One is one of the nine personality types of the Enneagram, and is sometimes called the Reformer, the Critic, or the Perfectionist. The Enneagram Figure The Enneagram (also sometimes called Enneagon) is a nine-pointed geometric figure. ...

Basic Description

Reformers are people who feel a need to improve their environments and overcome moral adversity in order to make the world a better place. Reformers learn to repress their emotions and instincts in order to stay true to their principles. By trying to become perfect, they create their own personal hells. Only when Reformers realize that it is important to trust life and accept things the way they are can they truly improve themselves.

Childhood

Reformers often feel that they had to be good kids in order to be accepted. They become serious and take on responsibilities at a young age. Reformers often feel a disconnection from their biological fathers. This does not mean that their fathers were bad parents; it's just that an essential bonding never took place. As a result, the child decides to become his or her own father-figure and try to live up to this new figure's rigorous standards.

Wings

One With A Nine Wing: The Idealist

Healthy

When 1w9s are healthy, they are often scholarly and reclusive. However, they are seen as kind, generous, and considerate. They are often intellectuals and are devoted to their principles.

Average

When ones are average, they tend to also be reclusive, but they are also elitist and condescending to people they consider "less" than themselves.

Unhealthy

Unhealthy 1w9s cut themselves off from their emotions and contradictions. They resist contrary opinions to their own, and they have no compassion for others. They become obsessed with the wrongdoings of others and try to rectify them, while ignoring contradictions in their own behavior. They do not realize how much harm they inflict on others.

Examples of 1w9s

Examples of 1w9s are Plato, Gandhi, Sandra Day O'Connor, George Harrison, Henry David Thoreau, Martha Stewart, Katharine Hepburn, Al Gore, George F. Will, Noam Chomsky, and Mr. Spock. For other uses, see Plato (disambiguation). ... Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (Gujarati: , Hindi: , IAST: mohandās karamcand gāndhī, IPA: ) (October 2, 1869 – January 30, 1948) was a major political and spiritual leader of the Indian Independence Movement. ... Sandra Day OConnor (born March 26, 1930) is an American jurist who served as the first female Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1981 to 2006. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Henry David Thoreau (July 12, 1817 – May 6, 1862; born David Henry Thoreau) was an American author, naturalist, transcendentalist, tax resister, development critic, and philosopher who is most well-known for Walden, a reflection upon simple living in natural surroundings, and his essay, Civil Disobedience, an argument for individual resistance... Martha Stewart (born August 3, 1941) is an American business magnate, author, editor, former stock broker and model, convicted criminal and homemaking advocate. ... Katharine Houghton Hepburn (May 12, 1907 – June 29, 2003) was an iconic four-time Academy Award-winning American star of film, television and stage, widely recognized for her sharp wit, New England gentility and fierce independence. ... Albert Arnold Gore, Jr. ... George Frederick Will (born May 4, 1941 in Champaign, Illinois) is a American conservative editorialist, journalist, and author. ... Avram Noam Chomsky, Ph. ... Spock, commonly called Mr. ...

One With A Two Wing: The Advocate

Healthy

People who are 1w2s put their moral ideals and desire to help others into a powerful reform package. They are persuasive and enlist multitudes of others to help their good causes.

Average

These outgoing people are also good at politics, but they are also very critical and irritable when they are frustrated.

Unhealthy

Unhealthy 1w2s are intolerant, condescending, and manipulative. They deceive themselves about their motives and are self-righteous when these motives are questioned. They are hypocrites. These people may have physical problems, compulsive habits, or nervous breakdowns because they are so anxious about their self-contradictions.

