Tag: Storytelling Tools

  • Finding Inspiration in the Enneagram and Jungian Theory for Character Depth

    As writers, we often seek that spark of inspiration to bring our characters to life, making them truly resonate with our readers. Personally, I’ve discovered a wellspring of inspiration in the realms of the Enneagram and Jungian Theory, and I’m excited to share this creative journey with fellow storytellers.

    In this blog post, I aim to provide you with a source of inspiration. The Enneagram, with its nine distinct personality types, can illuminate the motivations, fears, and desires that fuel our characters’ journeys. Jungian Theory, through its cognitive functions, offers a unique perspective on how characters perceive and interact with the world.

    Explore Character Depth: A Table of Contents

    1. Enneagram types: Description of types and their core items.

    2. Motivations: Understanding What Drives Your Characters

    3. Fears: Exploring Your Characters’ Deepest Anxieties

    4. Desires: Uncovering Your Characters’ Inner Longings

    5. Weaknesses: Identifying Areas of Character Conflict

    5. Strengths: Recognizing the Virtues That Define Your Characters

    6. Harnessing the Power: How These Insights Can Elevate Your Writing

    7. The Jungian Perspective: Cognitive Functions for Character Insight

    Type 1: The Perfectionist

    • Description: Perfectionists are driven by a strong desire to do what is right and just. They fear being wrong or bad and seek to improve themselves and the world around them.

    • Core Items: Desire to do what is right and just, fear of being wrong or bad, desire to improve themselves and the world around them, self-criticism and judgment of themselves and others, high standards and strong sense of morality.

    Type 2: The Helper

    • Description: Helpers are motivated by a need to be loved and needed. They fear being unwanted or unloved and seek to care for and assist others.

    • Core Items: Need to be loved and needed, fear of being unwanted or unloved, desire to care for and assist others, over-identifying with others’ needs, empathy and compassion.

    Type 3: The Achiever

    • Description: Achievers are motivated by the desire to be successful and admired. They fear being worthless or unsuccessful and strive to excel in their pursuits.

    • Core Items: Desire to be successful and admired, fear of being worthless or unsuccessful, desire to excel, becoming overly focused on their image, ambition and drive.

    Type 4: The Individualist

    • Description: Individualists are motivated to find their unique identity and significance. They fear being ordinary and yearn to express themselves authentically.

    • Core Items: Finding unique identity and significance, fear of being ordinary, desire for authentic expression, getting lost in emotions, creativity and individuality.

    Type 5: The Investigator

    • Description: Investigators are motivated by a thirst for knowledge and understanding. They fear incompetence and ignorance and seek to analyze and comprehend the world around them.

    • Core Items: Thirst for knowledge and understanding, fear of incompetence and ignorance, desire to analyze and comprehend the world, withdrawing from others, intellectual curiosity and pursuit of knowledge.

    Type 6: The Loyalist

    • Description: Loyalists are motivated by a desire for security and support. They fear being without guidance and rely on trustworthy people and systems.

    • Core Items: Desire for security and support, fear of being without guidance, reliance on trustworthy sources, anxiety and doubt, loyalty and commitment.

    Type 7: The Enthusiast

    • Description: Enthusiasts are motivated by the pursuit of pleasure and avoidance of pain. They fear feeling trapped and love exploring new experiences.

    • Core Items: Pursuit of pleasure and avoidance of pain, fear of feeling trapped, desire to explore new experiences, avoiding negative emotions, optimism and sense of adventure.

    Type 8: The Challenger

    • Description: Challengers are motivated by the need for control and to avoid vulnerability. They fear weakness and assert their strength and authority.

    • Core Items: Need for control and avoidance of vulnerability, fear of weakness, desire to assert strength and authority, risk of overusing aggression, courage and strong sense of justice.

    Type 9: The Peacemaker

    • Description: Peacemakers are motivated to maintain inner peace and harmony. They fear conflict and seek to find common ground.

