Enneagrams

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Stagg737

Stagg737

Full Member
Verified Member
10+ Year Member
Physician
Joined
Jul 2, 2013
Messages
11,483
Reaction score
15,332
Posted this in the psychiatry sub-forum, but figured I'd probably get more responses here. I have a patient who recently started seeing a therapist and they had him fill out an Enneagram. He asked me if I wanted it sent to us and I said sure, but I have never heard of these. A quick google seems like it's basically another Meyers-Briggs-like conceptualization with more basis in pop-psychology than actual therapy.

Anyone have any knowledge or experience with these? Curious if there's any actual clinical utility that a thorough eval wouldn't address or if this is basically like a an interesting Buzzfeed quiz.
Members don't see this ad.
 
Stagg737 said:
Posted this in the psychiatry sub-forum, but figured I'd probably get more responses here. I have a patient who recently started seeing a therapist and they had him fill out an Enneagram. He asked me if I wanted it sent to us and I said sure, but I have never heard of these. A quick google seems like it's basically another Meyers-Briggs-like conceptualization with more basis in pop-psychology than actual therapy.

Anyone have any knowledge or experience with these? Curious if there's any actual clinical utility that a thorough eval wouldn't address or if this is basically like a an interesting Buzzfeed quiz.
Click to expand...
Ugh. I cringe whenever I hear about Enneagrams. They’re so pop cultural, so they drive me bonkers. My understanding is that there is not strong psychometric data on it at this time, but I am not certain. If someone does have citations, please share here. I would like to do a search at some point, not sure when.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 7 users
Members don't see this ad :)
It's trashy type psychology meets the Forer effect.

Mama Bear said:
Ugh. I cringe whenever I hear about Enneagrams. They’re so pop cultural, so they drive me bonkers. My understanding is that there is not strong psychometric data on it at this time, but I am not certain. If someone does have citations, please share here. I would like to do a search at some point, not sure when.
Click to expand...

It's all proprietary...what a shocker.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 users
Remember these from elementary school?


1.jpg
 
  • Like
  • Haha
  • Love
Reactions: 11 users
I've never heard of them, so I Googled it, and even the Wikipedia entry says they are pseudoscience.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
Really, I am very curious what the presenting problem is that would require psychiatry and an Enneagram. I feel like those assessments are used more for things like career counseling than mood or psychotic disorders. Does the person know which Harry Potter character they are?
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
Sanman said:
Really, I am very curious what the presenting problem is that would require psychiatry and an Enneagram. I feel like those assessments are used more for things like career counseling than mood or psychotic disorders. Does the person know which Harry Potter character they are?
Click to expand...
The problem is they are Voldemort.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
Have you guys seen that Harry Potter pathology quiz that is supposedly based on actual research? It's AWFUL.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
Enneagrams are the new MBTI. I really have to wonder why they're making such a splash into the counseling/psych community - a LOT of interns and associate level therapists in my area are obsessed with it, and I'm just.... ahhhhhh.

It's a fun conversation starter. I ask about it in the same breath that I use to ask about Harry Potter Hogwarts houses and Divergent factions. But never as a clinical assessment tool.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 users
An enneagram, MBTI, or Harry Potter type can all have some clinical utility in facilitating a dialogue about a patient understanding of themselves. Not something I would recommend for a patient, but I also typically don't explain to them how it is not a psychometrically sound instrument. Mainly because coming off like a pedantic jerk can sever rapport. I would not administer as part of an assessment and am skeptical of anyone who did.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 user
Here is a recent review in the Journal of Clinical Psychology of the Ennegram. Thought you folks may find it interesting.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Next unread thread
Top