DISCOVER YOUR PERSONALITY TYPE

Abstract

The “Discover Your Personality Type” scale is a widely utilized, self-administered instrument designed for rapid identification of an individual’s core personality structure, based on the Enneagram of Personality system. Developed and popularized by prominent Enneagram teachers Don Riso and Russ Hudson, this measure serves as an accessible tool for initial self-inquiry and psychological assessment. Its primary function is to pinpoint the user’s dominant archetype (or ‘Enneatype’) and secondary ‘wing’ or sub-type, thereby providing immediate insights into fundamental motivations, characteristic behaviors, responses to stress, and typical interpersonal dynamics.

Keywords

Enneagram, Personality Type, Riso-Hudson Enneagram Type Indicator (RHETI), Self-Awareness, Psychological Assessment, Nine Archetypes, Spiritual Development, Forced-Choice Scale, Self-Diagnosis.

Authors

Don Riso, Russ Hudson, Oscar Ichazo (Conceptual Originator).

Purpose

The fundamental objective of employing the Enneagram model is to foster profound self-awareness and catalyze personal and spiritual growth. Proponents such as Don Riso emphasize that in contemporary society, individuals often turn to personality systems and spiritual frameworks to find meaning, peace, and fulfillment beyond materialistic pursuits. This scale acts as a gateway to this deeper introspection.

A crucial secondary application involves improving interpersonal understanding. By identifying the underlying motivations and fixed patterns of behavior associated with one’s core personality type, users can better navigate their relationships with family, partners, and colleagues. The assessment helps users recognize their psychological ‘default settings’ and the recurring thematic challenges in their lives, thus providing a foundational starting point for transcending limiting behavioral constraints and facilitating genuine personal change.

Construct

The scale is rooted in the psychological construct known as the Enneagram of Personality. This comprehensive system organizes human character into nine distinct archetypal types, or Enneatypes. Each type is defined not merely by observable behavior, but by a core motivational structure encompassing a fundamental fear, a primary desire, and a specific worldview.

Key concepts assessed by the instrument include the identification of the dominant Enneatype, which governs core psychological functions, and the identification of the ‘wing’ or sub-type (one of the two adjacent types on the Enneagram symbol), which subtly modifies the expression of the core type. While the Enneagram was popularized by Oscar Ichazo in the 1960s, the conceptual foundation of personality categorization acknowledges earlier models, such as the four temperaments outlined by the Greek physician Galen (Sanguine, Melancholic, Choleric, and Phlegmatic), and the influential work of Carl Jung on extroversion and introversion initiated in 1915. The Enneagram uniquely illuminates both the strengths and the specific vulnerabilities, such as neuroses and addictive tendencies, inherent within each of the nine archetypes.

Validity

While specific quantitative psychometric validity data for this short, magazine-published version of the “Discover Your Personality Type” instrument are not reported in the source material, its legitimacy is derived from the broader validation efforts applied to the full Riso-Hudson Enneagram Type Indicator (RHETI). The RHETI is designed to demonstrate robust content and construct validity by reliably differentiating between the nine personality types based on self-reported patterns of typical behaviors and attitudes.

A recognized challenge inherent in all personality tests, particularly those relying on self-assessment, is the potential for user bias. Individuals may consciously or unconsciously misidentify their type, either by selecting a type they aspire to be, or by expressing antipathy toward descriptions that accurately reflect their true core psychological patterns. Consequently, the accuracy of this instrument relies heavily upon the user’s commitment to honesty and deep introspection, reinforcing Riso’s philosophy that the discovery of one’s core Enneatype should feel like a profound, sometimes challenging, invitation to self-reassessment rather than a casual label.

Reliability

Specific statistical measures of reliability, such as internal consistency metrics (e.g., Cronbach’s alpha) or test-retest stability coefficients, are not detailed for this abbreviated questionnaire. In the context of the full Enneagram methodology, academic scrutiny is typically directed toward the comprehensive, 144-question RHETI. These full-length psychometric evaluations aim to ensure consistent classification of the user’s type across repeated administrations and verify a high degree of differentiation among the nine distinct Enneatypes, thereby confirming the instrument’s stability and coherence.

Factor Analysis

The underlying factor structure for this specific abbreviated test version is not documented in the provided content. Generally, for the Enneagram model to be psychometrically sound, rigorous factor analysis would be required during the scale development process. This analysis must confirm that the items designed to measure each Enneatype cluster uniquely and distinctly, validating the hypothesized nine-factor structure of the personality model.

Instrument

Test Type: Personality Inventory (Forced-Choice Dichotomous Items)

Format: The instrument consists of 36 forced-choice pairs of self-descriptive statements. For each pair, respondents must select the statement that most accurately reflects their general behavior and attitudes. Scoring involves tallying responses across nine distinct columns (labeled A through I), each corresponding to one of the nine Enneagram types.

Language Available: English (as presented in the original source).

Population Group: General adult population seeking self-awareness and personal development.

Age Group: Adults (Implied).

Population Details: This model enjoys widespread use, particularly in the US, and has significantly influenced the fields of personal and spiritual development. It contrasts implicitly with professionally validated and administered scales like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), reflecting a contemporary trend toward accessible self-diagnosis tools.

Test Methodology: This is a self-report questionnaire. The scoring process tallies the responses per column (Enneatype); the top three scores indicate the likely core type and potential neighboring types or ‘wings’. Users are strongly advised to respond spontaneously and honestly, basing their selection on their actual behavior and reactions rather than on subjective, private feelings or idealized self-perceptions.

