Opinion: The Enneagram: Self-discovery tool or pseudoscience?

Enneagram culture at Liberty University runs strong. Many people casually add it to their social media profiles and dive deep in enneagram guides. Others don’t believe in it at all.

According to The Enneagram Institute, the enneagram is a tool to help individuals learn more about themselves.

“At its core, the enneagram helps us to see ourselves at a deeper, more objective level and can be of invaluable assistance on our path to self-knowledge,” a statement on The Enneagram Institute’s website says.

Liberty students have mixed feelings towards the enneagram. Simply browsing student social media often reveals individuals who repost enneagram information, follow enneagram pages or even have their enneagram number written in their profile. Others denounce it as pseudoscience or un-Christian.

To determine your enneagram, all you must do is take a test and answer the questions within. From there you’re classified as one of nine types as well as two wings, which are the enneagram types on each side of your core type.  For example Type 1 is called, “the Reformer”. A few key traits for Type 1 include being perfectionistic, purposeful and self-controlled. Type 1 wings are 2 and 9, but one of the wings is usually more prominent and referred to as the “dominant wing”. 

Learning your type and diving into guides and information behind it potentially helps with self-discovery. Comments beneath enneagram social media posts are often full of discussions on how relatable and enlightening someone finds the information. 

Some workplaces even employ the enneagram system to help both in personal and professional areas. The system is rapidly growing as a resource in many contexts, but a deeper look at whether or not it’s a valid system reveals many concerns.

“Frankly, the enneagram is probably at the top of the list of ‘tests I would not recommend.’ It is pseudoscientific at best,” Luke Smillie, director of the Personality Processes Laboratory at the University of Melbourne, said in a discussion for an Inverse article.

Some people believe the enneagram is a non-credible system but still credit it for helping them to understand a lot about themselves. The enneagram may not be scientifically accurate but still uses scientific methods to offer its followers an introspective look at their personalities. Some people are fine without a concrete scientific explanation.

In religious circles— and specifically at Liberty—some have difficulty rationalizing the enneagram with their faith. The enneagram’s roots are questionable, with some voicing concerns over mystical or gnostic connections, among other reasons. 

Others view the enneagram as a tool that can teach more about themselves and how to best interact with other people.

I believe the enneagram can be used to help discover useful personality traits, but it needs to be carefully considered in relation with religious values. Pseudoscience can be dangerous, misleading, and promote ideas that are simply wrong. In this case, I believe it can provide good insights which can help personal growth. 

Robert Locklear is an Opinion Writer. Follow him on Twitter @rob_locklear