Examples of 1w2s

Examples include Joan Baez, John Bradshaw, Jerry Brown, Hillary Clinton, Céline Dion, Jane Fonda, Emma Thompson, Ralph Nader, Vanessa Redgrave, and John Paul II. Joan Chandos Báez (born January 9, 1941) is an American folk singer and songwriter known for her highly individual vocal style. ... John Bradshaw (1602-59) was one of the judges to preside over the trial and subsequent death sentence of Charles I of England. ... Edmund Gerald Jerry Brown, Jr. ... Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton (born October 26, 1947), was First Lady of the United States from 1993 to 2001, as the wife of President Bill Clinton. ... Céline Marie Claudette Dion (OC, OQ) (born March 30, 1968) is a French Canadian Grammy and Juno award winning pop singer and occasional songwriter. ... Lady Jayne Seymour Fonda (born December 21, 1937) is an American actress, writer, political activist, former fashion model, and fitness guru. ... Thompson in the 1989 film The Tall Guy Emma Thompson (born April 15, 1959) is a two-time Academy Award and BAFTA-winning English actress, comedienne, and screenwriter. ... Ralph Nader Ralph Nader (born February 27, 1934) is an American attorney and political activist. ... Vanessa Redgrave during the 2004 season of Nip/Tuck. ... Coat of Arms of Pope John Paul II. The Letter M is for Mary, the mother of Jesus, to whom he held strong devotion Pope John Paul II (Latin: ), (Italian: Giovanni Paolo II), born   (May 18, 1920 – April 2, 2005) reigned as Pope of the Roman Catholic Church from October...

Instincts

Self-Preservational Instinct

Average

These types of Reformers worry about their material well-being, and have a strong drive for self-gratification. However, their superegos tend to counter such drives. Each mistake they make is a catastrophe to them. They are often fastidious about their environments, such as Felix Unger in The Odd Couple. Whatever they worry about, they scold in others. Health conscious Reformers would scold others for not taking care of their health, while penny-pinching Reformers would scold others for not taking care of their finances.

Unhealthy

Unhealthy self-preservational Reformers often become obsessed with health matters and go between unhealthy extremes of binging and purging.

Social Instinct

Average

Social Reformers believe that their values are objective. They work hard to make sure the reforms they see as important come into reality. Their sense of themselves comes from their ability to hold strong opinions and argue about them. Their views are rigid and become a sort of armor that protects them from the world.

Unhealthy

When unhealthy, social Reformers hold unrealistic standards for themselves, others, and society as a whole. They rant and rave about what they see as the imperfections of humanity.

Sexual Instinct

Average

Sexual Reformers search for an idealized partner who holds similar ideals, leading to broken relationships because their partners do not reach their standards. They put a high emphasis on fidelity and fear abandonment. They may feel a need to monitor their partner's actions and whereabouts, and become very critical and controlling.

Unhealthy

Sexual Reformers at this level feel alternating bouts of desire and repression of that desire. They may believe that controlling the partner is the solution to their problems. Their jealousy leads them to question the partner constantly. In extreme cases, they try to punish themselves or their partners in order to get rid of their desires.

Issues Reformers Will Face in Their Lives

• Feeling the weight of the world on their shoulders
• Feeling the need to educate others in condescending ways
• Anger for not living up to their own ideals
• Striving for their (often impossible) ideals
• A need to make progress in order to justify their existence
• Always being right
• Being fastidious and rigidly punctual
• Unhealthy self-restraint
• Being hypercritical and hypocritical
• Perfectionism

Levels of Development

Self-Development

• Recognize that the voice in your head that commands what to do is neither you or the voice of God. Pay attention to how it tells you to change your environment.
• Notice when you try to push yourself beyond your limits. Take breaks.
• The weight of the world is not on your shoulders. Let others help you. They will not think less of you.
• Don't be afraid to compliment others. Since you are known for your honesty, the compliment will mean a lot.
• Let others know when you realize you have emotional needs. Being honest about your vulnerabilities builds up your integrity.
• Accept that you are not perfect and never will be.
• Recognize and accept your anger. Massage and yoga would work wonders for you.

Gifts

• Honesty
• Integrity
• Not being motivated by personal advantage or gain
• Ethical standards for personal guidance that aren't shoved in others' throats
• Self-discipline
• Wisdom and discernment

Other interesting facts

Basic Fear: Of being corrupt.
Basic Desire: To be good.
Passion: Anger
Virtue: Serenity
Holy Idea: Holy Perfection
Fixation: Resentment

References

Riso, Don Richard. Personality Types: Using the Enneagram for Self-Discovery. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1987. ISBN 0-395-40575-0.
Riso, Don Richard and Russ Hudson. The Wisdom of the Enneagram: The Complete Guide to Psychological and Spiritual Growth for the Types. New York: Bantam Books, 1999. ISBN 0-553-37820-1.