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Type Eight - The Challenger

Type Eight: The Challenger

Eights, also known as Challengers, are motivated by a need to be strong and avoid feeling weak or vulnerable. Fueled by intensity, they are domineering and confrontational, unafraid to speak their mind—and they expect you to do the same. Residing in the Gut Triad, Eights externalize their anger, naturally exuding strength and projecting an intimidating exterior to mask vulnerability. Expressing true emotions can feel like weakness to Eights.

At their best, Eights are dynamic, confident leaders who are unafraid to challenge authority and act as champions for the underdog. At their worst, Eights struggle to understand that vulnerability is not a weakness, often unaware of the domineering way others experience them in relationships.

Eights at a Glance

  • Basic Desire: To fight injustice and lead others to be their best
  • Biggest Fear: Being controlled or betrayed
  • Deadly Sin: Lust

Wings

Your wing is one of the two numbers on either side of your main type. You may lean in the direction of one of these types and pick up some of its characteristics.

  • Eights with a Seven wing are outgoing, energetic, and fun, living life to the fullest. More social and gregarious than other Eights, they are ambitious, impulsive, and natural-born entrepreneurs.
  • Eights with a Nine wing have a more measured approach to life, able to be supportive, approachable, and open to cooperation over competition. Capable of seeing both sides of a situation, they can use their natural charisma to be effective negotiators.

Stress & Security

  • In Stress: Eights take on qualities of Fives, withdrawing and disconnecting even more with their emotions. They might seem secretive and hypervigilant about betrayal, neglecting self-care and becoming even more uncompromising than usual.
  • In Security: Eights take on qualities of Twos, listening to others’ viewpoints and trusting in something bigger than themselves. Less conscious of hiding their more tender feelings, they stop insisting that they are absolutely right and are willing to let others take care of them.

You’ll Know You’re an Eight if You’re:

  • Direct
  • Strong-willed
  • Assertive
  • Skeptical
  • Confident
  • Confrontational
  • Brutally Honest
  • Charismatic
  • Passionate
  • Protective
 

Content adapted from The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile. Type names also appear at The Enneagram Institute®.

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