Discovering your Enneagram personality type can help you better yourself, along with your Enneagram wings. The wings of each type have differing traits that can influence those who share the same number to exhibit unique characteristics. An Enneagram Type 3 can have a four wing or a two wing. In this article, we will be focusing on Enneagram 3w4 personalities. 

As a type three with a four wing, your personality has added “flavor” from the type four’s traits. An Enneagram 3w4 is predominantly more artistic, emotional, and authentic in thought and behavior. The four wing can influence a three to be truer to themselves and in touch with their feelings.

Keep reading to learn more about the traits, behaviors, strengths, and weaknesses of an Enneagram 3w4. You can also discover how you can benefit from your wing type’s influence and find a list of professions that would fit an Enneagram type three with a four wing.

3w4 F.A.Q.’s

What Does 3w4 Mean?

This title shows your Enneagram personality type’s number, a ‘w,’ which stands for ‘with a,’ or ‘wing,’ and your Enneagram wing type’s number. In this case, ‘3w4’ would read as, ‘Three with a Four wing,’ or ‘Three wing Four.’  When revealing your dominant Enneagram personality and wing types, you can use a shortened term rather than the whole expression. 

Source: Enneagram Texas

Enneagram 3w4 Description

Type Threes are willing to jump hoops to become socially acceptable. However, the four wing can cause them to care more about creativity, uniqueness, and being true to themselves and others rather than projecting a fake self-image. Influenced by the four wing, an Enneagram type three can have characteristics that are very different from their core type yet strongly enhance their personality in distinguished ways. 

Occasionally, your wings can powerfully influence your behavior compared to the typical characteristics of your dominant Enneagram personality type that you might question if that is genuinely your personality type. Reading a description of your personality type paired with your wing type can give you the insight to verify if you are a type three with a four wing.

enneagram 3w4

3w4 Traits

A three with a four wing desires to be valued for their unique identity and their work and fears that others will see them as insignificant if their feats aren’t original. Also known as ‘the Expert,’ they work hard to improve their skills to perfection.  Type threes with a four wing are a part of the Heart Triad, so they naturally make decisions influenced by emotion, and if unaware, feelings of shame can overtake them.

3w4 Behaviors

Those who identify with 3w4 can often fixate on others’ opinions because they desire to impress and are devoted to being unlike anyone else. Threes with a four wing are typically hardworking and engaging in business because they focus on their profession to improve their skills. They are artistically inclined and want to be seen, so they have a great sense of style.

3w4 Strengths

As an Enneagram 3w4, you can recognize your achievements and growth areas, helping you to be less negative about yourself if you don’t reach your goals as efficiently. You are good at connecting with others but prefer your own company, making work life more streamlined. The four wing’s influence can also help you maintain focus on projects.

3w4 Weaknesses

Despite threes being extroverted and having good communication skills, an Enneagram 3w4 may prefer being alone with their projects to focus on succeeding. Threes with a four wing tend to be competitive, overly confident, and too caught up in their work-life to maintain their public social lives. They have difficulty accepting loss and are often seen as sore losers.

Sources: Medium, Psychologia, PsychReel, Crystal

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How to Benefit from A 4 Wing as An Enneagram 3

An Enneagram type three can benefit from a four wing by leaning into creativity, which can help them think up inventive schemes for their work that may lead to success. It would help if you reminded yourself that criticism is a part of life, and not everyone will always like your ideas. As an Enneagram 3w4, you can stay focused on your work and multiple tasks at once.

Source: Intuitive Enneagram

3w4 vs. 3w2

As a type three with a four wing, you are more sensitive and in tune with your emotions. However, a type three with a two wing ignores their feelings more to focus on helping others and maintaining their image. Threes with a four wing care more about being authentic, while threes with a two wing willingly adapt to who others want/need them to be.

Enneagram threes desire to be admired and accepted, but with a 3w4, it’s for their eccentric style and creativity. With a 3w2, on the other hand, it’s for the hard work they put into everything they do. Threes with a four wing like to keep to themselves or spend time strictly with family and close friends, while threes with a two wing are very social and want to surround themselves with many people.

