At EnneaQ, we bring together two trusted ways to see yourself — the timeless insight of the Enneagram and the modern clarity of the Five-Factor Model, widely known as OCEAN.
Why both? Because personality is layered — and so is life.
OCEAN traces back to decades of research in psychology, showing that five broad dimensions can describe most of what shapes how we think, feel, and act. It’s one of the most studied personality frameworks worldwide — tested and validated across cultures, ages, and languages.¹
Where OCEAN describes traits, the Enneagram explores motives — the deeper drives and fears that shape how your traits play out when life gets complicated. Combined, they offer a mirror that’s fuller, more dynamic, and more personal than either can alone.
Here’s how it works:
Openness to Experience
What it is: Openness describes your appetite for ideas, imagination, creativity, and new experiences.
Healthy Openness: You’re curious, adventurous, and open to fresh perspectives. This fuels learning, art, and innovation.
Unhealthy Openness: Without grounding, high openness can scatter your focus — chasing novelty without follow-through.
Enneagram Connection:
- Type 4s (Creative) channel openness into deep self-expression.
- Type 5s (Sage) direct it to curiosity and knowledge.
- Type 8s (Protector) may score lower — preferring action and certainty — but grow by staying open to what challenges them.
Conscientiousness
What it is: Conscientiousness is your tendency toward discipline, order, and responsibility.
Healthy Conscientiousness: You plan, follow through, and stay accountable — turning ideas into action.
Unhealthy Conscientiousness: When pushed too far, it can turn rigid — perfectionism, burnout, or hyper-control.
Enneagram Connection:
- Type 1s (Luminary) and Type 3s (Innovator) often score high — motivated by duty and achievement.
- Type 7s (Explorer) may score lower — favoring spontaneity and flexibility.
Extraversion
What it is: Extraversion measures how much energy you draw from people, novelty, and stimulation — not just how “social” you are.
Healthy Extraversion: You feel alive in connection, action, and engaging with the world.
Unhealthy Extraversion: Too much can become restless busyness — filling every moment to avoid discomfort.
Enneagram Connection:
- Type 7s (Explorer) and Type 3s (Innovator) often thrive on high extraversion — loving variety and movement.
- Type 5s (Sage) and Type 9s (Harmonizer) tend toward introversion — needing calm and solitude to recharge and process.
Agreeableness
What it is: Agreeableness reflects your warmth, empathy, and care for harmony in relationships.
Healthy Agreeableness: You build bridges, nurture trust, and prioritize kindness.
Unhealthy Agreeableness: Pushed too far, it can mean neglecting your own needs or people-pleasing to a fault.
Enneagram Connection:
- Type 2s (Advocate) and Type 9s (Harmonizer) score high here — supportive and peace-loving.
- Type 8s (Protector) may rank lower — showing care through directness and standing strong for others.
Neuroticism
What it is: Neuroticism describes how you handle stress and intense emotion.
Healthy Neuroticism: A touch keeps you alert, self-aware, and able to notice what needs care.
Unhealthy Neuroticism: High levels can mean anxiety, overthinking, or mood swings that derail you.
Enneagram Connection:
- Type 6s (Searcher) often score higher — vigilant, seeking security.
- Type 4s (Creative) feel highs and lows vividly.
- Type 9s (Harmonizer) often score lower — steady and easygoing, sometimes to the point of tuning out their own needs.
Why Combine OCEAN and the Enneagram?
The power of OCEAN is its broad, scientific clarity — the power of the Enneagram is its depth.
Combined through EnneaQ’s scenario-based reflection, you see both your traits and the core drivers underneath. It’s a mirror that keeps evolving with you — as you grow, lead, and show up in the real world.
Ready to See More?
Curious how it all comes together?
Reference
¹ Goldberg, L. R. (1990). An alternative “description of personality”: The Big-Five factor structure. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 59(6), 1216–1229.