Keywords

Self-Diagnosis, Spiritual Paths, Archetypal Psychology, Forced-Choice Scale, Riso-Hudson, RHETI, Personality Tests.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not specified in source.

Affiliation Email addresses: Not specified in source. Don Riso is associated with The Enneagram Institute in New York.

Correspondence Address: The Enneagram Institute, New York (General affiliation).

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

This specific short-form version of the test, titled “The Riso-Hudson Enneagram Type Indicator,” was officially published in PSYCHOLOGIES magazine in May 2006. The instrument is copyrighted by The Enneagram Institute (©2006). The copyright explicitly prohibits photocopying, indicating strict legal control over the distribution and reproduction of the scale.

The source directs users interested in the longer, 144-question version of the instrument to the official resource: www.enneagraminstitute.com. The foundational material is detailed in the book DISCOVERING YOUR PERSONALITY TYPE by Don Riso and Russ Hudson.

Reference’s

• Riso, D., & Hudson, R. (2006). The Riso-Hudson Enneagram Type Indicator (short form). As published in PSYCHOLOGIES magazine, May 2006, pp. 46-52.
• Riso, D., & Hudson, R. (Book reference mentioned in source): DISCOVERING YOUR PERSONALITY TYPE.
• Bayne, R. (Book reference mentioned in source): Psychological Types At Work. Thomson Learning.
• The Enneagram Institute: Official source for the longer 144-question test (www.enneagraminstitute.com).

Items of the DISCOVER YOUR PERSONALITY TYPE

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

		A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I
1	I’ve been romantic and imaginative.
	I’ve been pragmatic and down to earth.
2	I have tended to take on confrontations.
	I have tended to avoid confrontations.
3	I have typically been diplomatic‚ ch‎arming and ambitious.
	I have typically been direct‚ formal and idealistic.
4	I have tended to be focused and intense.
	I have tended to be spontaneous and fun-loving.
5	I have been a hospitable person and have enjoyed welcoming new friends into my life.
	I have been a private person and have not mixed much with others.
6	Generally‚ it’s been easy to ‘get a rise’ out of me.
	Generally‚ it’s been difficult to ‘get a rise’ out of me.
7	I’ve been more of a ‘street-smart’ survivor.
	I’ve been more of a ‘high-minded’ idealist.
8	I have needed to show affection to people.
	I have preferred to maintain a certain distance with people.
9	When presented with a new experience‚ I’ve usually asked myself if it would be useful to me.
	When presented with a new experience‚ I’ve usually asked myself if it would be enjoyable.
10	I have tended to focus too much on myself.
	I have tended to focus too much on others.
11	Others have depended on my insight and knowledge.
	Others have depended on my strength and decisiveness.
12	I have come across as being too unsure of myself.
	I have come across as being too sure of myself.
13	I have been more relationship-oriented than goal-oriented.
	I have been more goal-oriented than relationship-oriented.
14	I have not been able to speak up for myself very well.
	I have been outspoken – I’ve said what others wished they
15	It’s been difficult for me to stop considering alternatives and do something definite.
	It’s been difficult for me to take it easy and be more flexible.
16	I have tended to be hesitant and procrastinating.
	I have tended to be bold and domineering.
17	My reluctance to get too involved has got me into trouble with people.
	My eagerness to have people depend on me has got me into trouble with them.
18	Usually‚ I have been able to put my feelings aside to get the job done.
	Usually‚ I have needed to work through my feelings before I could act.
19	Generally‚ I have been methodical and cautious.
	Generally‚ I have been adventurous and taken risks.
20	I have tended to be a supportive‚ giving person‚ who enjoys the company of others.
	I have tended to be a serious‚ reserved person‚ who likes discussing issues.
21	I’ve often felt the need to be a ‘pillar of strength’.
	I’ve often felt the need to perform perfectly.
22	I’ve typically been interested in asking tough questions and maintaining my independence.
	I’ve typically been interested in maintaining my stability and peace of mind.
23	I’ve been too hard-nosed and sceptical.
	I’ve been too soft-hearted and sentimental
24	I’ve often worried that I’m missing out on something better.
	I’ve often worried that if I let down my guard‚ someone will take advantage of me.
25	My habit of being ‘stand-offish’ has annoyed people.
	My habit of telling people what to do has annoyed people.
26	Usually‚ when troubles have got to me‚ I have been able to ‘tune them out’.
	Usually‚ when troubles have got to me‚ I have treated myself to something I’ve enjoyed.
27	I have depended upon my friends and they have known that they can depend on me.
	I have not depended on people; I have done things on my own.
28	I have tended to be detached and preoccupied.
	I have tended to be moody and self-absorbed.
29	I have liked to challenge people and ‘shake them up’.
	I have liked to comfort people and calm them down.
30	I have generally been an outgoing‚ sociable person.
	I have generally been an earnest‚ self-disciplined person.
31	I’ve usually been shy about showing my abilities.
	I’ve usually liked to let people know what I can do well.
32	Pursuing my personal interests has been more important to me than ha‎ving comfort and security.
	ha‎ving comfort and security has been more important to me than pursuing my personal interests.
33	When I’ve had conflict with others‚ I’ve tended to withdraw.
	When I’ve had conflict with others‚ I’ve rarely backed down.
34	I have given in too easily and let others push me around
	I have been too uncompromising and demanding with others.
35	I’ve been appreciated for my unsinkable spirit and great sense of humour.
	I’ve been appreciated for my quiet strength and exceptional generosity.
36	Much of my success has been due to my talent for making a favourable impression.
	Much of my success has been achieved despite my lack of interest in developing ‘interpersonal skills’.