    • Core Items: Desire to maintain inner peace and harmony, fear of conflict, desire to find common ground, avoiding conflict and indecisiveness, understanding multiple perspectives and compromise.

    Motivations

    • M1: Motivated to do what is right and just

    Type: The Reformer

    Jungian Function: Te

    • M2: Motivated to be loved and needed

    Type: The Helper

    Jungian Function: Fe

    • M3: Motivated to be successful and admired

    Type: The Achiever

    Jungian Function: Se

    • M4: Motivated to find their unique identity and significance

    Type: The Individualist

    Jungian Function: Fi

    • M5: Motivated to understand and gain knowledge

    Type: The Investigator

    Jungian Function: Ti

    • M6: Motivated to feel secure and supported

    Type: The Loyalist

    Jungian Function: Si

    • M7: Motivated to experience pleasure and avoid pain

    Type: The Enthusiast

    Jungian Function: Se

    • M8: Motivated to be in control and avoid vulnerability

    Type: The Challenger

    Jungian Function: Te

    • M9: Motivated to maintain inner peace and harmony

    Type: The Peacemaker

    Jungian Function: Fi

    Fears

    • F1: Fears being wrong or bad

    Type: The Reformer

    Jungian Function: Ti

    • F2: Fears being unwanted or unloved

    Type: The Helper

    Jungian Function: Fi

    • F3: Fears being worthless or unsuccessful

    Type: The Achiever

    Jungian Function: Si

    • F4: Fears being ordinary or mundane

    Type: The Individualist

    Jungian Function: Ne

    • F5: Fears being incompetent or ignorant

    Type: The Investigator

    Jungian Function: Te

    • F6: Fears being without guidance or support

    Type: The Loyalist

    Jungian Function: Se

    • F7: Fears being trapped or limited

    Type: The Enthusiast

    Jungian Function: Ni

    • F8: Fears being weak or powerless

    Type: The Challenger

    Jungian Function: Fi

    • F9: Fears conflict and disharmony

    Type: The Peacemaker

    Jungian Function: Ne

    Desires

    • D1: Desires to improve themselves and the world

    Type: The Reformer

    Jungian Function: Te

    • D2: Desires to help and care for others

    Type: The Helper

    Jungian Function: Fe

    • D3: Desires to achieve and excel in their endeavors

    Type: The Achiever

    Jungian Function: Se

    • D4: Desires to express themselves creatively and authentically

    Type: The Individualist

    Jungian Function: Fi

    • D5: Desires to analyze and comprehend the world around them

    Type: The Investigator

    Jungian Function: Ti

    • D6: Desires to find trustworthy people and systems to rely on

    Type: The Loyalist

    Jungian Function: Si

    • D7: Desires to explore and enjoy new experiences

    Type: The Enthusiast

    Jungian Function: Se

    • D8: Desires to assert their strength and authority

    Type: The Challenger

    Jungian Function: Te

    • D9: Desires to find common ground and avoid confrontation

    Type: The Peacemaker

    Jungian Function: Fi

    Weaknesses

    • W1: Excessive self-criticism and tendency to judge oneself and others harshly

    Type: The Reformer

    Jungian Function: Ti

    • W2: Putting excessive emphasis on the needs and emotions of others, sometimes at the expense of one’s own well-being

    Type: The Helper

    Jungian Function: Fi

    • W3: Becoming overly invested in maintaining a specific image or persona to gain validation and recognition

    Type: The Achiever

    Jungian Function: Si

    • W4: Becoming overly absorbed in and defined by one’s emotions and inner world

    Type: The Individualist

    Jungian Function: Ne

    • W5: Tendency to withdraw from social interactions and seek solitude for extended periods

    Type: The Investigator

    Jungian Function: Te

    • W6: Frequent feelings of anxiety and doubt about oneself and others, leading to hesitation and mistrust

    Type: The Loyalist

    Jungian Function: Se

    • W7: A strong aversion to experiencing negative emotions and discomfort, often seeking distractions or positive experiences

