Enneagram 5w4 is a blend of characteristics of both Type 4 and Type 5 with type 5 being the core type.
People of both types can seem very withdrawn and individualistic, but those with core type 4 are typically more emotional and self-revealing.
5w4s may seem very unconventional, even weird. They aren’t very expressive and may seem cold and distant.
However, those with strong Four-wing may experience intense emotions. 5w4s aren’t incapable of feeling emotions; they only have difficulty expressing them.
Similarly, they feel uneasy when others become emotional in their presence — 5w4s don’t know how to deal with it.
Unsurprisingly, other types often feel that a relationship with the 5w4 is very unsatisfying.
5w4 is an artistic type, but their art isn’t about love or beauty. Because they are essentially Fives, they are likely to produce abstract or even fantastic art. 5w4s may use their work as a means to express unusual concepts or raise difficult questions.
When it comes to books and movies, people with personality type 5w4 tend to prefer fantasy rather than romance. Both Fours and Fives are very imaginative, but Fives aren’t as romantic and empathetic as Fours.
There is a difference between the two, however: While type 4s are driven by their desire to be authentic and to find the missing part, type 5s strive to increase their knowledge to be able to cope with the world’s demands.
Fives with a Four-Wing are independent people and prefer to work alone, or at least they need to be able to set their own schedule. They resist deadlines and do everything they can to avoid being controlled by others.
5w4s are more emotionally delicate than the core type. When faced with difficulties, Fives tend to intellectualize everything.
Intellectualization is a defense mechanism that involves removing one’s self emotionally from a stressor. Fives indulge in thinking and the logical analysis of the upsetting events to avoid feeling negative emotions.
However, those with a Four-Wing can be quite emotional. For example, it’s not unusual for 5w4s to be sensitive to criticism or other people’s opinions about them.
Emotional volatility varies from person to person; not all 5w4s are the same. Because sensitivity is a characteristic of type 4, Fives with a stronger Four-Wing are usually more emotional than those with a weak Four-Wing.
Similarly, Fives tend to neglect their personal appearance, but Fours are extremely image-conscious. 5w4s are still Fives, but thanks to their Four-Wing, they typically put a little more effort into their appearance than the 5w6 subtype.
5w4s tend to get lost in their intellectual world and become increasingly impractical. They may spend too much time reading, analyzing, fantasizing, dreaming instead of taking action and getting real results.
5w4s must resist the temptation to live in their heads and limit the amount of impractical information they consume passively.
Some good questions to ask:
- What needs to happen for me to feel comfortable to take action?
- Is this information useful?
- What am I missing out on by isolating myself from others?
- What am I trying to avoid by withdrawing from others?
- How can I stop comparing myself to those who are more fortunate than me?
- Am I arrogant?
- Looking back at the last twenty-four hours, how much time did I spend in my head?
- What can I do to achieve a better balance between my intellectual pursuits and physical activities?
- How can I learn to live more in the here and now?
- What is the missing part I am trying to find?
Unhealthy 5w4s may have problems with depression, envy, and self-hatred.
To sum up, 5w4s are
- introverted
- withdrawn
- imaginative
- visionary
- original
- creative
- innovative
- intuitive
- restless
- sophisticated
- independent
- perceptive
- curious
If you aren’t sure whether you are 5w4 or 4w5, you can take this Enneagram test.
Photo by snowing via Freepik
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