Enneagram 8w7: The Eight with a Seven-Wing

While each Enneagram type has distinctive patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving, there are no clear boundaries where one type ends and another begins. Take the Enneagram test.

Like all other types, Type Eight interacts with its “neighbors” — Type Seven and Type Nine.

This means that an Eight will have some traits of Type Seven and Type Nine.

8w7, also known as “the Maverick,” stands for the Eight with a Seven-Wing. Depending on the person, the Seven-Wing can be strong, weak, or anything in between.

The core Type Eight personality defines the fundamental needs and motivations behind an 8w7’s actions, while the Seven-Wing gives this personality type extra flavor.

The combination of Type Eight and Type Seven characteristics produces a very worldly, materialistic, and forceful personality type.

People with the 8w7 personality type are very ambitious and interested in accumulating resources. Because their core type is Type Eight, they pursue their desires aggressively and usually achieve their goals.

Thanks to their Seven-Wing, 8w7s appreciate life and all it has to offer. Because they are still Eights, however, there is an underlying theme of control in their desire to experience the best of this world.

They feel there is a lot to experience, and they are not willing to let those things and experiences pass them by.

Type Eight can be very impulsive, and when combined with the Seven-Wing, it can produce big spenders who feel they deserve the things they buy.

However, because of their fundamental need for control, 8w7s will not usually ruin themselves by accumulating debts they cannot pay off.

While their need to accumulate resources to feel in control may contradict their urge to splurge, 8w7s solve this problem by working extra hard and buying the best they can afford.

8w7s are very proactive people with entrepreneurial skills. The Seven’s agile mind and curiosity, combined with the Eight’s ability to think strategically and confront problems head-on, can make them excellent businesspeople.

8w7s are comfortable taking the initiative. Their desire to build is expressed through their projects and businesses.

Their Seven-Wing helps them see possibilities, while their core Type Eight helps them pursue their objectives relentlessly without getting distracted by every shiny object.

Because 8w7s search for both power and experience, they are attracted to achievement and stimulation at the same time.

This results in a work-hard-play-hard approach to life: long days at the office, frequent parties and social events, extensive travel — the lifestyle 8w7s want to live.

Like all Eight subtypes, the 8w7 is very assertive and direct.

8w7s say what they think and are often regarded as blunt.

Whenever they are unhappy about something, others will know it. However, if their Seven-Wing is very strong, they will pick their battles carefully and let the unimportant things slide.

In addition, 8w7s do not typically concern themselves with other people’s opinions or how they come across. They do not hesitate to express their unhappiness or anger, but once they are done venting, they can quickly switch to other subjects.

It is important to mention that the negative aspects of the 8w7 personality type are more obvious in unhealthy 8w7s. Just like core types, wing types also have different health levels.

For example, while an unhealthy 8w7 can become bossy and controlling, a healthy 8w7 possesses quiet strength and confidence.

Healthy 8w7s do not aggressively express their power. They know the loudest person in the room is often the weakest one, and they do not need to show off their impressive power.

Because they value freedom, they want others to be free as well.

Not only do they avoid controlling others, but they also use their power and authority to fight bullies and help set others free.

For more information on 8w7, it may be useful to read through the two core type profiles: Type Seven here and Type Eight here.

You may also be interested in reading the 7w8 profile. It is common for 8w7s to mistype as 7w8s and vice versa, and this page also discusses the difference between the two.

Enneagram Test Type 8: 100 Signs You Are an Eight