Enneagram Type 5: Typical Stressors & Strengths

enneagram type 5 personality

The Enneagram Type 5 personality (The Investigator) marches to its own drum beat, i.e. a different set of motivations, desires and fears from the other eight EnneaTypes. Let’s decode the typical factors – both Stressors & Strengths – that can impact the Enneagram Type 5’s health and well-being. 


Enneagram Type 5: The Investigator

enneagram type 5 strengths and stressors

  • The perceptive, cerebral type.
  • Fives are alert, insightful, and curious.
  • Also, they are able to concentrate and focus on developing complex ideas and skills.
  • Besides, they become detached, yet high-strung and intense.
  • They typically have problems with eccentricity, nihilism, and isolation.

Strengths & Stressors

People with the Enneagram type 5 personality display certain traits, which can influence their health and well-being at multiple levels.

Typical Stressors Typical Strengths


They tend to neglect their physical habits, appearance and environment. Hence, they may eat at odd hours or forget to eat altogether. They may also have unpredictable sleep patterns. Besides, they may find clever excuses to postpone physical activity and exercise. Caution: Risk of addiction to narcotics and psychotropic drugs. They reconnect with their bodies by cultivating healthy dietary habits and engaging in regular physical activities. To balance their aloofness and isolation, they learn to socialize and genuinely connect with people. They also stay energised and nourished by a steady routine and an organized lifestyle.


People with the Enneagram type 5 personality experience negative emotions like ambivalence, disappointment, isolation and grouchy irritability. They may be out of touch with their feelings. Given their eccentric and withdrawing nature, may also be prone to avoidance issues and can display schizophrenic tendencies. They can let go of their attachment to objective, mental constructs and accept their own feelings as valid, legitimate and juicy. As a result, they acquire heartful wisdom and a gentle, playful enthusiasm for ideas. Their essential “curiosity and clarity” shines through.


View the world from a distance – as detached observers. Try to “figure things out”. Particularly fear being incapable or overwhelmed. Might use phrases like “I see things that others don’t” or “It isn’t OK to be comfortable or contented” or “I have failed if I can’t make sense of things”. They tend to live by their values of depth, curiosity and clarity. Hence, they use their strong intellect to solve problems and invent new things or new ways of doing things. Also, they are open and willing to explore all possibilities, including contrary or counter-intuitive ones.


They get disturbed by intrusions on personal time and space, emotional ‘messiness’, lack of planning, indiscipline, errors/ sloppiness and making compromises. Also, they can become detached, cynical, and superior, becoming preoccupied with unnecessary detail. They inspire others to find powerful insights, without judgment or expectation.


Losing contact with the innate clarity and inter-connectedness of Presence makes them feel entangled and overwhelmed. Besides, their ego copes by detaching and protecting against future depletion. This is how Avarice (“Lobha” in the Indian tradition) arises. Staying ‘Present’ helps them rediscover the ‘Generosity’ they have lost. As a result, they are able to “let-in and let-go” i.e. use only what is needed and share the rest gladly.


Further Exploration

If these insights regarding the Enneagram Type 5 don’t resonate with you, please review the typical Stressors & Strengths of the other EnneaTypes, below. If you wish, you can learn more about your Personality type and also take a more detailed (paid) test at www.enneagraminstitute.com.

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