    Type: The Enthusiast

    Jungian Function: Ni

    • W8: A tendency to rely on aggression and intimidation as a means of asserting control or protecting oneself

    Type: The Challenger

    Jungian Function:Fi

    • W9: A strong desire to avoid conflict and difficulty making decisions when faced with differing opinions or choices

    Type: The Peacemaker

    Jungian Function: Ne

    Strengths

    • S1: High standards and a strong sense of morality

    Type: The Reformer

    Jungian Function: Te

    • S2: Empathy and compassion for others

    Type: The Helper

    Jungian Function: Fe

    • S3: Ambition and drive to succeed

    Type: The Achiever

    Jungian Function: Se

    • S4: Creativity and a deep sense of individuality

    Type: The Individualist

    Jungian Function: Fi

    • S5: Intellectual curiosity and a thirst for knowledge

    Type: The Investigator

    Jungian Function: Ti

    • S6: Loyalty and commitment to their values and relationships

    Type: The Loyalist

    Jungian Function: Si

    • S7: Optimism and a sense of adventure

    Type: The Enthusiast

    Jungian Function: Se

    • S8: Courage and a strong sense of justice

    Type: The Challenger

    Jungian Function: Te

    • S9: Ability to see multiple perspectives and find compromise

    Type: The Peacemaker

    Jungian Function: Fi

    Jungian Functions

    • Te: Thinking Extroverted

    Description: Te is oriented towards organizing the external world, prioritizing efficiency, productivity, and structured logic.

    • Ti: Thinking Introverted

    Description: Ti seeks precision, such as the exact word to express an idea. It notices the minute distinctions that define the essence of things, then analyzes and classifies them.

    • Fe: Feeling Extroverted

    Description: Fe prioritizes the emotional needs of others and seeks harmony in interpersonal relationships. It values societal norms and tends to prioritize group harmony over individual needs.

    • Fi: Feeling Introverted

    Description: Fi is focused on internal values and how one feels about them. It evaluates things based on how well they align with personal beliefs and values.

    • Se: Sensing Extroverted

    Description: Se focuses on the immediate context, experiencing and noticing the external environment in vivid detail. It is highly attuned to sensory experience and is often spontaneous.

    • Si: Sensing Introverted

    Description: Si draws upon past experiences and stored data to form perceptions. It values tradition, stability, and the lessons of history.

    • Ne: iNtuition Extroverted

    Description: Ne sees possibilities of what could be, often leading to bursts of inspiration. It enjoys brainstorming and thinking outside the box.

    • Ni: iNtuition Introverted

    Description: Ni has a vision of how things could evolve over time. It synthesizes seemingly disparate ideas into a unified vision, often resulting in an “aha!” moment.

    May this exploration inspire you to delve into the depths of your characters’ personalities, crafting stories that resonate with readers on a profound level. Together, let’s unleash the power of personality in our narratives and create stories that linger in the hearts and minds of those who encounter them.

    Happy writing, fellow storytellers!

    PS: Unlock Deeper Character Insights

    If you’re curious to see how the Enneagram can enhance your character development, consider taking the Enneagram test. With your test results in hand, you can then use cutting-edge AI tools, like chat gpt, to dive even deeper into your characters’ psyches. Discover how they interact, what drives them, and how they handle conflict, all with the power of AI assistance. 

  • From Enneagram to Jung: A Holistic Approach to Character Analysis

    Introduction to the Enneagram Test:

    The Enneagram, derived from the Greek words “ennea” (nine) and “gramma” (written or drawn), is a dynamic personality system that identifies nine primary types. Each type represents a distinct pattern of thinking, feeling, and behaving, rooted in core motivations, fears, desires, strengths, and weaknesses. While it can be applied to personal growth and understanding, it also serves as a potent tool for character development in fiction.

    Whether you’re crafting a new protagonist for your next bestseller, diving into an introspective journey, or simply seeking to understand the motivations of those around you, the Enneagram offers a detailed map, charting the multifaceted terrain of personality. Unlike many personality tests that confine you to predefined categories, the Enneagram celebrates human fluidity. It recognizes our dominant traits, but also the influences that can mold and shift us over time.

