Compassionate Learning

Driver:  Fear of the countless unnameable risks

Motivation: to be supported and secure       

Focus: uncertainties, risks, dangers, the unknown

Strategy: seek guidance from those they trust 

Dynamic

• sometimes hardworking, responsible, loyal
• sometimes ambivalent, doubting, unreliable
• commitment level depends on how much they trust
• behaviour reacts to trust and anxiety

Communication Style

• gregarious and likeable
• sceptical, cautionary, ask questions, play devil’s advocate
• “yes, but”, “the problem here is…”
• often nervous speaking in front of others

Learning Style

• questions, questions, questions (red herrings!)
• detailed, rational analysis
• prefer structure, framework, justified rules
• good at finding problems or deviations

Work Ethic:  To Trust or Not to Trust?

• initially wary of teachers and their authority
• question inconsistencies, assumptions
• seek to understand teacher’s experience, bias, preferences
• uncertainty breeds anxiety, worry
• want to observe first, get assumptions out of the way before participating
• over-questioning leads to analysis paralysis
• self-doubt leads to procrastination

Ideal Classroom

• values of social support, reliability, responsibility
• atmosphere of trust
• predictable, structured
• questions are welcomed and answered

Personality Cluster

Wings:  Observer (5) and Enthusiast (7)

Stress Arrow:  Achiever (3)

Workaholism or spaced out and apathetic. Take on role to feel more secure. Cover up with ‘spin’. 

Security Arrow:  Mediator (9)

• Encourage them to explore empathy with others rather than suspicion of them
• Be trustworthy
• Affirm their positives to alleviate self-doubt

>  The Type Seven Student

>  Enneagram Personalities of Students

>  Home Page

with thanks to Rob Fitzel  www.fitzel.ca/enneagram/education/index.html