for a type 2 to be an introvert. They are by nature, sensitive, feelers, independent, and warm individuals who are found to struggle with feelings of shame and guilt. The core motivation for type 2’s is to be good to themselves and be compassionate to others. They can be both others focused and self-focused which they may achieve at their healthiest level of development.

The two possible explanations for type 2’s to be introvert are as follows:

2 with a presence of type 1 wing –
Type 2 individuals who have a dominant type 1 wing are quieter than those with a type 3 wing. The 2w1 individuals want to be morally right and do justice to their loved ones. They lay greater focus on perfectionism and will not hesitate going to the extra mile to support what seems right to them. Such individuals, therefore, are more reserved and like their personal space than other subtypes of the type 2.
2 as an instinctual social type –
This subtype of the enneagram 2 personality makes them ambitious individuals who are powerful and intellectual. They crave and work best with collaborative relationships and are often found to have workaholic tendencies. By this desire of being seen as in control, this subtype is in reality the most introverted type 2 individuals.

FAQ’s

Which enneagram types are introverts?

Enneagram type 4, 5 and 6 are more likely to be introverts. While 4 falls under the feeling centre, 5 and 6 falls under the thinking centre. 4’s like to think that no one truly ever understands them, and they like being with themselves. 5’s & 6’s are intellectual and like to analyse situations and feelings which is why they often like to keep to themselves.

What does an unhealthy enneagram 2 look like?

At an unhealthy level, type 2’s can feel highly vulnerable as they have low self-esteem. They may feel like they are not worthy of love and try to create dependencies in relationships by being manipulative. They also have poor self-image and start to believe that they are only worthy of being loved if they can be of use to other people.

Can you have two enneagram types?

No, it is not possible to have two enneagram types. There will always be one dominant type of personality of each individual, but there can be other supportive characteristics from other types in the form of wings. Wings are complementary traits that add strength to an individual’s abilities. however, it is possible to have more than one wing as more self-aware individuals are able to channelise their secondary personality characteristics as and when required.

Can you be an introverted enneagram 7?

No, it is highly unlikely for an enneagram type 7 to be an introvert because their basic desire is to experience joy and freedom. They often do not like to stay at one place for a long period of time as they fear the feeling of being trapped. Therefore, it is not possible for a 7 to be an introvert, though their behaviour may appear so.

Which enneagram is the rarest?

Enneagram 8s are the rarest of all enneagram types. 8s are challengers and are said to have born leadership qualities. They enjoy challenging themselves and have enormous willpower and vitality. Some of the famous 8 personalities include Donald Trump, Pablo Picasso, & Indira Gandhi.

Are enneagram 9 introverts?

A large number of type 9’s are introverts as they like to be insulated from the chaos of the world. Their basic desire is to have inner stability and peace of mind which may motivate them to be alone as they also fear conflicts. At their best, they can be generous, empathetic, and caring which does not need them to be extroverted. So it is true that enneagram 9’s are introverts.

Conclusion

In this article, we looked at how enneagram 2’s can be introverts. The two reasons that we attributed to explain this were either the presence of a type 1 wing or being the social subtype.

In conclusion, it is possible for enneagram 2 to be an introvert or an extrovert. Additionally, it is found that 2’s are also likely to be ambiverts as they like social interactions but also enjoy their personal time and space. Ultimately, it all depends upon our individual differences and childhood experiences to have either of these dominant characteristics. It is also possible for 2s to switch from being an introvert to an extrovert by being self-aware, paying more attention to one’s reflex behaviour, and consciously making an effort to become more open to new experiences and interactions.