Enneagram and Anger: How Each Type Reacts and Copes

Exploring Enneagram and anger gives us very important insights into the life strategy of each personality type. Anger is a basic, primary emotion that helps us protect our boundaries, and the way we deal with it speaks volumes about our defense mechanisms.

So, by learning how each Enneagram type handles anger, we actually learn about the level of self-respect they developed and their willingness to stand up for themselves.

In this article, we’ll analyze how Enneagram types express anger. We’ll also explore Enneagram types and emotional triggers, as well as how each type can grow. Let’s begin!

What Are Enneagram Types Like When They’re Angry?

Every Enneagram type experiences anger differently, depending on their level of maturity, upbringing, and character. In addition, Enneagram rage is also reflected in Enneagram conflict styles and strongly affects each Enneagram’s emotional regulation.

So, let’s see how each type handles anger in detail:

Enneagram 1—The Perfectionist

Enneagram type One, also known as the Perfectionist, belongs to the Enneagram Anger Triad, which means their core emotion is anger.

How Enneagram type 1 deals with anger: Ones suppress their anger because they believe anger isn’t an ethical feeling. They believe they are not ‘good enough’ if they allow themselves to feel anger, so they turn it toward themselves. That’s how it later emerges in the form of their harsh inner critic.

Enneagram 1 and anger triggers: Ones give their best to do everything perfectly, and when they fail, they struggle to accept mistakes and flaws as an inevitable part of the process.

Enneagram and anger tip: Allow yourself to be angry. Understand that anger is a healthy, natural emotion. Instead of suppressing it, you should embrace it and vent it out through physical activity or another type of outlet. Then, when you wind down, you can analyze what triggered you and what you want to change in your life.

Enneagram 2—The Helper

The kind, mellow Twos often seem like they don’t know what anger feels like. Belonging to the Enneagram Feeling Triad, Twos’ core emotion is shame, which means they tend to react with shame in stressful situations rather than with anger.

How Enneagram type 2 deals with anger: Twos bottle up their anger, suppress it, and keep it inside, yet occasionally have ‘episodes’ when they vent anger through dramatic expressions of emotions. They may cry frantically, but they rarely yell or act aggressively.

Enneagram 2 and anger trigger: The biggest anger trigger for type Two is lack of recognition for their efforts, lack of gratitude, and disrespect. They genuinely enjoy helping others, but they still expect to be recognized in return, so when they realize they’ve been taken for granted, they get furious and sometimes even vindictive.

Enneagram and anger tip: Instead of passively waiting for recognition, ask for it directly and avoid piling up anger. Practicing assertive communication will help you express your rage in a healthier way.

Enneagram 3—The Achiever

Threes are energetic, direct, goal-getters, driven by the need to achieve success and be the best in everything they do. They are very competitive, and they express anger spontaneously, sometimes through direct confrontations, sometimes by being overly competitive.

How Enneagram type 3 deals with anger: Threes handle anger by channeling it into work, which may lead to workaholism. Sometimes, they use anger as a shield against sadness and shame because they feel less vulnerable when they are angry than when they are ashamed.

Enneagram 3 and anger trigger: Threes are triggered by criticism and failure. They can’t stand being compared to others unless the comparison is to their advantage. They also react very intensely when they feel their public image is endangered.

Enneagram and anger tip: Don’t act immediately when you feel angry. Your anger often hides disappointment, fear, or sadness, and it requires you to pause and reconnect with yourself, not throw yourself into a new competition.

Enneagram 4—The Individualist

Individualists allow themselves to experience all their emotions fully, and they give in to their anger as it comes. However, since they tend to identify with their feelings, they may be prone to impulsive reactions and decisions when angry.

How Enneagram type 4 deals with anger: Angry Fours lash out and may behave in very dramatic ways. They internalize their rage and may dwell in melancholy, resentment, and disappointment, refusing to share what really made them angry.

Enneagram 4 and anger triggers: Being criticized triggers Four’s inferiority complex and fear of abandonment. Lack of authenticity and dishonesty also throw Fours out of balance and enrage them.

Enneagram and anger tip: Embracing your anger doesn’t mean you should always act on it. Practice counting to ten before reacting when you’re angry. Channel your rage into creative work instead of acting out.

Enneagram 5—The Investigator

Reserved and aloof, Fives rarely get angry because they generally avoid intense emotions. Anger is a very disturbing feeling for them, and they’ll avoid it as much as possible. So, when they do get angry, it means their values are seriously jeopardized.

