Type 1: The Reformer
Enneagram Type 1, the Reformer, is principled, purposeful, and self-controlled, with a strong internal sense of right and wrong. Ones are motivated by a desire to live with integrity and to improve themselves and the world around them. They are often teachers, judges, and advocates who hold themselves and others to high ethical standards.
How do your traits compare with a Type 1's?
30 questions · about 7 minutes
Key facts
- Core motivation
- To be good, to have integrity, to be balanced, and to live up to their ideals.
- Core fear
- Being corrupt, evil, or fundamentally flawed.
- In growth
- In growth, moves toward Type 7 (The Enthusiast), becoming more spontaneous, joyful, and accepting of imperfection.
- Under stress
- Under stress, moves toward Type 4 (The Individualist), becoming moody, irrational, and emotionally volatile.
Type 1 and the Big Five
How Type 1s tend to score on the five research-backed personality traits. These are statistical tendencies from cross-framework studies, not fixed rules.
| Big Five trait | Typical level |
|---|---|
| Openness | Moderate |
| Conscientiousness | High |
| Extraversion | Low |
| Agreeableness | Moderate |
| Neuroticism | High |
Strengths and challenges
Strengths
- Strong moral compass and ethical standards
- Organized, disciplined, and detail-oriented
- Reliable and committed to quality
- Fair-minded and principled leadership
Challenges
- Overly critical of themselves and others
- Rigid thinking and difficulty compromising
- Suppressed anger that manifests as resentment
- Perfectionistic to the point of paralysis
Careers that suit Type 1
Type 1s often do well in work that fits their core motivation and strengths.
- Judge or Magistrate
- Quality Assurance Manager
- Ethics Officer
- Auditor
- Nonprofit Director
Enneagram Type 1: common questions
What is Enneagram Type 1 (The Reformer)?
What motivates Enneagram Type 1?
How does Enneagram Type 1 map to the Big Five?
The other Enneagram types
How do your traits compare with a Type 1's?
The Enneagram describes motivation. The personality test measures the Big Five traits, so you see a score on each one.
30 questions · about 7 minutes
Research sources
- Riso, D.R. & Hudson, R. (1999). The Wisdom of the Enneagram
- Wagner, J.P. & Walker, R.E. (1983). Enneagram Personality Theory
- Daniels, D. & Price, V. (2009). The Essential Enneagram