Enneagram Type 9: The Peacemaker

Core motivation: to keep things as they are and live in harmony with others

Coping strategies: avoiding conflict and pretending problems do not exist

Fundamental needs: peace and harmony

Other names: The Peacemaker, The Mediator

Healthy: likable, humble, calm, optimistic, supportive, non-confrontational

Average: passive, complacent, imaginative, adaptable

Unhealthy: lazy, passive-aggressive, stubborn, unmotivated, depressed

If you do not know your Enneagram type, try this test.

To understand Type Nine, it is important to understand their core desire: to live in peace and harmony. Nines value their inner balance, and they do not want anyone or anything to disturb it. They want to continue living in their happy world, with no major ups or downs.

Any attempt to drag them out of this world is likely to be met with passive resistance. This is not because Nines have no opinions of their own. It is not because they are lazy sloths either. In fact, Nines can be, and often are, very wise.

First, they can understand many different perspectives. Second, they do not rush to conclusions. Third, they realize that most problems are not worth worrying about. And yes, they definitely have their own opinions, but they do not believe they have to express them every time.

Productive

Nines are not necessarily lazy couch potatoes. Some Nines can be very active and productive. Once they choose their objective, they are not easily distracted like some other Enneagram types.

Considerate

Nines do not gossip, and it is not because they have no opinions to express. They avoid gossip for two main reasons: they find it extremely distasteful, and they genuinely do not want to hurt other people’s feelings.

Calm

Nines rarely experience strong emotions, whether positive or negative.

Objective

Nines do not usually express strong opinions because, most of the time, they can see the same problem from different perspectives. On top of that, they are expert mediators. Calm and objective Nines are excellent at diffusing tension and resolving disputes.

Passive-Aggressive

Nines have their own passive-aggressive ways of dealing with disagreements. Instead of yelling and arguing, they may tune the other person out and sit passively, doing nothing.

They know very well that this strategy can drive some other types insane and make the other person look bad. That is exactly what they want.

When Nines are asked to do something they do not want to do, they may appear agreeable and then do nothing.

Escapist

When Nines do not want to face reality, they may use different forms of distraction, such as reading, watching television, playing games, and so on.

It does not have to be traditional entertainment. Some Nines may spend their time reading about history or science, or simply accumulating useful information.

Tired

Because Nines avoid dealing with their problems and suppress their emotions, they often feel exhausted. They may sleep a lot or take many naps.

Momentum

Nines have a strong tendency to go with the flow. Once momentum picks up, they keep going in that direction.

This can be positive or negative. They may become very active, or they may become very lazy, but once they start moving in a certain direction, they tend to keep doing what they are doing.

As a result, you can often see Nines stuck in dead-end jobs, bad relationships, or both.

Changing direction is very hard for Nines.

Denial

Nines want to live in peace in the happy world they have built for themselves, with no major ups and downs. When a problem arises, unhealthy Nines are likely to ignore it. When someone demands that they do something about it, they may downplay the importance of the issue.

“Do not worry. It is going to be fine.”
“There is nothing we can do about it anyway.”

If they are still forced to do something about it, they may do only the absolute minimum needed to satisfy the demand.

Very unhealthy Nines can ignore serious problems in their own lives or in the lives of their family members. Their spouses and children may realize that they are unreliable, while Nines themselves may not understand how much suffering their neglect causes.

Selfish or Selfless?

There is a stereotype that Nines hesitate to express their needs and always prioritize everyone else. While this is certainly true of some Nines, it is not a rule. Some Nines prioritize their own peace and comfort, even at the expense of others.

Selfish or Selfless: Egoism and Altruism Test

Hesitant

One reason Nines do not usually assert their needs is that many times, they themselves do not know what they want. Because many Nines are trained from an early age to ignore themselves and please others, they may reach adulthood with very little idea of what would actually make them happy.

However, it is important to remember that every Nine has either an Eight-Wing or a One-Wing. Those with a strong Eight-Wing can be very assertive. Those with a strong One-Wing can be very principled.

They do not always go along to get along, and they can assert their need for peace quite aggressively.

For example, they may refuse to pick up the phone or answer texts because they want to relax. They might become angry because you woke them up. In moments like these, they are not particularly concerned about what other people think of them.

Likable

Nines’ emotional steadiness and gentleness make them good friends. However, they may sometimes struggle to establish deep connections because that requires sharing real opinions and feelings, which does not come naturally to them.

Wings

The Nine with a One-Wing (9w1)

The Nine with an Eight-Wing (9w8)

You may want to take this 100-question test to measure how strongly you relate to Type Nine.

Famous Nines

• Keanu Reeves
• Carl Jung

Enneagram Type Nine and MBTI

Nines are likely to test as ISTPs and INFPs.