WHAT’S UNDER THE HOOD
Type Eights are all about power, so any muscle car that’s fast, growls, and breaks the speed limit with just a touch of the throttle, is their vehicle of choice.
KEY INGREDIENTS OF A TYPE EIGHT “CHALLENGER”
- They have a very strong personality. It’s not as though they make an effort to be the most dominating personality in the room, it’s just that they are – naturally
- They are born to lead.
- Not all eights want to lead, but they are born to do it.
- Strength is the go-to solution to all of their problems
- Type Eights, while they can seem extroverted, will equally enjoy their alone time.
- They often have many hobbies that allow them to escape from society: fishing, photography, bird watching, hiking.
- Rules and laws are often a grey area. They will often cross that line to accomplish their goals.
- They are intimidating, not because they are bullies, it’s just how they carry themselves.
- They often are accused of being bullies, even though they are most of the time, not.
- Type Eights are respected
- They are not shy to share their opinion, or back down from their opinion.
- Typically considered “Alpha”
WHAT’S THEIR AGENDA?
Type Eights will want to survive and win, at all costs.
THEIR IMMEDIATE DEFENSE
Eights are not only natural leaders, they’re natural fighters. In the face of conflict, they will immediately punch back or retaliate in some shape or form. They are always up for a good debate, they’ll almost never back down from an argument, and they are more likely to welcome a fight – if, presented with the option.
WHAT IS THEIR BIGGEST FEAR?
To be weak or to lose.
WHO ARE THE EIGHTS IN THE REAL WORLD?
Most of the time, you will find either a Type One or a Type Eight in leadership roles. On the surface, they can be very similar.
General Patton, one of the most popular U.S. Generals in American History, served in the Mexican Revolution, World War I and II. He was vulgar and loved by his troops, yet his brash style of leadership divided high command.
Ray Lewis, one of the best linebackers in NFL history, used both physical and mental power, and fear, to lead his team to multiple championships. He was the undisputed leader of the Baltimore Ravens, more so than the quarterback.
Jillian Michaels made her footprint as the in-your-face exercise coach of The Biggest Loser. Type Eights are incredible motivators. They can push those that give up too early, past their mental barriers.
https://youtu.be/ow47PLQN0LA
Bevelyn Beatty is an outspoken black conservative woman who shares the gospel and conservative principles on the streets, to anyone who will listen. Quite often, she breaks the law to get her point across. While she is not the head of an official church or group, many follow her words because they admire her courage.
Michael Jordan another leader of men. Not well-loved by his teammates, but well-respected. In this Youtube clip, Ray Lewis opines on Jordan’s leadership style.
WHAT IS THEIR SPIRIT ANIMAL?
They are the bear, the tiger, or the lion. Strong and all-powerful.
FICTIONAL EXAMPLES
Authors have their favorite type of personalities they love to use for action movies. In no particular order, they are the Type One (Captain America), Type Four (Luke Skywalker), and Type Eight.
Unhealthy Type Eights, more obvious than others, require a lot of personal development. Audiences quickly recognize their flaws. They are brash, reactionary, lawbreakers, and can easily make enemies. But remember, they are no better or worse than any other personality out there.
WOLVERINE “TYPE EIGHT” UNHEALTHY CHALLENGER
Wolverine was your introverted selfish Eight who was forced into a heroic role. He always wanted a normal life, but throughout the centuries he spent on earth, he felt he could never be redeemed. Not being redeemable is not a character trait of a Type Eight, that’s more a Type Four personality trait, by the way. Hollywood will sometimes mash personality types up.
Unhealthy Type Eights will be more reclusive, caught up in their mind, and only into themselves. When they are healthy, they will step up into leadership roles. Wolverine was never a leader, but in the end, that’s what he ended up becoming.
MARTIN RIGGS UNHEALTHY TYPE “EIGHT”
When we first meet Martin Riggs, he’s a bit crazy, and a loose cannon, but he gets the job done. His partner, Roger Murtaugh, is a Type One, by the books. Usually, Type One and Type Eights, team up in movies to form the perfect crime-fighting team. That’s your usual buddy cop equation.
