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Enneagram type 2s are selfless, warm, friendly, generous, intuitive, and giving when at their best and living in healthy levels. Often called Enneagram Type 2: The Helper.
How Do You Know If You Are a Type 2?
As is true of all enneagram types, your type is determined by core motivation. Yes, there are traits that are more common to type 2s but traits are not what determines your type. (You could be a type 2 that doesn’t love baking – shocker!)
So if you are trying to figure out if you are a type 2, you’ll want to look into the core motivations to see which one resonates with you.
Enneagram 2: The Helper
Core Motivation of Type 2
Core Desire: to be wanted/needed/loved
Core Fear: being unwanted/not needed/unlovable
Wounding Message: “It’s not ok to have your own needs.”
Core Longing (what they wish they believed to be true): “You are wanted and loved for just being you.”
Core Weakness: Pride (as in the pride of their own virtue)
Positive Traits of Type 2
Selfless, warm, giving, empathetic, friendly, intuitive, generous.
Negative Traits of Type 2
Prideful, demanding, manipulative, flattering, possessive, insecure, martyrish.
Type 2 Wing Options
Type 2s have wing options of 1 and 3.
Keep in mind that while most people have one dominant wing (hence 2w3), but some people find they have balanced wings, and some find that they do not make use of their wings.
Type 2 Stress Number
In stress, 2s take on the negative traits of type 8 (aggressive, controlling, argumentative blunt, demanding).
Check out Enneagram Types Under Stress for more info.
Type 2 Growth Number
When 2s are growing they take on the positive traits of type 4 (more aware and accepting of painful feelings, more self-nurturing).
Triadic Groups of Type 2
Center of Intelligence: Heart/Feeling Center
This means 2s take in and process the world through their feelings.
Check out my Centers of Intelligence post for more info on the Gut Center.
Hornevian Group (also called “Stances”): The Compliant/Dutiful Group
The compliant/dutiful group means that 2s move towards people to know what is needed/expected of them in hopes of earning what they desire (attention).
Check out Enneagram Hornevian Groups for more info.
Harmonic Group: The Positive Outlook Group
Harmonic groups explain how the types deal with conflict and 2s are in the positive outlook group meaning they put emphasis on their own positive self image during conflict.
For more info, check out my post on Harmonic Groups.
Harmony Group: The Relationist Group
Harmony groups explain how your type relates to the world.
Type 2s are in the relationist group because they relate to the world by moving towards others and providing support and care.
My post on Harmony Groups has more details.
Levels of Health for Type 2
Depending on their level of health, a type 2 can look a bit different from another type 2. The three main levels of health are Healthy, Average, and Unhealthy.
2s when healthy: are thoughtful and compassionate. They are humble, altruistic, and provide unconditional love to others. Serving others is still important but it’s balanced with taking care of self. They are able to see the good in others and are very encouraging.
2s when average: are a bit more people pleasing as they need to be needed. They may meddle and control in the name of love. They are still givers but at this level they tend to expect something in return. They can often wear themselves out caring for others because they have a hard time saying no.
2s when unhealthy: feel entitled to get what they want from others as repayment for all that they have done. They can be manipulative and self-serving. Often using guilt to get others to do what they feel is warranted. Often unaware of how selfish they are being.
These are just the three main levels of health. There are actually a total of nine levels of health; three levels in each of these main levels.
If you want the full break down with all the details for the levels of health, I highly recommend picking up Riso and Hudson’s book: Personality Types.