    Taking the Enneagram Test: A Comprehensive Guide:

    1. Understanding the Structure:

    • Core Motivations: Uncover what drives actions and decisions. It might be the pursuit of knowledge, the need for peace, or a yearning to be loved and needed.

    • Core Fears: Each individual or character harbors underlying fears— from fearing the ordinary to dreading conflict and confrontation.

    • Core Desires: Ascertain the aspirations and yearnings. Whether it’s achieving success, expressing creativity, or extending a helping hand, these desires shape paths and ambitions.

    • Core Weaknesses: Every character has vulnerabilities. It’s essential to recognize whether they avoid confrontations, struggle with self-worth, or any other weaknesses to offer depth and relatability.

    • Core Strengths: Celebrate empowering traits. Recognizing strengths, be it empathy, ambition, or creativity, is pivotal in shaping journeys and relationships.

    2. Selecting and Rating Responses:

    • You’ll be presented with nine distinct options for each of the five categories.

    • Choose up to 3 options that resonate the most. However, if you find yourself torn between a few, there’s flexibility to select 4.

    • Rate each selection based on its resonance, providing a nuanced touch to dominant traits.

    3. Engaging with the Test Emotionally:

    • The Enneagram test is designed to elicit introspection and evoke a spectrum of emotions. It’s essential to be in touch with how each statement makes you feel.

    • Whether a prompt evokes pride, vulnerability, or nostalgia, use these feelings as guiding beacons. They often provide deeper insights and enrich the character profiling process.

    By the test’s conclusion, you’ll be equipped with a detailed profile, shedding light on the dominant Enneagram type and potential secondary influences that add layers to the personality in question.

    My Enneagram and Jungian Function Results TLDR; If you’d like to see the actual results you can find it after the conclusion.

    Interpreting My Enneagram and Jungian Function Results: A Personal Exploration

    Navigating the results of the Enneagram test intertwined with the Jungian functions gave me a detailed, multifaceted insight into my psyche. Let’s dive deep into this exploration:

    1. Enneagram Type Breakdown:

    Dominant – Type 1 (The Perfectionist): My drive to ensure what’s right and just is evident in my daily life. The underlying fear of being wrong, combined with the desire to constantly improve, is both my motivation and sometimes a source of self-induced pressure.

    Auxiliary – Type 5 (The Investigator): My intellectual curiosity is undeniable. This thirst for knowledge and understanding resonates deeply with me, reinforcing my natural inclination to research and analyze before making decisions.

    Tertiary – Type 2 (The Helper): The Helper traits in me come alive when interacting with those dear to me. My drive to support others, paired with my need to be loved, often shapes many of my relationships.

    Inferior – Type 6 (The Loyalist): My score here speaks to my value for loyalty and trustworthiness, even if it’s an underlying current rather than a dominant force in my personality.

    2. Motivations, Fears, Desires, Weaknesses, Strengths:

    While I’ve always perceived myself as someone with a strong moral compass (The Reformer’s dominant strength), it’s enlightening to see the Helper’s attributes reflected so dominantly in both my fears and strengths. The Investigator’s attributes reaffirm my introspective nature and desire for comprehensive understanding.

    3. Jungian Function Overview:

    Thinking Extroverted (Te): My highest score. This aligns with my tendency to organize, prioritize efficiency, and seek structured logic in my external environment.

    Thinking Introverted (Ti): Close behind Te, Ti exemplifies my pursuit of precision, particularly in language and expression. It explains my inclination to analyze and classify nuanced details.

    Sensing Introverted (Si): My respect for tradition and past experiences plays a pivotal role in my decision-making, reminding me to value the lessons from history.

    The subsequent functions, from Feeling Extroverted (Fe) to iNtuition Extroverted (Ne), offer a gradient of my personality attributes, with my spontaneous and brainstorming tendencies being on the lower spectrum.