DEADPOOL BREAKS ALL THE RULES
There isn’t a rule Deadpool won’t break. From talking to the audience, to fast-forwarding his own movie, to killing Ryan Reynolds (the actor who plays him). Anything to win, anything to entertain. He’ll even travel back in time after the movie to write himself a happy ending. Deadpool is a comedic spin on an Unhealthy Type Eight. Growth comes for Deadpool when he becomes a team player and thinks more about others, than just himself.
TRIGGERS FOR THE TYPE EIGHT
Nothing pisses off a Type Eight more than a smarty pants with a sharp tongue, who will passive-aggressively throw insults their way.
Eight’s typically are also bothered by weakness. They don’t want their strength insulted, and if you’re weak, they won’t appreciate that either.
THE UNHEALTHY TYPE EIGHT
Ironically, when a Type Eight is not at his or her best, and they have exhausted defending themselves physically, they are just as mentally fragile as a Type Five. And like an unhealthy type Five, they will retreat and hide in their cave until they feel it’s safe to come out.
But it will take a lot to get there.
A typical Unhealthy Type Eight will usually kick and scream before they crawl into their cave.
DISRESPECT FOR LAW AND ORDER
Unhealthy Eights can lead Unhealthy Type Six Loyalists into militant style riots in cities. Loyalists will take on the ideals and motivations of the Type Eight, will become counterphobic, and will destroy what they fear. In the case of Antifa, The Type Eight will lead the Type Six into a world of fear, to trigger their counterphobic personality traits.
THE HEALTHY TYPE EIGHT
THE CONTEMPLATIVE MIND
Type Eights are probably the most reactive out of the nine personality types on the Enneagram. And sometimes, maybe even often-times, their reactions can get them in a lot more trouble than a situation calls for.
Challengers should always strive to engage their contemplative mind so they don’t overreact, in other words, “Thinking before you _____.” And while this is a good rule of thumb for all personality types, it is the Type Eight that needs to practice slowing their mind, so they don’t escalate conflicts.
THE NATURAL BORN LEADER AND HELPER
For some reason, when Eights slow their mind just a little, they become one of the best teachers and leaders out there. Their leadership style works well for those who keep repeating the same mistakes, over-and-over again, and need to whipped into shape. They make great coaches.
HEALTHY CHARACTERISTICS
A healthy Type Eight will be less argumentive, and understand, that not everyone can be forced into being strong. They also should realize that not everyone can be lead in the same militant fashion.
MISCHARACTERIZATIONS
One of the most common mistakes of early practitioners of the Enneagram, is to classify anyone who they disagree with as a Type Eight, when that personality is actually a Type One.
Not everyone who is intimidating, is a Type Eight.
Not every bully, is a Type Eight. All personalities can be bullies
Just because you feel someone is argumentive, does not mean they are a Type Eight. Type Ones are just as argumentive.
President Trump is often regarded as a Type Eight because his passion and policies clash with those who disagree with him. He also won’t back down from a debate and seems very intimidating. But so far, he is not a person that breaks laws, even though, opposing politicians have tried to paint him as a lawbreaker. He’s been audited every year by the IRS, and came up clean. He was investigated for three-years by the FBI for collusion, and came up clean. Being President has not made him wealthier. In fact, it’s endangered his and his family’s life, and hurt the earnings of his company. The opposing party desperately believes President Trump is an Unhealthy Type Eight, but unfortunately for them, he’s not.
He is a Type One who is just very passionate about what he believes in.
WORKING WITH A TYPE EIGHT
Type Eights work well in leadership positions. If they are placed in subordinate positions, they must be lead by a Type Eight or One. If your leader is any other personality type, the Eight will literally eat that person for lunch. They will not respect a leader, who is a beta.
Eights can pull a team together or tear it apart. Be very careful where you place them, and how you use them.
And finally, now onto our final personality type, The Type Nine “Peacekeeper.”
Steve Young
