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Summary of what is an Enneagram Type 2w1?
Page contents:
- - What is an Enneagram 2w1?
- - Type 2w1 Fears and Desires
- - Type 2w1 Strengths and Weaknesses
- - Distribution Between Core Type Two vs 2w1 vs 2w3
- - Enneagram Type 2 Wing 1 Career Choices
- - Famous People with Type 2w1
Type 2s are empathetic, caring, and are driven by wanting to be loved, needed and appreciated. Type Ones are driven in life to make positive change throughout the world. In the Enneagram, Type 2s are adjacent to Type 1s. Therefore, some Type 2s share a few of the behavioral tendencies of Type 1s. These are known as Type 2 with a One-wing, or Type 2w1.
What is an Enneagram 2w1?
What is a Type 2 wing 1 on the Enneagram?
Type Twos are known as “Helpers” because they are always looking for ways to help others, support and protect them, acting with empathy and care to create harmony and avoid conflict. Type Ones are known as “Reformers” because they have an innate drive to stand for just causes with principle to affect positive change. A one-wing adds these qualities to a Type Two personality. This means that a Type 2w1 will desire to help, care and protect others, but while aiding a wider cause for positive change. This can make Type 2w1 very useful as a companion for such causes. As a result, Type 2w1 are called “Companions”.
However, unlike “Helpers”, a One-Wing may struggle and become insecure when the times become trying and unharmonious. They will seek praise from others in these moments to reassure them, and may lose they own personal needs as they attempt to placate the needs of others. This can mean that “Companions” find difficulty in giving the most useful advice in difficult situations as opposed to just what others might want to hear.
An Enneagram Type 2 wing 2 is often motivated by helping those less fortunate than themselves whilst also enacting social change.
Type 2Primary Enneagram type
2w1Type Two with Type One wing
Enneagram 2w1 Types are caring and protective like Type Twos, but are purposeful and help with causes.
Remember, an Enneagram 2w1 is still a core Type Two, so they are generally caring and empathetic people. They make decisions based on their emotions and feelings and have a high level of emotional intelligence. However, the one-wing allows them to be more steadfast and principled.
Type 2w1Type Two Wing One
Here are some of the key traits to a Type 2w1 personality.
- Help those around them
- Make empathetic, principled choices
- Go out of the way to help the less fortunate
- Can be sensitive to feeling unloved
Did you know: When unhealthy and stressed, Enneagram 2w1 Types are prone to seek praise from others at the cost to integrity.
Type 2w1 Fears and Desires
A list of the core fears and desires of Type 2w1
Enneagram types have fears and desires - things to avoid and things to seek.
Fears
Things Enneagram 2w1 Types should avoid
Core fear: To be unwanted and regarded as unhelpful. This distorts 2w1 behavior to be itself unpleasant.
- Being criticized by others
- Feeling shame at their actions
- Ignoring themselves through acquiescing to others
Desires
Things Enneagram 2w1 Types should seek
Core desire: To be protective and support to those in need and to prevent harm where possible.
- Feeling needed and accepted
- Being a companion for others
- Being praised for their help
Type 2w1 Strengths and Weaknesses
A list of the main Type 2w1 strengths and weaknesses
Every Enneagram type, even Types with wings such as 2w1, has strengths and weaknesses. These are personality traits that help and others that hinder.
| Type 2w1 Strengths | Type 2w1 Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Potential high emotional intelligence | Insecure during conflict |
| Being acutely aware of the needs of others | Can try to help when it is not wanted or is possessive in nature |
| Willingness to make sacrifices | Seek praise from others |
| Defend the vulnerable and less able | Are sensitive to criticism |
Note: The one wing helps offset some of the overt individual compassion prevalent in core type twos by giving them a grander focus on something such as a cause. But are prone to being in situations that render them uncomfortable, insecure and open to criticism.
Data: Distribution Between Core Type 2 vs Type 2w1 vs Type 2w3
Is one wing type more common than the other?
Some Type 2s do not exhibit wing traits significantly enough to say they have a wing. When this happens we say they are a 'core' Type 2. Not all Type 2s have a wing, as we see in our research results below.
Figure 1: Type 2 and their wing types
What this chart shows
This chart shows that 61.1% of Type 2s do not have a wing type, in other words they are 'core' Type 2s. And 32.8% of Type 2s are 2w1 and 6% are 2w3.
Notes:- 1. n=27985
- 2. Population: global
- 3. Dataset last updated:
Enneagram Type 2 Wing 1 Career Choices
What are some of the common career choices for an Enneagram 2w1?
All personality types are naturally drawn to certain careers over others. Here we have compiled a list of three sectors that Enneagram 2w1 Types have a proclivity for and three that are likely to clash with a Type 2w1 personality type.
Career choices
Counselor- Aid Worker
- Paramedic
- Engineer
- Soldier
- Security Guard
Counselor
Engineer
Understandably, this career list is not prescriptive. There are lots of Type 2w1s that have happy and successful careers which do fall into the 'not recommended' category, but these cases tend to be in the minority.
Famous People With Type 2w1
Which famous people are Enneagram 2w1?
These famous individuals have the personality Type 2w1. Are you also 2w1? Do you recognize any personality similarities you can relate to?
Jacinda Ardern
New Zealand politician and 40th prime minister of New Zealand.
Henry Cavill
British actor.
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan
Indian actress and model, winner of Miss World 1994.
Ron Howard
American film director.
Emperor Emeritus Akihito of Japan
125th Emperor of Japan from 1989 to 2019.
Margot Robbie
Australian actress and producer.
Bae Suzy
South Korean singer, actress and model.
Have we missed anyone?
Our research is always ongoing so please let us know if you think we've missed a noteworthy Type 2w1 worth highlighting.
Chloe Yarwood, MSc
University of Chichester, Advanced Applied Psychology
Chloe Yarwood, MSc in Advanced Applied Psychology from University of Chichester. Specialist in personality type theory and developing valid personality questionnaires.
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