Those with the same dominant Enneagram personality types can be completely contrasting characters with different wing types. The wings can either accommodate your personality type or overpower it if their traits go against your personality’s generalized qualities. A four wing’s influence on the Type Three’s is vastly different from the two wing.

What Enneagram Wing Is Your Dominant Type?

Generally, your personality type’s Enneagram wings have different characteristics that can help you discover your dominant wing type quickly. However, some people can strongly relate to both wings. You can find out your dominant Enneagram wing type by studying each wing type’s motivations and behaviors and deciding which one appears most frequently.

Sources: Ian Morgan Cron, Optimist Minds

The Best Enneagram Wings Test

We have selected four of the most successful Enneagram tests based on accuracy, adequacy, and reliability so you can find your dominant wing type and persist with your Enneagram journey. Each test has its similarities and distinctions that make them unique options. This list includes the Truity, Cloverleaf, Crystal, and Integrative 9 Enneagram tests.

Truity

enneagram wings test

Truity’s Enneagram personality test provides 19 pages with 105 questions that determine your Enneagram profile, including your dominant personality type, your dominant wing type, and how much you can connect with the other Enneagram types. The test takes about ten minutes to complete, is completely free, and is favored by many with a 4.8-star rating.

To take the Free Enneagram Test offered by Truity, click HERE!

Cloverleaf

cloverleaf enneagram coaching review

Cloverleaf’s Enneagram personality assessment provides 22 pages with quick questions to determine your Enneagram profile, including your dominant personality type, wing type, Enneagram triad, and an overview of your traits. The test takes about ten to 15 minutes to complete, is completely free, and can teach you helpful Enneagram advice through emails.

To take the Free Enneagram Test offered by Cloverleaf, click HERE!

Crystal

free enneagram tests

Crystal’s Enneagram personality test shows a sequence of short statements that you rate from one to five based on how much you can relate and is entirely free to take. This test can determine which dominant Enneagram personality type fits you most and provides the resources to find an overview of your personality, your basic desires and fears, and your wings.

To take the Free Enneagram Test offered by Crystal Knows, click HERE!

Integrative 9

enneagram career test

Integrative 9’s Enneagram assessment has two options: the standard or professional packages. The standard package costs $60 and provides 22 pages. It can teach you all about your Enneagram profile. The professional package costs $120 and provides 44 pages. It can teach you how to integrate what you discovered about your Enneagram types into your work life.

For more information about the iEQ9 assessment or to purchase, CLICK HERE.

Enneagram 3w4 Careers & Job Possibilities

Possible career paths for people who are Enneagram 3w4:

  • Architect: Because 3w4s are creative and know how to get others’ attention, they would be a great architect. Their buildings would be unique, stylish, and convenient. 
  • Publicist: Threes are people who know how to project an image to make others like them, yet with a four wing, they can contribute additional uniqueness into the mix. A 3w4 as a publicist could make their client well-liked and admirable.
  • Marketer: A 3w4 would make a great marketer because they can design original and creative mockups that are exactly what consumers want.
  • Project Manager: 3w4’s value authenticity and have a competitive nature, so as a project manager, they would ensure the business is in tip-top shape.

Source: Crystal

You can find more career options for 3w4’s here: The Best Enneagram Type 3 Careers + Job Advice & Guidance.

An excellent guide for all job-hunting Enneagram types is the Enneagram Career Guide.

3w4 Summary

An enneagram 3w4 will have the strong attributes of a three with varying levels of influence from the four wing. If you are a 3w4, you can recognize your own emotions but sometimes are over-emotional and sensitive to others’ opinions. Threes are social chameleons, but with the four wing’s influence, they are more authentic.

An enneagram three tends to be goal-oriented doers. They are success-driven and value accomplishment. Three’s can be influential, talented, and good at setting goals.

The core desire of a three is to be admirable, successful, and respected.

The message a three most want to hear is, “You are valuable simply for being you .”

A healthy 3w4 will be able to be themselves instead of projecting a false image. This can help you be more comfortable and happier with yourself.

Understanding your dominant Enneagram wing type can benefit you because it guides you to understand more about life and reflect your character. Discovering why you make certain choices and how these decisions contradict or enhance your personality will help you gain a stronger self-awareness.