Unlike the four basic personalities, which deal with inborn traits, your Enneagram personality is meant to protect you from painful emotions and fears. Over time, Fives pull away from the outside world and start living in their heads. Fearing that other people may be unreliable, they decide to take care of their own needs in several ways:
- limiting their exposure to the outside world to conserve energy
- hoarding their resources and becoming minimalists
- gathering and storing information
About the Test
Each statement below describes a typical Type Five pattern. You can use this test to check whether you are a Type Five or to see how strongly you relate to Type Five traits.
If you score around 70 out of 100 or above, you are likely an Enneagram Type Five. In some cases, it may mean that you have a strong Five-Wing, such as 4w5 or 6w5. The best way to identify your type is to take all nine in-depth tests and compare your scores. You can also find a shorter version here.
1. I don’t want people to expect much from me.
2. I love my independence.
3. I’m not too worried about how I come across.
4. I’m not very generous.
5. I have very few friends, or no friends at all.
6. If I’m forced to accept someone’s help, I immediately buy thank-you gifts to stop feeling indebted.
7. If my feelings get hurt, I try to think about something else until it doesn’t hurt anymore.
8. I have fewer possessions than other people, and that’s enough for me.
9. Keeping things private is one of my top priorities.
10. I feel less prepared for life than other people.
11. When working with others, I want everything to be precise and clearly defined, including goals, responsibilities, and timing.
12. I don’t do small talk.
13. Breakups don’t seem particularly difficult for me.
14. To make a decision, I carefully consider and analyze all options.
15. I need to keep my brain busy.
16. I love knowing things most people don’t.
17. I care more about security, privacy, and knowledge than about image, prestige, or social needs.
18. I don’t need approval from others, but it’s nice to feel that my accomplishments are appreciated.
19. I can watch emotional scenes without getting affected.
20. I don’t offer much personal information; I usually just answer the questions I’m asked.
21. I avoid drama as much as I can.
22. I use my resources carefully.
23. I need plenty of time alone to recharge.
24. Even though I like being alone, I sometimes get secretly lonely. I wish I could meet someone interesting.
25. I want to become an expert in several fields.
26. I rarely feel lonely.
27. I dress for comfort rather than fashion.
28. When I feel emotions, I try not to show them.
29. I don’t want to get too attached to others.
30. If I judge others, it’s usually because I think they aren’t smart enough or didn’t do their research.
31. I love researching and processing information.
32. I want to look competent.
33. I limit contact with the outside world because my time, energy, and emotions are limited.
34. I don’t talk much unless it’s about one of the topics I’m interested in.
35. I withdraw from others because I need time and space to think.
36. I don’t expect anyone to take care of me.
37. Sometimes I ask questions just to keep the other person talking so I don’t have to share personal information.
38. I avoid asking for help as much as possible.
39. I watch the world around me, look for patterns, and try to anticipate what will happen.
40. I keep my neighbors at arm’s length.
41. I often misread people’s emotions, intentions, or what they really mean.
42. I spend a lot of time alone.
43. Sometimes I’m so busy with my thoughts that I become absent-minded. I misplace my keys, forget appointments, neglect my appearance, and stop interacting with my family.
44. I have no interest in parties or events where the conversation stays shallow.
45. I need to understand, analyze, and categorize things before getting involved, but by the time I do that, I usually don’t want to get involved anymore.
46. I avoid revealing my needs.
47. One of my biggest fears in relationships is that someone will demand that I give up my projects or somehow pull me off course.
48. I want to be able to disappear for a while without having to explain anything to anyone.
49. I prefer to keep different areas of my life separate. For example, I don’t introduce friends from one area of interest to friends from another.
50. I’m not into physical activity or exercise.
51. Usually, I work everything out in my mind before acting.
52. I protect my time and space.
53. I avoid people who try to dominate me.
54. I live inside my head.
55. I’m actually very attracted to people, but I can’t help keeping my guard up.
56. People accuse me of being unfeeling, and it bothers me a lot.
57. I avoid relationships with people who have too many needs.
58. It’s like I observe life from a distance.
59. I can stay calm in a crisis.
60. Having personal space feels almost as necessary as oxygen.
61. I can get by on very limited supplies.
62. Sometimes I have a lot to say, but I don’t bother because I don’t expect others to understand.
63. I can’t handle too much personal sharing, and I avoid people who overshare.
64. I try to look at things objectively.
65. I withdraw into my own world when outside demands feel like too much.
66. I use proven methods when they work, but I’m also open to unusual approaches.
67. I don’t want to become too emotional.
68. I don’t want to waste my time and energy on other people’s agendas.
69. I’m somewhat socially awkward.
70. I really value boundaries.
71. I’m a minimalist.
72. I’m a very self-sufficient person.
73. In general, I live an isolated life.
74. I’m not interested in leadership, but I would gladly build strategies, analyze, and research while someone else leads.
75. I’m wary of other people’s feedback because it might be distorted by their personal perceptions and agendas.
76. I focus on knowledge.
77. I pay far more attention to mental stimulation than physical needs. Sometimes I even forget to eat.
78. I want to understand how things work.
79. I try my best not to depend on anyone.
80. I have little tolerance for overly emotional people.
81. I often freeze when something unexpected happens.
82. I enjoy being seen as the person who “knows stuff.”
83. I don’t always know what’s socially appropriate.
84. Experiencing strong emotions feels like losing control.
85. I would rather work alone.
86. After-work dinners and socializing with colleagues don’t appeal to me at all.
87. Building up knowledge feels essential to my survival.
88. I keep other people’s secrets.
89. Even as a child, I preferred my own company.
90. I often avoid giving direct answers when people ask about me.
91. Very often, I would rather observe than participate.
92. I’m a little bit of a hoarder.
93. Many people want more from me than I’m willing to give.
94. Most of the time, spontaneity feels uncomfortable.
95. I often withhold information unless I’m asked direct and specific questions.
96. I find freedom in having less.
97. I avoid conflict as well as most other emotional situations.
98. I avoid making emotional decisions.
99. I often feel like I haven’t studied enough, read enough, or practiced enough to take the first step toward something.
100. I want to figure people out. I want to know what makes them tick.
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