TYPE EIGHT
Challenger
Caring for Eights
“The focus of the Eight personality is on having power and control. They’re the type that’s most likely to take charge and lead others. They’re driven for big influence and bottom-line results, which they achieve through passionate vision, strategic thinking, and delegating responsibilities to others. They act boldly, work hard, bend rules, and strong-arm to get their way” (Healthy Feelings, Thriving Faith, p. 31).
Key Traits
Powerful
Self-confident
Acting now
Truth-telling
Confrontational
Seeking control
Personality Dynamics
These three factors may contribute to someone becoming an Eight:
- Family formation role: Fighter
- Root sin: Lust for power
- Defense mechanism: Denying vulnerable emotions and needs
Emotions
The Eight personality is expressed and related to largely through emotions like these:
Felt need: Act for impact
Gut/body type: Seeking to feel in control
Core emotion: Anger to make their presence big
Stress emotion: Anxious to gather resources that give them power
Underlying sadness: When they’re not respected
Emotional alarm: Toughening up when challenged by others
How Eights Become Like Jesus
“Jesus was valiant and fiercely loving, like the ultimate Eight. . . The tenderness from strength that he provides for us is what his Abba provided for him when he was weak and in need (Mark 1:12–13; 14:36; Luke 22:41-43)” (Healthy Feelings, Thriving Faith, p. 38).
Key Scripture
“I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me” (Col. 1:29).
Christlike Virtue to Cultivate
Innocence
Key Soul Care Practice
Spiritual friendship
Subsidiary Types
Wing Type(s): Seven and/or Nine
Stress Type: Five
Growth Type: Two
* Learn more and dive deeper into your wings, growth, and stress types with our resource, "Your Enneagram Map: Guides for Each Type to grow Emotionally & Spiritually."
