Type Structure of Type 1, The Perfectionist, Reformer or Improver

This year we’ll be looking at how each of the types is organised internally: how the underlying belief creates a motivation, which brings about a habit of emotion and of mind, which leads to a focus of attention, idealisation and avoidance. This is all held in place by the Defence Mechanism. And we'll be finding out about the gifts, blessings and the challenges of people with this type pattern and for the people in their lives.

We begin with Type 1 and will work our way clockwise around the Enneagram, ending with Type 9 in November (the schedule is below).

Type 1 children came to believe that one is loved for doing the right thing, behaving well, being compliant and not making any mistakes. They learned to listen to their conscience; control their impulses and suppress any spontaneous comments or reactions, as well as being exquisitely sensitive to any mistakes they have made and to any resulting criticism. They like to have rules and order, which they see only too clearly are badly needed in the world. The passion of Type 1, also known as the emotional habit, is Anger at all that they can see is wrong with things. They judge anger as very wrong, however, and so tend to prefer to say they are ‘frustrated’, ‘annoyed’, ‘irritated’ etc. They have a lot to be angry about, though, since they keep themselves on a tight rein and strive constantly for improvement, when all around they see others misbehaving, breaking the rules and ruining what could be a perfect environment.

We will hear from a panel of people who recognise they have this type pattern, finding out how they came to believe that this was how they had to be; the gifts that it brings and, since another name for this type is The Improver, what they are working on in terms of development.
If you would like to be on the panel to explain about your worldview - and to correct any errors I have made - then please contact Rosemary on: by email at: rosemary@londonenneagramcentre.co.uk. Also contact her for the Zoom link and PayPal details for a minimal donation.
Schedule for the rest of 2025, all Wednesdays. All online, apart from the June meeting, which will be in-person:

February 26th Structure of Type 2
March 26th Structure of Type 3
April 30th Structure of Type 4
May 28th Structure of Type 5
June 25th in-person Structure of Type 6
Summer break
September 24th Structure of Type 7
October 29th Structure of Type 8
November 26th Structure of Type 9
Looking forward to seeing you whenever you can come!
Rosemary