The Thinking Centre

The Thinking Centre corresponds to the cortical brain, the seat of our thoughts, our imagination, our intuition, our reflection.

In order to approach any situation, a "Thinking" personality resorts first to reflection and language. It scans the environment looking for relevant information, examining, analysing, scrutinising people and things in order to find what interests it.

I am always asking myself questions. My mind operates very quickly. I envisage all possible scenarios. I have to check on things constantly. I am continually reflecting. Everything goes through my head. I tend to ask myself questions, and am forever questioning my decisions.

A common trait of Thinking personalities is that they can readily distance themselves from everything that is going on and examine it in their thoughts. They say that their minds are constantly on the alert and that they can’t stop thinking, whatever they do. They juggle ideas, words, plans, all the time.

Fear is the emotion most associated with the Thinking Centre. The function of this basic emotion, in animals and humans, is preparing for flight from danger. Thinking people are the most aware of potential dangers and, because of this, they are brilliant at anticipating.

In the Enneagram model, Thinking personalities have the numbers 5, 6 and 7. Each number type is very different.