78

Beatrice Chestnut

The Complete Enneagram: 27 Paths to Greater Self-Knowledge

Sevens and Eights can look alike. Both types tend to be visionary thinkers, able to see the big picture and future possibilities. Both can engage in conflict if necessary, though some Sevens feel more comfortable with confrontation than others. Sevens and Eights can both be uninhibited, self-indulgent, and excessive when it comes to seeking pleasure. And both styles appreciate intense and stimulating experiences. In interpersonal interactions, both Sevens and Eights dislike being limited or controlled by other people. Individuals of both styles can be rebellious, though Eights will rebel more openly in a straightforward fashion, and Sevens prefer a charm-based, diplomatic approach. Eights believe the best defense is a good offense, and Sevens opt for expressing opposition to potential limitation through soft power and the maintenance of multiple options, with charm as a first line of defense.

Both Sevens and Eights will break the rules if it suits their purposes, and both types can take on a great deal of work and overbook themselves. For Sevens, overbooking represents a difficulty with saying no to exciting possibilities and interesting activities, and for Eights, overworking can reflect a tendency to want to do everything and forget their physical needs and vulnerability. Both Eights and Sevens avoid or deny softer, more vulnerable emotions, with Eights regularly denying their vulnerability and Sevens avoiding pain and discomfort.

Significant differences also exist between Sevens and Eights. While Eights can be rebellious when someone has authority over them, they can also work with a good authority they respect and even enjoy being the leader at times. In contrast, Sevens equalize authority, making friends with bosses and subordinates as a way of denying a vertical power structure that might constrain them. In terms of where their attention goes, Eights focus on power and control, while Sevens focus on planning and play. And while both types have access to their anger, Eights are more likely than Sevens to express anger. Eights are direct and like to move things forward in a strong and forceful way, while Sevens can have a difficult time focusing on work tasks and get distracted, especially when the work is tedious or routine. Eights like to make order and push projects forward quickly and effectively to their conclusion, while Sevens prefer the idea stage to the implementation stage and can have problems with following through. Sevens intellectualize to escape from feeling into thinking, finding difficult feelings uncomfortable to be with, while Eights move into action without thinking things through. Eights also deny softer feelings or project them onto those they perceive as weaker and then seek to protect. And finally, when analyzing or evaluating a situation, Sevens reframe negatives into positives, while Eights aren’t afraid of seeing and dealing with the “negatives” and tend to see issues in terms of “all or nothing” or “black and white” polarities.

The Enneagram Institute

Misidentifications

Sevens and Eights are both aggressive types (PT, 433-36) and can resemble each other in certain respects. Both are powerful personalities who are able to go after what they want in life, but what they want, and how they attempt to get it, are different.

Sevens are primarily interested in variety–they want to sample as many different experiences as possible and become practical in as much as their practicality gives them the means to pursue the experiences they want to try.

Eights, by contrast, are more interested in intensity–they care less about variety than about having intense experiences that they enjoy. Eights are also interested in power, both as a way to maintain their independence and as a way of asserting their dominance in the environment. Sevens are not particularly interested in having power, seeing the work necessary to maintain it as possibly infringing on their freedom.

Eights are an Instinctive type, and as such, make decisions from their "gut" instincts. They prefer dealing with practical matters, and although emotionally volatile at times, generally remain grounded and down to earth. Sevens are Thinking types, and can have brilliant, quick minds. At the same time, Sevens can get ahead of themselves with their plans, schemes, and interests: they can have trouble staying grounded and on track with their projects. Sevens see themselves as idealistic optimists, while Eights see themselves as hard-nosed realists. Compare Sevens Mike Myers and Goldie Hawn with Eights Danny DeVito and Roseanne Barr.