How Enneagram type 5 deals with anger: Retreating into solitude and intellectualizing anger is the key mechanism Fives use to handle and show rage. They become colder than usual, even more distant, and use sarcasm and irony to vent out.

Enneagram 5 and anger triggers: For Fives, there’s nothing more threatening than invading their privacy, limiting their autonomy, or being caught unprepared.

Enneagram and anger tip: You need to learn the difference between healthy interdependence and independence. Avoid self-isolating when you’re angry, and talk about it with someone you trust.

Enneagram 6—The Loyalist

Sixes belong to the Enneagram Head Triad, which means their core emotion is fear. Therefore, their dominant feeling is anxiety, which is often coupled with anger. They are prone to worry and are generally afraid of the future, and their fear sometimes escalates to anger.

How Enneagram type 6 deals with anger: Sixes may be very paranoid and confrontational when angry and lash out at authority figures, overwhelmed with fear and rage at the same time. Sometimes, they withdraw and isolate, obsessing over all the worst-case scenarios they can come up with.

Enneagram 6 and anger triggers: When things around them are unpredictable for too long, Sixes eventually become very angry. Betrayal and lack of security also disrupt them deeply.

Enneagram and anger tip: Transform anger into strength by focusing on things you can control instead of worrying about the future. This will help you feel more in control and prevent your anger from escalating into paranoid ideas.

Enneagram 7—The Enthusiast

Sevens avoid all unpleasant emotions, and anger is no exception. So, they run away from their anger by distracting themselves, deflecting and reframing situations, insisting on positivity and optimism.

How Enneagram type 7 deals with anger: Suppressing anger makes Sevens even more impulsive than they usually are, so they may make reckless decisions that they later regret. They may also overindulge in things that bring them pleasure as a way to counteract the upcoming anger.

Enneagram 7 and anger triggers: Boredom, routine, limitations, and rules make Sevens nervous and easily lead to rage.

Enneagram and anger tip: Seek support if you feel like you can’t face your anger by yourself. You need to learn to sit with discomfort and embrace your anger. Only when you accept it will you be able to manage it in healthier ways.

Enneagram 8—The Challenger

Enneagram type Eight has no inhibitions when it comes to anger. They express it directly and unapologetically and often use it as a tool for controlling and intimidating others. Therefore, they often come off as domineering and confrontational.

How Enneagram type 8 deals with anger: Eights yell, shout, insult, and may even physically attack others when they are angry. Their rage is intense and terrifying. They may also become extremely cold and controlling when angry.

Enneagram and anger tip: Injustice, being manipulated, betrayed, being caught off guard easily triggers this type’s anger. Eights can’t stand the idea of feeling vulnerable and use anger to protect themselves from this feeling.

Enneagram 8 growth path: Expressing anger directly is a good thing, but only if you express it in constructive ways. Instead of lashing out on others, try to come up with a way to express your dissatisfaction without attacking people verbally and emotionally.

Enneagram 9—The Peacemaker

Nines are one of the most conflict-avoidant Enneagram types, so naturally, they don’t feel comfortable with anger. Therefore, they suppress their anger, which builds up inside of them and may lead to sudden rage outbursts or passive-aggressive behavior.

How Enneagram type 9 deals with anger: Nines withdraw and may become very stubborn about specific issues that seem like they are not connected with anything important in their lives. At some point, they may experience depression as a result of bottling their rage for too long.

Enneagram 9 and anger triggers: Feeling abandoned or ignored are this type’s common triggers. Chronic conflicts in their environment, which they can’t solve, enrage Nines and disrupt them on a deep level.

Enneagram and anger tip: It is essential for you to learn how to be more assertive and engage in solving, not avoiding, conflicts. Speaking up about the things that bother you instead of pushing everything under the carpet is the key to healthier anger management for you.

What Triggers You?

Learn about your personality type with Enneagram and master the art of self-control! Understanding your Enneagram type’s relationship with anger can help you achieve better emotional balance, improve communication, and set your boundaries in a healthy way.

Take the Enneagram test and explore how you can become the best version of yourself today!

Key Takeaways

The most significant thing to understand about the Enneagram and anger is that all types feel anger and express it differently. In addition, it is useful to know that unhealthy Enneagram types are more likely to exhibit extreme Enneagram anger reactions than healthy ones.

That said, let’s conclude with some key insights from this article:

• Ones, Twos, Fives, and Nines suppress anger and are the most conflict-avoidant types.
• Threes, Sixes, and Eights can be confrontational when angry.
• Fours and Sevens are very impulsive when they are enraged.

Enneagram and Anger FAQ