Jerlyn, you're a Type 5 - The Experimenter


Friends, family, and colleagues probably appreciate your probing intelligence and open-minded approach to life. They're also apt to know that when they come to you with a problem, you can be counted on to give them a carefully considered answer based on keen observations. As an Experimenter, you're likely to be seen as a capable and competent individual with a visionary outlook.Being a member of this type puts you in good company. Renowned painter Georgia O'Keefe, with her reclusive nature and intense focus on her craft, and Albert Einstein, with his groundbreaking theorems and unprecedented view of the space-time continuum, were also Type 5s.This means that compared to the eight other Enneagram types, you have a strong sense of perception as well as a curious and innovative mind. In fact, like many Experimenters, you have a strong drive to understand how things work.


My Enneagram Report


Inside myself is a place where I live all alone and that's where you renew your springs that never dry up. — Pearl Buck


As a Type 5, The Experimenter, your time alone can be precious to you. Not only is solitude a necessary condition for your best thinking, but it also allows you the freedom to get lost in your own thoughts. Having time to yourself and the luxury to explore your own interests can be the things that make your life feel balanced and right. At times, you may even find that you choose books and study over socializing and relationships. The world of ideas can fascinate you.


Because you possess a higher level of curiosity than most people do, you may sometimes feel overwhelmed by your need to understand how things work. This inquisitive nature contributes greatly to your intelligence and ability to solve tough problems. However, occasionally you may become so focused that you neglect the people you care about. Try to remember that family and friends have something to teach you as well; they can be as engaging and interesting as any book. Try harnessing your curiosity to focus it on select projects. That way you'll be freer to connect with others. Once you're out of your shell, you may even become a well-regarded leader. By combining your intellect, skills, and personal interests with a focus on others, almost anything is possible.


Like everyone, to some extent your personality has been shaped by past experiences. One reason you may identify with Experimenters, Enneagram Type 5, is because you felt that others intruded on your personal space as a child. Having formative experiences when your privacy was violated or disrespected may have caused you to become more guarded about your personal space during adulthood, whether the space you guard is physical or emotional.

How your type works for (or against) you

When you're feeling your best, you probably feel both intellectually energized and truly available to the people around you. At such times, you may come to the realization that you don't need to rely solely on yourself; you can gain nurturing and love from other people. In this more open and receptive state, you more easily reach your full potential. You can also become a knowledgeable and trustworthy confidant who others can look to for guidance.

However, you aren't likely to be at your best every day. During the times when you're feeling your worst, you may have a tendency to horde your knowledge and private time, fearing that others will sap your energy. Withholding yourself from the people you care about can cause you to judge yourself harshly. You may even begin to see yourself as inadequate and lacking energy. Know that this downward spiral is caused by a belief that the world demands more from you than it gives back. You're probably convinced that your resources of time and knowledge are scarce. By possessing such a worldview, you're apt to avoid having much close contact with people. You may even attempt to be completely self-sufficient.

How can you avoid feeling your worst and start feeling your best? Above all, try to stay connected with the people who come into your life by sharing more of yourself with them. Letting others in on your inner thoughts and emotions can create really unique bonds with those you care about. In addition, experiment with allowing yourself to be around more people in general. You'll likely find that getting to know others' unique perspectives can be a really engaging way to spend your time. Also consider spending some more time engaging in physical activity. Such pursuits can counterbalance your usual intellectual focus.

Compatibility in love

As a Type 5, The Experimenter, your focus on having adequate resources for yourself may cause you to avoid being part of a couple. However, neglecting love can rob you of a whole different kind of resource — the affection and support you can get from another person. Because of this more inward focus, at times when you're feeling unloved, you probably don't really know how it happened to you. Try to understand that although emotional connections may feel like they drain your resources, they actually give back to you in ways that can be even more valuable. Consider starting to let yourself accept love, no matter how foreign it may feel to you in the beginning.

When looking for a romantic partner using Enneagram types, consider how the types interact. The descriptions below give a general sense of how well each type matches yours. They also describe where the pleasure in these matches is likely to be manifested and identifies challenges you may face.

Pairing 1: Self-Reliance. An "Experimenter / Idealist" relationship is marked by self-reliance and rational agreements. The two of you can be at your best when you're both taking care of your own needs and steering clear of emotionally charged issues. Tension is likely to arise when either one of you makes negative judgments about the other's morals or intellect.

Pairing 2: Contrasting space needs. An "Experimenter / Humanitarian" relationship is marked by a dedication to the relationship, despite natural contrasts in personal space needs. The two of you can be at your best when you find a comfortable middle ground between your two styles. Conversely, tension can occur when your Humanitarian's need for intense connection clashes with your Experimenter's need to spend large quantities of time alone and without interruption or assistance.

Pairing 3: Independent Accomplishments. An "Experimenter / Entertainer" relationship is marked by a focus on accomplishments and shared projects. The two of you can be at your best when you're working together to make things happen. However, know that your occasional need to retract into solitude can cause tension in the relationship when your Entertainer is ready to charge on to bigger and better things.

