Key takeaways
- Type 8’s primary polarity is trying not to be weak. Though as our Eights would say, they don’t try, they are strong.
- Strength means control, power, directing action according to their desires. Weakness means emotional vulnerability, the heart, compassion.
- Eights are frequently confused with Counter Phobic Sixes. Same stance, entirely different reason underneath.
- At their lowest the only door open is to Type 5 at its worst. At their highest a door opens to Type 2 and the heart comes back.
Type 8 resists anything that threatens their strength or exposes them to weakness. Strength means staying in control, staying in power, and directing action according to their own desires. Weakness means emotional vulnerability, the feelings of the heart, compassion.
The polarity: trying not to be weak
Every type’s polarity is a movement toward one set of qualities and away from its opposites. Like the pendulum in an old clock, the type sustains that duality, until at its highest expression the polarities collapse into natural wholeness.
At lower expression
- It’s easier to armour up than to open the heart to vulnerability.
- They prefer being in charge to being submissive.
- They hold boundaries rather than give in.
- They are direct instead of diplomatic.
- They find it easier to be vengeful than to forgive, and to take rather than give.
At highest expression
- They find strength through embracing vulnerability.
- They can step down from being in charge, and see the value of appropriate submission.
- They relax boundaries and see the wisdom of when it’s time to give in.
- They can be direct and diplomatic.
- They find it easier to forgive, and to step into benevolent giving.
The Personality Pearl
Type 8 carries the InnerLifeSkills Red Pearl: Gut Instinct, Resisting Reality, Impact, Anger Continuum. The same Pearl as Types 9 and 1.
So an Eight operates from the gut, from an unconscious physical push back against the moment. Add to that a constant scanning for impact, from the world and onto the world, and anger triggered under stress, running from irritation to rage.
Put the Pearl together with the polarity and you have the reason behind the behaviour:
- Eights use gut instinct to avoid weakness, resisting the reality of anything that threatens their strength.
- Eights make impact by asserting power, control and directness.
- Eights draw strength from anger, and it infuses their presence.
This is the heart of the InnerLifeSkills 8 Step Coaching Typing Test Method, where coaches use a narrative approach with the trademarked Pearls and Polarities worksheets so a client discovers their own type rather than being told it.
Doors to growth
Picture two doorways, between Eight and the two types it connects to: Two and Five.
An Eight at their lowest
The door to Type 2, their polarity opposite, is closed. Caring, sacrificing personal desire for others, giving generously, being compassionate, all become unavailable.
That leaves the only open door to Type 5 at its worst, letting in mind-type anxiety, self-isolation, avarice, cold empathy and intellectual arrogance.
- At my lowest expression the only door open is to Type 5 at its worst, so I withdraw, overthink, and get anxious to the point of never being able to rest my focused mind.
- As a Type 8, when the only door open is to 5, it’s a laser intense anxiety that borders on agoraphobia.
- It’s all thinking and intensity, hoarding and holding power instead of following my heart.
- My instinct narrows to the present moment only, looking for an instant cold yes or no, instead of zooming out to see the bigger picture and add flexible options.
An Eight at their highest
Now the door to Type 2 opens: compassion, opening the heart to another’s suffering, generosity, love, and being free of the war zone long enough to make real relationships. With balance restored, the door to Type 5 lets in its best: clear objective thinking, dispassion, strategic decisiveness, depth of understanding, and the pursuit of knowledge.
- At my highest expression as an Eight, I include care for people in my strategic thinking, using my heart, gut and mind.
- As a Type 8, when I open a door to 2, I feel love.
- I can see more than the battlefield moment. I include my feelings of care for my relationships.
- I’m still strategic and objective, which helps me make informed decisions.
“It’s only at my highest expression that I found real strength through embracing my heart. Even though it feels like losing control to feel suffering and to open to compassion for another’s point of view, it has given me freedom through surrendering to truth.”
Voices of Type 8
- It’s my way or the highway.
- I know in minutes whether I like something or not. It’s pure instinct.
- I don’t like surrendering control.
