Are you optimistic, curious and always on the lookout for the next opportunity? Then you may be a type 7.
Type 7 at a glance
| Centre | Head (thought) |
| Basic fear | Being trapped in pain or deprivation |
| Basic desire | Being content, free and satisfied |
| Passion | Gluttony |
| Fixation | Planning |
| Wings | Type 6 and type 8 |
| Under stress | Type 1 |
| In security | Type 5 |
How to recognise type 7
- You see possibilities and positives everywhere.
- You like variety and new experiences.
- You struggle with limitations and boredom.
- You readily plan future adventures.
- You can avoid difficult emotions by staying busy.
Your strengths
Type 7 are enthusiastic, versatile and inspiring. They create energy and see solutions.
Under pressure and in security
Under pressure, type 7 can become critical and perfectionistic (traits from type 1). In security they become more focused and deep (traits from type 5).
Do you recognise yourself?
All nine types come in three subtypes. Your basic type stays the same, but the subtype colours the whole expression, and this is often where the last doubt is cleared away.
| Subtype | Hallmark | Often falls into |
|---|---|---|
| Self-preservation | A practical networker, creates options and comfort | Comfort becoming the goal in itself |
| Social | Postpones its own pleasure for a cause, wants to be useful | Idealism becoming another kind of escape |
| One-to-one | Lives in the possible, falls in love with ideas and images | The fascination fading once reality turns up |
Where are you right now?
Riso-Hudson divides each type into nine levels of development, grouped into three ranges: levels 1-3 are the healthy ones, 4-6 the average and 7-9 the unhealthy. It is not a grade but a state, and you move between them — sometimes over the course of a single day.
| Range | How type 7 looks |
|---|---|
| In good form levels 1-3 | You are present in what you already have. The joy becomes deep rather than broad, and your eye for possibilities is spent on something specific instead of on everything. |
| In everyday life levels 4-6 | What comes next matters more than what is here. You keep many balls in the air, say yes to too much and move on as soon as something turns dull or difficult. |
| Under pressure levels 7-9 | The escape becomes desperate. Impulses take over, consumption rises, and you can turn careless towards the people trying to slow you down. |
Each of the nine levels is described in depth by Riso-Hudson. If you want to work with them in depth, we go through them on Enneagram Kurser's courses.
Not sure of your type?
Descriptions can point to several types, a test gives a reliable starting point.
Want to take the Enneagram further? Read the full description of type 7 on enneagram.dk, see our Enneagram courses for individuals and companies, or find a date on an open course.
Frequently asked questions about type 7
How do I know if I am a type 7?
Look at your motivation, not just your behaviour: type 7 is driven by being content, free and satisfied. An Enneagram test like 360indicator gives a valid indication.
What is the core motivation of type 7?
Being content, free and satisfied, and to avoid being trapped in pain or deprivation.
What is type 7 confused with?
Type 7 is most often confused with type 3 and type 8. This is based on our own data: of the 490 users the test suggested type 7 for, 88.8% chose type 7, and the rest most often moved to those two types. A test and a conversation about core motivation help to tell them apart.
What are the wings of type 7?
Type 7 has wing 6 and wing 8, the two types on either side in the Enneagram circle. Most people lean towards one more than the other. A 7 with a 6 wing is more loyal and responsible. A 7 with an 8 wing is more forceful and action-oriented. The wings explain why two people of the same type can seem very different.
How does type 7 react under stress and in security?
Under stress type 7 moves towards type 1 and starts to show some of that type's patterns. In security the movement goes towards type 5. This is not a change of type, but sides of yourself that become more visible depending on your state. It is precisely why you cannot read a person's type from behaviour alone.
How do you communicate best with a type 7?
Keep the tone light and get to the point. Do not close down options straight away, but let them think out loud. Too many restrictions at once makes them withdraw.
How often do people choose a type other than type 7?
Among the users who were given type 7 in the full 360indicator profile and took a position on the result, 88.8 per cent confirmed the type. Those who chose differently most often went to type 3, type 8 or type 9. The figures are based on 6,330 completed profiles in 360indicator's own database and describe the people who have taken this test, not the population as a whole.
What do the levels of development mean for type 7?
Riso-Hudson divides each type into nine levels of development, grouped in three ranges: levels 1-3 are the healthy ones, 4-6 the average and 7-9 the unhealthy. It is not a grade but a state you move between. For type 7 it looks like this. In good form: You are present in what you already have. In everyday life: What comes next matters more than what is here. Under pressure: The escape becomes desperate.