Realizing your Enneagram type can help guide you in life, but what about your Enneagram wing type? The wing of your type can create striking differences among people who share the same Enneagram Type and core motivations. An Enneagram Type 4 can have a three or five wing. In this article, we will be focusing on the Enneagram type 4 wing 3.

As a type four with a three wing, your personality can appear more outgoing and driven, pulling from the type three characteristics. An Enneagram 4w3 is primarily more competitive, emotional, and outgoing in thought and behavior. The three wing can influence a four to work hard and turn their dreams into reality.

Keep reading to discover more about the traits, behaviors, strengths, and weaknesses of an Enneagram 4w3. You can also learn how to benefit from your wing type’s influence and find a list of professions that would fit an Enneagram type four with a three wing.

4w3 F.A.Q.’s

What Does 4w3 Mean?

When speaking of your dominant Enneagram personality and wing types, you can say an abbreviation rather than using the whole phrase. This title tells 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, ‘4w3’ would read as, ‘Four with a Three wing,’ or ‘Four wing Three.’

Source: Enneagram Texas

Enneagram 4w; howevertion

Fours usually want to be noticed for being one-of-a-kind and try to remain true to themselves; however, with the three wing influence, they are more image-conscious and want to be socially accepted and successful. The three wing can enhance an Enneagram type four personality and even challenge their core behaviors and tendencies. 

Sometimes your wing type can have such a strong influence on your dominant Enneagram personality type that you might question if that is actually your personality type because of the contrast between typical traits. Reading a description of your personality type paired with your wing type can help you discern whether you’re a type four with a three wing.

enneagram 4w3

4w3 Traits

Type fours with a three wing are a part of the Heart Triad, so they make decisions influenced by emotion and, if unaware, shame. Also, a 4w3 can struggle with fear of being unimportant or having no worth. Type Fours with a three wing desire to be authentic, unique, and the best. They are known as ‘the Aristocrat’ because of their elegant sense of style and success with their work.

4w3 Behaviors

Those who identify with 4w3 are imaginative and artistically inclined on the four’s side and ambitious and confident from the three wing. Enneagram Fours can be introverted but enjoy interacting with others more as they experience influence from the three wing. They can portray themselves to be sophisticated and courteous for validation.

4w3 Strengths

As an Enneagram 4w3, you can recognize your own emotions and understand others’ feelings because of your ability to empathize. You are good at marketing your work because you know what your audience wants to see. Your wing’s influence helps you be driven for success and take a step towards living out your dreams.

4w3 Weaknesses

Despite their originality and confidence upfront, an Enneagram 4w3 can often feel conflicted from dwelling on their social image and insecurity. Their insecurity drives them to seek approval from their peers, so they often go fishing for compliments. Fours with a three wing tend to have emotional outbursts and mood swings when stressed.

Sources: Medium, Optimist Minds, Psychologia, Crystal

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How to Benefit from A 3 Wing as An Enneagram 4

An Enneagram type four can benefit from a three wing by bringing themselves out of their shell to interact with others rather than staying at home and alone all the time. It would help if you remembered that criticism isn’t a jab at your work; it’s meant to help you improve your professional skills. As an Enneagram 4w3, you are more caring of others and empathetic.

Source: Intuitive Enneagram

4w3 vs. 4w5

As a type four with a three wing, you care about getting your work out there and grabbing the attention of a large audience to further your success. However, a type four with a five wing isn’t as interested in being noticed by many people. Fours with a three wing aren’t afraid to share their emotions, while fours with a five wing like to leave them be.

Fours with a three wing have many goals they will work to accomplish, while fours with a five wing tend to procrastinate their goals. Enneagram fours both desire to find their identity, but a 4w3 tries to find themselves by creating expressively. A 4w5 tries to find themselves by closing themselves off to others and soul-searching within their mind.

Those with the same dominant Enneagram personality types can be pretty different characters if they have different wing types. The Wing types can enhance your personality type or even contradict characteristics that are more common to your dominant type. A three wing’s influence on an Enneagram Four is very distinct from the five wing.

What Enneagram Wing Is Your Dominant Type?

Your personality type’s Enneagram wings have distinct traits that can help you find your dominant wing type quickly. However, some people can associate with both wings reasonably equally. You can discover your dominant Enneagram wing type by studying the motivations of each wing type and deciding which one you relate with the most.

Sources: Ian Morgan Cron, Enneagram Paths

The Best Enneagram Wings Test

We have picked four of the most helpful Enneagram tests based on popularity, efficiency, and accessibility so you can find your dominant wing type and continue with your Enneagram journey. This list includes the Truity, Cloverleaf, Crystal, and Integrative 9 Enneagram tests. Each test has its relations and differences that make them exceptional options.

Truity

enneagram wings test

Truity’s online Enneagram personality test is 19 pages long with 105 simple questions that can define your Enneagram profile, including your dominant personality type, your dominant wing type, and how you can compare to the other Enneagram types. The test takes around ten minutes to finish, costs nothing, and is well-liked with its 4.8-star rating.

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

Your Enneagram Coach

free enneagram test

Beth McCord is the founder of this site. She has been an Enneagram speaker, coach, and teacher for over 20 years, along with several credentials. This test and other resources on her site provide helpful, in-depth explanations of each type.

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

Cloverleaf

best free enneagram test

The Cloverleaf online Enneagram personality assessment is 22 pages long with straightforward inquiries that can identify your Enneagram profile, including your dominant personality type, wing type, Enneagram triad, and an overview of your traits. The test takes around ten to 15 minutes to finish, is free, and provides practical Enneagram advice if you sign up for email insights.

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

Crystal

free enneagram tests

The Crystal online Enneagram personality test is a short questionnaire free to take where you rate the on-screen statements from one to five on how much you agree. This test can determine which dominant Enneagram personality type matches you and provides you with resources to find a summary of your Enneagram profile on their page.

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

Integrative 9

enneagram business coaching

The Integrative 9 online Enneagram assessment has two options: the standard or professional packages. The standard package costs $60, is 22 pages long, and helps you understand your Enneagram profile. The professional package costs $120 and is 44 pages long. It shows you how to use what you learned about your Enneagram types in business.

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

Enneagram 4w3 Careers & Job Possibilities

Possible career paths for people who are Enneagram 4w3:

  • Journalists: 4w3s are creative and empathetic, so they can quickly write what their readers want to see as a journalist.
  • Photographer: Because 4w3s have an eye for aesthetics and detail, they could effortlessly capture the right moment as a photographer.
  • Artist: 4w3s have a natural talent for art and enjoy creating self-expressive pieces to make excellent artists.
  • Small Business Owner: With the three wing’s influence, a type four is more motivated, ambitious, and success-driven. A 4w3 would flourish when running their own small business selling their original pieces.

Source: Crystal

You can find more career options for 4w3’s here: The Best Enneagram Type 4 Careers + Job Advice & Guidance.

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

Summary

An Enneagram type four wing three has all of the qualities of a four with changing levels of influence by a type three. 4w3s feel compelled to be unique while also socially acceptable. Fours have creative ideas, but with the three wing’s guidance, they work hard to make them become a reality.

The core desire of an Enneagram 4w3 is to have an authentic and unique identity. The message they want from others is something along the lines of, “You are your true self.” A healthy 4w3 has a balanced work and personal life and can find happiness in both. This balance can help you maintain friendships and complete tasks without exhausting yourself.

Gaining knowledge of your dominant Enneagram wing type can be helpful to you because it is what conducts you to make choices in life and reveals your individuality. Uncovering why you have a fixed mindset and how your thoughts oppose or improve your personality will help you appreciate yourself.