Enneagram 7w8: The Seven with an Eight-Wing

If Type Seven is a pleasure-seeking type, Sevens with an Eight-Wing do not live exclusively for pleasure. They are more goal-oriented and ambitious. To them, work is another excellent way to distract themselves from unhappy thoughts.

If you are unsure about your Enneagram type, you can take this test before you continue reading.

More than any other type, Sevens use the manic defense to deal with unpleasantness and anxiety. The essence of the manic defense is to keep uncomfortable feelings out of the conscious mind by staying busy or entertained.

The 7w8 lifestyle is intense. 7w8s rush from one activity to the next, feeling as if they need to be doing something all the time. And it does not necessarily have to be a leisure activity.

Keeping up with a 7w8 is not easy. Their tendency to neglect relationships with significant others, family, and even friends can make things even more complicated.

When it comes to relationships, people who belong to the 7w8 personality type are very clear about their needs and expectations. Still, they are not always considerate of other people’s needs.

To make matters worse, they do not express their wishes in order to make others comfortable sharing theirs. The attitude is more like, “Here is what I am about to do. Take it or leave it!”

These negative characteristics are more obvious in unhealthy 7w8s. Healthy 7w8s are typically more self-aware. They know their blind spots and make an intentional effort to slow down and evaluate their lives.

The 7w8, also known as the Realist, is an interesting combination. Type Seven is all about experiencing the best of this world and avoiding the unpleasant parts of life, while the Eight-Wing makes the 7w8 more self-confident, assertive, and driven.

On its own, Type Seven is excellent at producing new ideas but does not necessarily have what it takes to follow through. Having an Eight-Wing, however, helps 7w8s reach their goals so that financial limitations do not stand in the way of the more exclusive experiences they crave.

In that way, the 7w8 is similar to the 8w7 — both are looking for freedom, control, and experiences. The difference between the 7w8 and the 8w7 is their core type.

The core type is like a filter through which we see the world.

In the Enneagram model, the reason we do what we do — our motivation — is defined by our core type. Our wing adds extra flavor.

For the 8w7, invulnerability and the desire to control their environment come first, while experiences come second. For the 7w8, that order is reversed.

Still, it is easy for a 7w8 with a strong Eight-Wing to mistype as an 8w7. In some cases, finding the correct Enneagram type requires quite a bit of self-examination, and not everybody enjoys that.

You cannot understand someone’s inner world just by watching how they behave. Some types may look similar, but they do the same things for very different reasons. And sometimes we are not ready to acknowledge the truth about ourselves.

In this case, some 7w8s may prefer to think they are 8w7s because society tends to judge escapists and respect workaholics.

These two subtypes can look very similar. The only way to find the correct type is to examine the deeper need that drives the behavior.

Because 7w8s are fundamentally Sevens, they appear more cheerful and enthusiastic than 8w7s.

A typical 7w8 is less rebellious and confrontational than an 8w7. 7w8s prefer diplomacy over confrontation and, unlike 8w7s, are less likely to attack their opponents first.

8w7s are more protective of their loved ones than 7w8s. 7w8s put themselves first and generally believe that others should be able to take care of themselves, just as they do.

To sum up the difference between the two types, the 8w7 focuses on power and control, while the 7w8 focuses on planning and play.

You may want to read the Type Seven and Type Eight profiles, as well as the 8w7 profile.

Enneagram Test Type 7: 100 Signs You Are a Seven