    By interpreting my results, I’ve gained a deeper understanding of my core motivations, fears, and strengths. This introspective journey has equipped me with insights that will undoubtedly influence my personal growth and interactions moving forward.

    For those keen to delve deeper into individual Enneagram types, wings, and more, explore our dedicated post [Link to the dedicated post].

    Conclusion: Your Enneagram Journey Awaits:

    Embarking on this introspective Enneagram journey has been illuminating for me, revealing facets of my character I was previously unaware of. I encourage you, dear reader, to take this test for yourself. The insights you’ll gain, whether for personal growth or character development, are invaluable. Remember, understanding oneself is the first step towards growth and positive change. Dive in, and let the Enneagram be your guide.

    TLDR:

    My Enneagram and Jungian Function Results

    Enneagram Type Breakdown:

    • Dominant: Type 1 (The Perfectionist)

    • Score: 20

    • Perfectionists are driven by a strong desire to do what is right and just. They fear being wrong or bad and seek to improve themselves and the world around them.

    • Core Motivation: Desire to do what is right and just.

    • Core Fear: Being wrong or bad.

    • Core Desire: To improve themselves and the world around them.

    • Core Weakness: Self-criticism and judgment of both themselves and others.

    • Core Strength: High standards and strong sense of morality.

    • Auxiliary: Type 5 (The Investigator)

    • Score: 20

    • Investigators are motivated by a thirst for knowledge and understanding. They fear incompetence and ignorance and seek to analyze and comprehend the world around them.

    • Core Motivation: Thirst for knowledge and understanding.

    • Core Fear: Incompetence and ignorance.

    • Core Desire: To analyze and comprehend the world.

    • Core Weakness: Withdrawing from others.

    • Core Strength: Intellectual curiosity and pursuit of knowledge.

    • Tertiary: Type 2 (The Helper)

    • Score: 15

    • Helpers are motivated by a need to be loved and needed. They fear being unwanted or unloved, and their desire is to care for and assist others.

    • Core Motivation: Need to be loved and needed.

    • Core Fear: Being unwanted or unloved.

    • Core Desire: To care for and assist others.

    • Core Weakness: Over-identifying with others needs.

    • Core Strength: Empathy and compassion for those around them.

    • Inferior: Type 6 (The Loyalist)

    • Score: 13

    • Loyalists are motivated by a desire for security and support. They fear being without guidance and rely on trustworthy people and systems.

    • Core Motivation: Desire for security and support.

    • Core Fear: Being without guidance.

    • Core Desire: To rely on trustworthy people and systems.

    • Core Weakness: Anxiety and doubt.

    • Core Strength: Loyalty and commitment to values and relationships.

    Jungian Function Overview:

    • Thinking Extraverted (Te)

    • Score: 21

    • Te is oriented towards organizing the external world, prioritizing efficiency, productivity, and structured logic.

    • Thinking Introverted (Ti)

    • Score: 19

    • Ti seeks precision, such as the exact word to express an idea. It notices the minute distinctions that define the essence of things, then analyzes and classifies them.

    • Sensing Introverted (Si)

    • Score: 15

    • Si draws upon past experiences and stored data to form perceptions. It values tradition, stability, and the lessons of history.

    • Feeling Extroverted (Fe)

    • Score: 10

    • Fe prioritizes the emotional needs of others and seeks harmony in interpersonal relationships. It values societal norms and tends to prioritize group harmony over individual needs.

    • Feeling Introverted (Fi)

    • Score: 9

    • Fi is focused on internal values and how one feels about them. It evaluates things based on how well they align with personal beliefs and values.

    • Sensing Extroverted (Se)

    • Score: 7

    • Se focuses on the immediate context, experiencing and noticing the external environment in vivid detail. It is highly attuned to sensory experience and is often spontaneous.

    • iNtuition Extroverted (Ne)

    • Score: 4

    • Ne sees possibilities of what could be, often leading to bursts of inspiration. It enjoys brainstorming and thinking outside the box.