Scott Mills, Ph.D.
Fives drive us forward with their sharp minds capable of great problem solving and insight. They can be very drawn towards science and math while others are attracted to art. No matter where their interest lies, you will find them thinking of new ways to innovate and explore. I think of them as intellectual explorers diving deep into a particular area or two and becoming Experts. (In contrast to Sevens, who cover more breadth than depth.)
You might be a Five if most of the following statements describe you:
1. I can easily spend a lot of time by myself.
2. I enjoy learning, usually through observing or reading.
3. I could be called a "nerd."
4. I prefer the company of a few close friends to big groups of people.
5. I don't need many possessions.
6. Privacy is very important to me.
Fives tend to be incredibly independent thinkers often being scholars, inventors and scientists. But this all depends on what really interests them. Whatever catches their fancy is where they will focus their energy. Often this is a very private pursuit, as Fives tend to prefer to learn from books and observing.
Somewhere early in their lives they tend to have a feeling that others are crossing their boundaries. They may not feel safe and often retreat into the world of the mind. They can explore their own intellectual landscapes with very little interference from other people. Not surprisingly, Fives can easily appear hermit-like to other people not requiring many possessions and sometimes dressing in surprising ways. Think "absent-minded" professor.
In the world of the mind, a Five can feel safe and secure. In the physical world, they often fear that their resources are scarce and must be guarded. They control their fear by creating worlds of their own with their learning. When this learning is skillful, it helps them to address the challenges in their life. At other times it simply acts as a distraction.
The danger for Fives is that the focus that they place on living in their heads disconnects them from their bodies and their emotions. They often split off from their emotions as if they are watching themselves in a movie theater. This can lead to relationships that feel flat and unsatisfying as well as an inability to experience themselves fully. Perhaps this is the reason why Riso and Hudson suggest that Fives are the type to most often experience existential despair.
When a Five chooses to fully inhabit their body and heart their intellect can take flight. They gain an even greater capacity for insight and problem solving! One author believes that Buddha was likely a Five at the highest level of integration. It's hard to beat that!
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