Complete Explanation of Enneagram 4w3 Personality Type

Are 4w3s anarchists, aristocrats, or artists? Or maybe they just crave attention? Why is it so important for this type to stand out?

If you want to understand the 4w3 type, you have to be ready to dive into the ocean of their emotions and learn to swim in it. They are that very special snowflake of the Enneagram who needs freedom to explore their identity and decide where they stand in the world.

So, if you are ready to meet this attractive “rebel without reason,” you will be amazed at the versatility of their character. Stay tuned, and you will learn what kind of dreams this type dreams, what matters to them, and what they desire and fear the most.

Let’s kick in!

Enneagram 4w3 (4 Wing 3) Personality Type

If your Enneagram test results indicate you are a 4w3 Enneagram type, it means you are basically a Four with many traits of a Three. Both Four and Three belong to the feeling triad of the Enneagram, which means this will be a very intense personality. In fact, the Three wing makes Fours more vibrant and lively, highlights their ambitions, and makes them more goal-oriented.

Fours generally struggle with structure, but when the Three wing is strong, their lives become more organized. When inspired, a 4w3 is capable of achieving great things, and their enthusiasm is contagious.

The Three wing also enables Fours to take a more active role in their own lives, so these individuals are full of ideas that they eagerly turn into reality. Having this in mind, it’s safe to say that it actually brings Fours’ dreams a little closer.

What Does Wing Mean?

A "wing" in an Enneagram type means that you scored highly on the test for one of the types that are adjacent to yours in the Enneagram circle. Four is between Types Three and Five, which means that as a Four, you can have a Three or a Five wing.

4w3 means you have all the characteristics of a Four, while the Three wing acts like a sidekick to your personality. It makes Fours more grounded, goal-oriented, and passionate.

All the emotional abundance of the Four is still there, and the Three wing helps the Four feel more confident and energetic. It also gives them a little bit of versatility, so they often possess multiple amazing skills. Even when not, they will make sure to stand out in any crowd.

Enneagram 4w3 Strengths & Weaknesses

4w3s’ strengths and weaknesses all stem from the same source—their emotions. This attractive, optimistic personality has a lot of creativity to offer, especially when they overcome the need to prove they are better than others.

4w3 Strengths

The biggest strength of the 4w3 type is that they are always into their feelings and never compromise their authenticity. Other virtues they possess include:

• Endless creativity. Their powerful emotions provide them with inspiration.
• Ability to better understand the emotions of others. Since they are well connected with themselves, they naturally read other people’s feelings and intentions.
• Strong drive to succeed. They are passionate about what they do and really want to make a difference and achieve something of significance.
• Exceptional artistic gifts. These people are often very talented in different kinds of art, be it music, dance, painting, writing, or any other similar skill.
• Ability to turn ideas into reality. Thanks to the Three wing, 3w4s manage to have at least some ideas they come up with turned into something tangible.

4w3 Weaknesses

4w3 is not so attuned to communicating with other people. Their need to stand out at all costs makes it difficult for them to find friends. Having this in mind, we can say that their weakest spots include:

• Problems with emotional regulation. 4w3s can get overwhelmed with their emotional content and have trouble channeling it.
• Tendency to dramatic outbursts and acting out. When things are not going their way, they get highly irritable.
• Tendency to isolate themselves when in need of help. These people tend to hide and lick their wounds instead of asking for help, which only makes things worse.
• Lack of relationship skills. They crave intimacy but don’t know how to achieve it.
• Moodiness. Their unstable moods may make them seem unreliable in the eyes of their coworkers.

Enneagram 4w3 Fears & Desires

Enneagram 4w3 needs to be seen as unique and special and is ready to take on the greatest challenges just to prove that. So, all of their fears and wishes come from this deep-seated need to be seen as one of a kind.

4w3 Fears

Fears show us where we are the most fragile. The main worry for 4w3s is that they won't be able to distinguish themselves from others through their work, which makes them feel unlovable. All of their worries center around this, including the following:

• Not accomplishing anything special and significant. These people even develop a workaholic lifestyle to avoid this.
• Not being loved because of their inherent flaws. To avoid this, they give their best to nurture the image of being “one of a kind,” hoping they will earn the right to be loved that way.
• Achieving emotional closeness and intimacy. This is based on the idea that if someone gets too close, they might see the flaws 4w3s think they have.

4w3 Desires

The underlying need behind all the core desires of 4w3s is the urge to be recognized and accepted with all their big feelings. Therefore, they usually want to:

• Be unique and successful because they believe that’s the only way to deserve love
• Achieve inner balance and harmony, as they feel the need to learn about emotions and emotional regulation
• Make a huge impact based on their emotionally inspired work because they want to show the world the power of their emotions and uniqueness

Enneagram 4w3 vs. 4w5 Comparison

There is a huge, almost tangible difference between 4w3s and 4w5s. To begin with, a 4w3 strives to show how unique and exceptional they are by achieving something amazing at work, unlike a 4w5, who wants to acquire exceptional knowledge.

