The Withdrawn Types

The Four, Five and Nine are the Withdrawn Types of the Enneagram. They all have rich inner lives to the extent that there is not much differentiation between their conscious and unconscious self. They tend to move away from others and into their imaginations when they are under stress although they do this in slightly different ways. Fours retreat into a romantic and idealised fantasy self, Fives withdraw into a labyrinth of thought - like a sort of cerebral tinker toy - and Nines retreat into a carefree inner sanctum where all is fine with the world and they cannot be disturbed. So all three Types 'zone out' in their own way from engagement with what is going on around them. When these Types enter a room full of people they tend to feel separate and as though they don't belong or fit in. Fours may remain aloof and cultivate a sense of mystery around themselves or they may even leave. Fives may join in but are happier on the sidelines and tend to come out of their shells only if there is a particular context for them ie: they are responsible for organising the music for the evening or being the photographer for the event. Nines often seem to participate in a good-natured way whilst being miles away in their own comfortable daydreams. Needless to say that with these Types their unengagement from what is really going on - as opposed to what is going on in their imaginations - can create problems for them and be irritating to others.