An Enneagram 5w4 is motivated by the pursuit of knowledge, like all Type 5s, but they specifically focus on abstract concepts, deep understanding, meaning making, and “the big picture.”
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Enneagram 5w4 - Type 5 Wing 4
Summary of what is an Enneagram Type 5w4?Page contents:
- - What is an Enneagram 5w4?
- - Type 5w4 Fears and Desires
- - Type 5w4 Strengths and Weaknesses
- - Distribution Between Core Type Five vs 5w4 vs 5w6
- - Type 5w4 Career Choices
- - Famous People with Type 5w4
Type Fives are seekers of knowledge and wisdom. Type Fours feel emotions deeply and take time to appreciate the beauty of life. In the Enneagram, Type Fives are adjacent to Type Fours. Therefore, some Type Fives share a few of the perspectives of Type Fours. These are known as Type Fives with a Four-wing, or Type 5w4.
What is an Enneagram 5w4?
What is a Type 5 wing 4 on the Enneagram?Type Fives, knowns as “the Investigators,” are the most cerebral of the Enneagram types. Type Fours seek to cultivate a heart-felt experience of the depths as well as the heights of human experience. A four wing can bring a type five into the heart center. A Type Five with a Four wing is more in touch with their emotions (though they still keep their emotional life very private) and expresses a deeper need for intimate connections with partners and close friends.
Enneagram 5w4 Types are great observers and researchers like type fives, but they tend to be more imaginative and introspective, with artistic or esoteric interests. These solitary creatives value their personal privacy and care very little what society thinks of them. Some of the greatest works of literature and philosophical insights have been achieved by 5w4s, but they are hindered by a reticence that often prevents them from sharing their contributions with the world.
Some of the greatest works of literature and philosophical insights have been achieved by 5w4s, but they are hindered by a reticence that often prevents them from sharing their contributions with the world.
Here are some of the key traits to a Type 5w4 personality.
- Deep and sensitive thinkers
- Diligent worker if working on something they love
- Strong attention to detail and ability to read situations/people
- Can produce creative and emotional work
Did you know: When unhealthy and stressed, Enneagram 5w4 Types are prone to retreat into their mind and feel alone and low self-worth.
Type 5w4 Fears and Desires
A list of the core fears and desires of Type 5w4As humans, we all have fears and desires. As a 5w4, it is likely you will share some common fears and desires with other Enneagram 5w4 people.
Fears
Things Enneagram 5w4 Types should avoidCore fear: Type 5w4s have a rich inner life. The greatest fear of Type 5w4 is to have this private world exposed.
- Having to conform to structures and rules that take them away from their intellectual pursuits
- Expending energy and time without finding answers
- Being unable to communicate/being misunderstood
Desires
Things Enneagram 5w4 Types should seekCore desire: To make a unique and significant cultural or artistic contribution.
- To understand universal concepts
- To explain deep feelings
- To bond with a significant other over a shared pursuit of knowledge
Type 5w4 Strengths and Weaknesses
A list of the main Type 5w4 strengths and weaknessesEvery Enneagram type, even types with wings such as 5w4, has strengths and weaknesses. Here we will list the 5w4 strengths and weaknesses:
Type 5w4 Strengths | Type 5w4 Weaknesses |
---|---|
A healthy balance between knowledge and emotion | Retreating into fantasies |
Creative problem-solving | Disregard for rules and authority |
Artistic expression | Performative expression rather than authentic engagement |
Capable of deep intimate friendships | Feeling misunderstood, operating as loners or “strangers in a strange land” |
When 5w4s balance their intellectual curiosity with their capacity for deep emotions, blending keen observation with passionate interest in life, they can become visionary leaders and artists.
Data: Distribution Between Core Type 5 vs Type 5w4 vs Type 5w6
Is one wing type more common than the other?Some Type 5s do not exhibit wing traits significantly enough to say they have a wing. When this happens we say they are a 'core' Type 5. Not all Type 5s have a wing, indeed 5w6 is very rare.
Figure 1: Type 5 vs Type 5w4 vs Type 5w6
What this chart shows
This chart shows that 65.6% of Type 5s do not have a wing type, in other words they are 'core' Type 5s. And 33.3% of Type 5s are 5w4 and only 1.1% are 5w6.
Notes:- 1. n=27985
- 2. Population: global
- 3. Dataset last updated:
Type 5w4 Career Choices
What are some of the common career choices for Enneagram 5w4?All personality types are naturally drawn to certain careers over others. Here we have compiled a list of three sectors that Type 1w2s have a proclivity for and three that are likely to clash with a Type 5w4 personality type.
Career choices
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Author
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System Analyst
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Researcher
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Salesperson
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Delivery or Passenger Vehicle Driver
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Professional Athlete
Understandably, this career list is not prescriptive. There will be many Enneagram Type 5w4 careers that are successful and in the 'not recommended' sectors.
Famous People With Type 5w4
Which famous people are Enneagram 5w4s?These famous individuals have the personality Type 5w4. Are you also 5w4? Do you recognize any personality similarities you can relate to?
Albert Einstein
20th Century German Theoretical Physicist and Astronomer
Nikola Tesla
Nineteenth Century Serbian-American Engineer and Inventor
Jordan Peterson
Contemporary Canadian Psychologist and Neuroscientist.
Friedrich Nietzsche
German Philosopher
Stanley Kubrick
Film Director (Science Fiction)
Stephen King
American Author
Emily Dickinson
Nineteenth Century American Poet
Have we missed anyone?
Our research is always ongoing so please let us know if you think we've missed a noteworthy Type 5w4 worth highlighting.
Chloe Yarwood, MSc
University of Chichester, Advanced Applied Psychology
Chloe Yarwood, MSc in Advanced Applied Psychology from University of Chichester. Specialist in personality type theory and developing valid personality questionnaires.