The Recluse:
Shadow Thought: “My mind is the safest place to be, therefore knowledge is my refuge to an otherwise intrusive world.”
Fictional Character Type 5 Examples: Sherlock Holmes, Temperance Brennan, Albus Dumbledore, and Lisbeth Salander
As you can see from this list type fives can be very impressive people. They have a thirst for knowledge and a curiosity about the world around them. But, as also evident by this list, they can be reclusive and, at their worst, nihilistic and misanthropic. Fives are the most introverted of the nine types and often have difficulties relating to those around them. Introverted behavior, however, is not the barometer for a Type 5 though, since any of the types can be introverted. It’s the quest for knowledge in understanding the world around them that is the hallmark of a Type 5. This is why it’s important to understand the difference between the behaviors and motivations of the types.
Too often we confuse behaviors with the motivations behind them leaving us in the shadows. Enneagram coaching can help!
*Links to the Enneagram Institute’s description of Type 5.