The Achiever personality type, according to Don Richard Riso, is the third personality type of the Enneagram, and is also known as a Three.
Basic Description
When Achievers are healthy, they know how to develop themselves in order to
become the best they can be, and they are often well-liked and successful in
whatever field they choose. Their definition of success is influenced by their
families, their culture, and their peer group. Achievers learn early on in life
to be goal-oriented and to gather positive attention for their actions. They
aim for success because they are afraid of becoming a nobody with no value. The
downside to all of this is that Achievers can be so into success that they lose
touch with themselves and what they really are. When the question, "What do I
really want?" finally appears to them, they don't know how to answer, simply
because they never even thought about life that way before.Childhood
Achievers were not valued for themselves as children. They were valued for what
they could achieve. They learned how to get external validation of their
self-worth through their successes, but that never really satisfied them
because it was validation of what they did and not what they actually
were. Young achievers usually looked to the nurturers of their families
for approval -- usually their mothers. They adapt to pleasing that person,
absorbing subconscious expectations without knowing it. As they grow older,
Achievers may start pursuing a certain career not knowing why, only knowing
that this career would make their families (especially their mothers) proud of
them. Those who grow up in dysfunctional environments struggle with rage
because nothing can please their dysfunctional mothers. They split off from
their identities and live lives of loneliness and frustration, even though they
may have achieved some sort of worldly success.Wings
Three With A Two Wing: The Charmer
Healthy
Healthy 3w2s are helpful and kind like Twos but have high personal achievements
like Threes. They want to be close with people, but may substitute public life
for a more satisfying private life with stable relationships.
Average
Average 3w2s, in their pursuit of others liking them and admiring them, learn
how to "turn it on" to impress others. They often come across as artificial.
They are usually covertly competitive, and resort to multiple images to impress
others in social situations.
Unhealthy
Examples of 3w2s
Examples include Bill Clinton, Elvis Presley, John Travolta,
Christopher Reeve, Shania Twain, Paul McCartney, Sharon Stone,
Dick Clark, Jane Pauley, Kathie Lee Gifford, and Tony Robbins.
Three With A Four Wing: The Professional
Healthy
3w4s derive their self-esteem from their job success more than their personal
qualities. Putting great energy into their careers, they take great pleasure
into developing their craft and maintaining professional integrity.
Average
Average 3w4s are perfectionistic in order to avoid being shamed as inferior.
They are less sociable than 3w2s.They also display a mix of arrogance and
self-contempt, making this a very confusing, self-destructive subtype.
Unhealthy
Examples of 3w4s
Some well-known examples of 3w4s are Barbra Streisand, Oprah Winfrey,
Tom Cruise, Ben Kingsley, Madonna,Sting, Richard Gere,
Michael Jordan, Whitney Houston, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Werner Erhard.
Instincts
Self-Preservational Instinct
Average
Self-preservational Achievers tend to be workaholics who work for money,
assets, and a stable home, and they try to impress others with these things.
They strive to live as efficient lives as possible. At work, they strive for
career advancement, and they are often unable to relax during vacation,
deciding instead to do homework. Illness can seem to destroy everything.
Unhealthy
At this stage, unhealthy Achievers are prone to nervous breakdowns and burnout.
Social Instinct
Average
Social Achievers are the definition of the phrase "conspicuous consumption." They
seek the right credentials, the right degrees, the right clothes. As they
become unhealthier, they resort to bragging and exaggeration of their
abilities.
Unhealthy
Unhealthy Achievers at this level often demonstrate the Peter Principle, or in
other words, they are promoted to their level of incompetence. They use deceit
and exploit others to hide their real condition.
Sexual Instinct
Average
Sexual Achievers want to be desired. They want to be the person their love
interests show off to their peer group. They may have ambitions to be a movie
star or a fashion model. They usually know how to attract mates, but they may
not know how to maintain a relationship. They may be constantly afraid that
they do not personally live up to their image. Less healthy Achievers may be
exhibitionists in order to seduce others or feel valued.
Unhealthy
Unhealthy sexual Achievers may be promiscuous, and may strike at others who
attempt to question their value.
Issues Will Face in Their Lives
Levels of Development
| Healthy | |
|---|---|
| Level 1 | Achievers let go of their belief that their self-worth depends on others' perception of them. They can now discover their true identity and their heart's desire. Achievers' also satisfy their basic desire to be valued. They become self-accepting, kind, and genuine. |
| Level 2 | Achievers learn what others value and become more valuable in that sense. They feel they have unlimited potential at this stage. |
| Level 3 | Achievers develop themselves and their talents at this stage. They become excellent at whatever they do. They are effective communicators and become popular role models for other people. |
| Average | |
| Level 4 | Achievers start to fear that they will not get the attention that they desire, because others' accomplishments overshadow theirs. They drive themselves to achieve more. |
| Level 5 | Achievers start to impress people because they fear they will lose the positive regard of others, so they are simultaneously ambitious and self-doubting. At this stage, they have intimacy problems. |
| Level 6 | Achievers attempt to convince others of their huge successes, because they fear that others will not notice them if they are not hugely successful. They are competitive, arrogant, and secretly needy. |
| Unhealthy | |
| Level 7 | Achievers at this level fear they are failing and that their claims are fraudulent, so they start to deceive themselves and others. They feel depressed and empty inside. |
| Level 8 | Deceit at this level is incredibly high, and they use deceit to cover their mental deterioration. They hide their emotional illness and bad deeds. |
| Level 9 | Unhealthy people at this level may lose control of their repressed rage, and they seek revenge on real or imaginary tormentors, attempting to bring down whoever has rejected them. |
Path of Disintegration: Three Goes to Nine
Under stress, Achievers begin to act like average-to-unhealthy Nines. They
shutdown from their relentless pursuit of success. Experiencing setbacks can be
devastating to Achievers. During these times, their emptiness and rage breaks
through, and they become burned-out. Path of Integration: Three Goes to Six
Achievers integrate to Six by committing to others and to goals that transcend
their self-interest. They shift from trying to pursue a self-image to a real
desire to contribute to something that is bigger than themselves. They learn
how to communicate honestly, because there is no longer any need to impress
others. As Achievers learn how to build relationships with others, they also
learn how to find their own inner guidance and support.Self-Development
turn it on. If you're not aware of your image, you're serving it.
to get in touch with your feelings.
This may give you a sense of value that you never thought possible.Gifts
Other interesting facts
Basic Fear: Of being worthless.
Basic Desire: To be valuable.
Passion: Deceit
Virtue: Truthfulness
Holy Ideas: Holy Law, Holy Hope
Fixation: Vanity
References
Riso, Dan Richard. Personality Types: Using the Enneagram for Self-Discovery. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1987. ISBN 0-395-40575-0.
Riso, Dan Richard and Russ Hudson. The Wisdom of the Enneagram: The Complete Guide to Psychological and Spiritual Growth for the Types. New York: Bantam Books, 1999. ISBN 0-553-37820-1.
