Type 5

The observer, the investigator

Overview

5s are private and solitary beings that are often viewed as being intellectual, informed, competent and perceptive. They are investigators with a thirst for knowledge, to understand everything that interests them. They are often skilled in many fields. They are independent, autonomous and often reserved. They need a lot of freedom and personal space to carry out their projects.They can struggle with emotional relationships and are often very career driven. They are a lot more at ease sharing their thoughts and analyses rather than their feelings. They feel most alive when they find solutions to complex problems on which they have worked.

Avoidance compulsion

5s look at all costs and sometimes subconsciously to avoid internal void. To fill it, they are often constantly looking to acquire new knowledge. They do everything they can to avoid strong feelings (especially fear), intrusive people and making decisions on a whim. They avoid situations where they don’t know what they are meant to do.

Center of attention and motivation

5’s attention is mainly focused on observing the world and collecting information. They are motivated by gaining new knowledge, logic and understanding. They regard wisdom, knowledge and learning very highly. They are equally motivated by autonomy.
They often hold back, in fear of intrusion, and remain discreet or camouflaged. They often feel very vulnerable. Being introverted, they often need alone time to recharge. This is also why they like autonomy.

Vice and defense mechanism

When they are in the grips of their compulsion (to avoid internal void), 5s’ ego makes them miserly about their knowledge: they collect information and refuse to share it. Hungry for more knowledge to maintain their sense of security and to try to be irreproachable, they can also become selfish about their own ideas, energy or feelings.
Their defence mechanism is isolation. They separate feelings from knowledge. They unconsciously dissociate emotions linked to ideas, because they feel more at ease with thoughts than emotions. Defensively reducing they conscience (by filtering their feelings), protects them from their troublesome thoughts and limits their need to rely on others.

In harmony

When they are at peace with themselves, and manage their compulsion, 5s are confident, independent, simple, observant, objective, calm, introspective, autonomous and analytical.
They are at ease when they are sure of their skills and their role, and when they are accepted and supported by others. Then, they lean towards their integration type (type 8) and the positive traits of the latter are adopted into their behaviour. Thus, they overcome their shyness and become more active and engaged with what they do. They feel more at ease taking the lead to accomplish their ideas.

In imbalance

In the grips of their compulsion, 5s can become indifferent, cynical, intellectually arrogant, and sometimes eccentric. They may isolate themselves from others and their fear of external intrusion could deepen.
If the situation doesn’t improve, they lean towards their disintegration type (type 7) and the latter’s negative traits are adopted into their behaviour. They can become more impulsive and negligent. Having less control over themselves, they can project irrational and incoherent attitudes.

Wings

Type 5’s neighbouring types are 4 and 6. The “wing” is the neighbouring type that appears to have the most influence on the base type.
5w4s are more creative, humanistic, empathetic, but can also be moody and melancholic.
5w6s are more analytical, disciplined and cooperative, but can also be anxious and sceptical.