Pairing 4: Rich uniqueness. An "Experimenter / Expressive" relationship is marked by a rich joint creativity and love for unique things and interests. The two of you can be at your best when you're trying out new things together, whether that means visiting museums and cultural centers, checking out new restaurants, or taking on a new hobby. When tensions occur in your relationship it's likely because your Expressive's need to be fully and deeply connected can clash with your more introverted and reclusive nature.

Pairing 5: Restful privacy. An "Experimenter / Experimenter" relationship is marked by a mutual respect for private time, which allows both partners to feel relaxed. Interestingly enough, some of the times when the two of you can be at your best as a couple, is when you're attending to your own projects and needs. However, when "alone time" is taken to extremes, it can cause tension between you and leave each partner feeling lonely or resentful of the other.

Pairing 6: Intellectual imagination. An "Experimenter / Advocate" relationship is marked by intellectual curiosity, imagination, and mutual respect for boundaries. The two of you can be at your best when you're taking time together to explore the world of ideas — whether you're watching a documentary or trading details about your own latest theories. However, know that your tendency to withdraw further into your private world can create tension with your Advocate. Such withdrawal can cause them to have doubts and mistrust your love.

Pairing 7: Clear freedom. An "Experimenter / Adventurer" relationship is marked by an individual sense of freedom and vitality for the life of the mind. The two of you can be at your best when you're sharing creative ideas and letting one another take time out for your personal passions. Tensions can arise in situations where your Adventurer's love of social interaction and your tendency to retract in social settings collide.

Pairing 8: Autonomy. An "Experimenter / Leader" relationship is marked by a love for autonomy, respect for truth, and resistance to control. The two of you can be at your best when you're letting one another have the space you need to develop as individuals, as well as in the relationship. Tensions may occur at times when you shy away from your Leader's sometimes intimidating interpersonal style. By backing off, you may actually cause them to push harder for dominance.

Pairing 9: Ease and comfort. An "Experimenter / Negotiator" relationship is marked by an attitude of ease and comfort, avoiding conflict, and non-intrusiveness. The two of you can be at your best when you're taking time to enjoy life's pleasures while leaving space for one another's differing likes and opinions. Be aware that tensions may arise if your Negotiator requests more emotional involvement from you than you want to give. This may cause you to withdraw or become aloof.

You'll usually do your best in positions where you can use your considerable knowledge in a specialized area. This leverages your intelligence and ability to innovate. In management positions, you typically like to stay on the sidelines and offer an expert opinion when necessary. Fields you're most likely to be suited for include inventing, theory, and engineering.

When you're considering employment with a new company, one of the most important things for you to think about is how well you'll get along with your potential co-workers. The descriptions below give a general sense of how well each of the Enneagram types matches yours in the workplace, as well as how well you're likely to work with that type in supervisory and support positions.

Here's what you're likely to experience working with:

Type 1 (The Idealist): Self-reliance. When you're working harmoniously with this type as either the boss or the subordinate, you will work separately and rationally toward shared goals. Be aware that you may have friction if the Idealist seems to believe that they are morally superior to you.

Type 2 (The Humanitarian): Contrasting space needs. When you're working harmoniously with this type as either the boss or the subordinate, you are dedicated to the company and your projects, despite differing working styles. Be aware that you may have friction if the Humanitarian insists that you work as part of a team.

Type 3 (The Entertainer): Independent accomplishments. When you're working harmoniously with this type as either the boss or the subordinate, you are focused on achieving success through joint projects. Be aware that you may have friction if the Entertainer moves forward with new projects before you feel recharged and ready to take them on.

Type 4 (The Expressive): Rich uniqueness. When you're working harmoniously with this type as either the boss or the subordinate, you will focus on creativity and uniqueness while exploring shared obscure interests. Be aware that you may have friction if the Expressive demands more collaboration than you want to give.another

Type 5 (The Experimenter): Easy privacy. When you're working harmoniously with your own type as either the boss or the subordinate, you work best independently with occasional meetings for information exchange. Be aware that you may have friction if you neglect to communicate with each other, thereby losing site of the project goals.

Type 6 (The Advocate): Intellectual imagination. When you're working harmoniously with this type as either the boss or the subordinate, you enjoy exploring intellectual curiosities together. Be aware that you may have friction if the Advocate expects you to be more communicative during times when you're deep in your work.

Type 7 (The Adventurer): Clear freedom. When you're working harmoniously with this type as either the boss or the subordinate, you work freely and independently of one another. Be aware that you may have friction if the Adventurer encourages you to socialize at work functions more.

Type 8 (The Leader): Autonomy. When you're working harmoniously with this type as either the boss or the subordinate, you work in an autonomous fashion with a direct communication style. Be aware that you may have friction if the Leader comes off as too intimidating or controlling.

Type 9 (The Negotiator): Ease and comfort. When you're working harmoniously with this type as either the boss or the subordinate, you can maintain long stretches of time without running into conflict. Be aware that you may have friction if the Negotiator wants you to work less independently.