In 4w3s, the need to be unique meets the Threes’ wish to be the best, so these individuals are ambitious and career-oriented, though not in a too conventional manner. Meanwhile, in 4w5s, the emotional abundance meets the light of the Fives’ incredible intellect.

Therefore, a 4w5 is a passionate researcher who wants to learn everything there is to know about human emotions and the world. On the other hand, a 4w3 is an eccentric, talented artist who wants to achieve something unique.

What Motivates 4w3 Personality Types?

4w3 wants to be remembered for something, regardless of what they have done or accomplished. Their deep need to tie their identity to something that could stick makes them incredibly motivated to work hard and achieve great things.

The ultimate fantasy of 4w3s is that once they succeed and achieve something exceptional, they will earn the love and acceptance of others and stop suffering from feelings of inadequacy.

These people are also motivated by creativity, artistic pursuits, profound conversations, and meaningful connections. And, even though they often seem very self-absorbed, they crave intimacy and the warmth of a true friendship. When they feel supported by the people who love them, they become stable and balanced and do not insist so much on how different they are from everyone else.

What are 4w3 Personality Types Like Under Stress?

In stressful situations, 4w3 may obsessively hold on to their achievements. Their fragile sense of self is easily shattered because it is based on their ever-changing feelings. Because of this, they may become dramatic and act out in an attempt to get the attention they need.

The typical behavior of 4w3s under stress is to refuse to ask for help and engage in unending self-questioning and self-doubt instead, which only makes them weaker. Even though they seek some time alone when stressed, that is the opposite of what they need.

In essence, this type has an unsolved need to belong. When they are stressed out, this burning feeling that they will never belong anywhere becomes even more painful. Their inner conflicts leave them devastated, and without intervention from someone who loves them, it may take a long time for them to get back on track.

This personality type may also experience depression from time to time, especially if they keep making the same mistake at work or fail to accomplish something they want to. Relying on a close friend for support may make all the difference.

What are 4w3 Personality Types Like at Work?

With their ideas and never-ending drive to do great things, 4w3s can be creative leaders. Yet, they hate administration and bureaucracy and are not interested in organizing other people, so they will not take such positions unless they have to. Since they often let their emotions get the best of them, they might be too picky and difficult to please as bosses.

As a team player, a 4w3 is competitive and wants to prove to everyone that they are special. As long as they can avoid acting overly conceited and arrogant toward other team members, they can make a significant creative contribution to the group.

They prefer to work independently or be in charge of some creative project. When they do what they like, they are inspired and full of passion and childlike enthusiasm.

Enneagram 4w3 Best & Worst Career Choices

When it comes to career paths, the 4w3 type is rather specific. They need to be able to explore their inner worlds and show what they see in their own way. Due to this, they work best in environments that are not strictly structured and where hierarchy is not a big deal. And, as long as they feel they have room to think outside the box, they will perform great.

4w3 Best Career Choices

Since this personality type has an unmet need for belonging, it is advantageous when their job allows them to participate in a system while still maintaining their individual freedom. So, the ideal professions for 4w3s include:

• Copywriter
• Singer
• Music Teacher
• Artist
• Designer
• Photographer
• Digital Artist
• Actor
• Creative Strategist

4w3 Worst Career Choices

The worst professions for this wild, creative type are typically those that do not require creativity and are based on red tape. When they are denied the chance to demonstrate their originality, they become disoriented and demotivated. Therefore, the worst careers for them include:

• Cashier
• Handyman
• Secretary
• Accountant
• Business Assistant
• Taxi Driver

Enneagram 4w3 Famous People

4w3 people often have multiple talents and exude vivid vibes, which is why many famous personalities who enjoy the reputation of eccentrics are of this type.

Some of the most illustrative examples include:

• Lana Del Rey has charmed the audience with her unique appearance and style, angelic voice, and original lyrics. Her music is widely used in movies, too.
• Jenna Ortega, a promising young actress who has already proven how talented she is, portrays very emotional characters with great skill and talent.
• Amy Winehouse, the tragic heroine who was celebrated for her unique voice and talent, has forever earned her place for the exquisite music she shared with the world.
• Damiano David, the frontman of Måneskin, is respected for his talent and known for his bizarre performances and unique clothing style.

Key Takeaways

And just like that, you now know what makes 4w3s so special!

Before you go, let’s remind you of some of the key traits of this peculiar Enneagram type:

• Fours place the greatest importance on their identity, which they structure around their emotions. With a Three wing, they feel the need to tie their identity to something other than their feelings.
• This type's most powerful tool for exploring their inner depths and discovering who they are is creativity. The active principle of the Three wing makes them more determined to do something practical with their ideas.
• The greatest lesson for 3w4s is to learn to regulate their feelings and form a stable identity—not based on their accomplishments or personal traits but on their knowledge of themselves.