It's easy to fall into the trap of stereotyping with personality types. The problem arises when your understanding of the types comes from books instead of experience with real people.

For example, you think you understand what type 1 is about from the books and web material you've read. You determine a person is a type 1 from that same material. You then either try to tell the person about themselves or think about the person solely in terms of your limited understanding of type 1.

It's an easy trap to fall into - thinking you understand someone because you think you know what Enneagram personality type they are.

The reality about the Enneagram books is that they are both accurate and inaccurate. What is written will never tell the complete story. The characteristics will not fit everyone. Interpretations between authors may conflict. Some authors understand some types better than other types. Sometimes authors provide amazing insight, other times they provide misleading inaccuracies. You can use the books as a beginning or an aid for understanding, but you don't really get to know what the types are about until you observe and listen to other people who are living examples of those types. Even then, you may be misled and confused if someone is mistyped.

So, how do you bring the types to life?

First you have to be fairly certain that a person has been typed properly. You then let that person's thoughts, emotions and behaviors help you understand that type. The person can be someone you know personally or someone you can read about, listen to or watch. Hold back on trying to ascribe motivations to their behaviors. Instead let them speak for themselves.

If you don't know anyone personally who has confirmed their Enneagram type, or you don't have access to panels and discussion forums, you can read, watch and listen to famous people who seem to have been typed correctly. Just make sure you're experiencing their real personality and not some role they're playing or someone else's interpretation of that person.

How do you know if someone has been typed correctly? You really don't, but if all the authors and teachers have typed that person the same then you can be fairly certain of their type.

Just to get you started, here are a some links to typings of famous people.