- If you disagree with me, be upfront about it, but show respect.
- When people are indecisive or weak it irritates me.
- Let’s get to the point already.
- If you betray me, you are dead to me.
- It hurts to feel compassion and care about people, but I grow that way.
And in their own words: I know what I want and I’m clear on my desires. To avoid being impacted by weakness I assert power to hold my position. I might use anger as a source of intense presence, and struggle to understand other people’s feelings. I’m intolerant of weakness and mistakes. I don’t mind being intimidating, in fact sometimes I prefer it. I can be in denial about my love and care. I use solitude to retreat, and sometimes to protect others from my rage. I’m not patient, and I’m quick to judge. I can’t forgive absolute betrayal.
Commonly mistyped, especially against CP6
Before the table, the big one. Eights are constantly confused with Counter Phobic Sixes, because the stance looks the same: direct, assertive, challenging, unafraid of confrontation.
The reason underneath is completely different. An Eight identifies with the boss and moves from anger and power. A CP6 identifies with the underdog and moves from fear, taking power in order to speak for the powerless. If you’re weighing these two, don’t compare the behaviour. Compare the Pearl.
Enneagram tests are limited and often unreliable, roughly 50 to 60% accurate, which is exactly why this pair defeats them so often. Types share behaviours. What separates them is the hidden reason.
| Pair | What’s shared, and what actually separates them |
|---|---|
| 1 vs 8 | Both correct others to enforce. One for the right thing to do, Eight for my way of doing things. One looks to the world for the way, Eight follows their instincts. One can be critical and pedantic, Eight bossy and aggressive. Both anger types: One learning to relax, Eight learning compassion. |
| 2 vs 8 | Both get intensely angry. Two when pride is wounded, Eight when betrayed or disrespected. Two needs emotional connection, Eight needs to feel strong and in charge. Two chooses kind words, Eight is direct and harsh. Two is a self-worth type learning self-love, Eight is an anger type learning compassion. |
| 3 vs 8 | Both focus on strategy and winning. Three to prove worth, Eight for power and to win the war. Three cares about others’ opinions, Eight cares far less. Three can be charming, Eight harsh and direct. Three is a self-worth type learning humility, Eight is an anger type learning compassion. |
| 4 vs 8 | Both feel intensely. Four feels every subtle emotion, Eight feels anger and power. Four needs to be vulnerable, Eight needs to be invulnerable. Four can get stuck in victim drama, Eight in domination. Four is a self-worth type learning to be functional, Eight is an anger type learning compassion. |
| 5 vs 8 | Both are intense. Five asks questions with laser intensity seeking understanding, Eight has intense presence, an aura of power. Five needs space and isolation, Eight needs power. Five can be aloof, Eight enjoys physical engagement. Five is a fear type learning engagement, Eight is an anger type learning compassion. |
| 6 vs 8 | Both are loyal. Six to the underdog and the powerless, Eight to loved ones and those they respect. Six needs support and feedback, Eight needs to feel strong and independent. Six can be indecisive and anxious, Eight decisive and harshly direct. Six is a fear type learning faith in self, Eight is an anger type learning compassion. |
| 7 vs 8 | Both independent and pleasure seeking. Eight indulges their likes, Seven seeks entertainment and fun. Seven needs to be happy, Eight needs to be powerful. Seven can be manic and careless, Eight bossy and direct. Seven is a fear type learning focus, Eight is an anger type learning compassion. |
| 9 vs 8 | Both have strong instincts. Eight is tuned into strategy and their own desires, Nine into bringing peace. Eight needs to be in charge, Nine needs to go with the flow. Eight can be direct and harsh, Nine avoids conflict. Both anger types: Eight learning compassion, Nine learning to be assertive and present. |
Where to go next
Reading about a type is not the same as discovering yours, which is why we coach it rather than test it. Start free with the Enneagram in 90 Minutes mini course, 11 videos and case studies with no sign-up, or browse all nine types.
If you want to work with this professionally, the Enneagram Coach Certification teaches the full typing method, and it counts as a module toward the Level 2 (PCC) Master Coach certification.