I think Taylor Swift Is An Enneagram 4

I write this while listening to her latest album, ‘The tortured Poet’s Department’, for about the thousandth time. I think Taylor Swift is a Type 4 and let’s talk about why!

First a quick rundown of a 4 – The Individualist,” Type 4s are characterized by their deep emotions, creativity, and enduring quest for identity. They are introspective and empathetic and value emotional authenticity and creativity. 4s express themselves in unique and personal ways and can be prone to moodiness and self-awareness. Sometimes they pull away from others due to feeling vulnerability and a sense of being flawed.

And to be more specific, I think she is the One-to-One variant of Type 4. This subtype focuses deeply on personal and intimate connections. They want to experience and express strong emotions and seek to impact and be impacted by others profoundly. This subtype tends to idealize their partners or close relationships. They may have high expectations for emotional engagement and intimacy, and when reality meets their ideals, they can be profoundly dedicated and passionate. If the relationship falls short of these ideals, it can lead to significant disappointment. One-to-one fours are intensely focused on authenticity, both in themselves and in others. They have a sharp eye for what they perceive as inauthentic and can be quite expressive about their disdain for anything that seems superficial or pretentious.

“I’m lonely but I’m good
I’m bitter but I swear I’m fine
I’ll save all my romanticism for my inner life and I’ll get lost on
purpose
This place made me feel worthless
Lucid dreams like electricity, the current flies through me,
and in my fantasies I rise above it
And way up there, I actually love it”

Idealization and Romanticism

One-to-one 4s often have a romantic and idealistic view of relationships, which you can seen in Taylor’s earlier songs especially. Her songs about fairy-tale romances and ideal partners show a longing for an idealized, almost storybook type of love.

Focus on Identity and Self-Expression

One-to-one Fours are focused on expressing their identity and often struggle with feelings of being misunderstood. Taylor’s career shows her ever evolving self-expression and her desire to be understood on her own terms. Her musical evolution mirrors a one-to-one 4s journey towards self-discovery and authenticity.

Beauty in Sadness

Her approach to songwriting involves turning painful memories and dark moments into something hauntingly beautiful. She’s such a talented writer because she can go deep into the darkness and doesn’t shy away from deep emotion. She has a unique way of presenting sadness not just as an emotion to be felt but as something to be observed and appreciated for its depth and authenticity. Her songs are like tributes to the beauty found in heartache and the lessons learned from it.

We all have a tiny part of each enneagram number in us, so I think that’s why she touches so many people with her music. She is not afraid to dive right into the raw and sometimes not very pretty parts of ourselves. We can all feel that little bit of 4 in us, even if that’s not our dominant type.

Feeling fundamentally different

At the core of Type 4’s identity is a sense of being fundamentally different. And this is a sentiment that’s very often in her music.

I mean, take her first song ‘Lucky you’. Taylor said ‘It’s called Lucky You. And it’s this song I wrote about a girl who’s different from everybody else and she’s unique and, and she like, sings her own song and goes her own way. And she know’s she’s different.’

There’s too many others to list them all, but this same sentiment is carried on through out her music.

In “You Belong With Me,” she portrays herself as the girl who’s again different to the other girls, who doesn’t quite fit the mold of what’s ‘popular’. “She wears short skirts, I wear T-shirts, she’s cheer captain and I’m on the bleachers.”

In her song “The Outside“, she sings, “How can I ever try to be better? Nobody ever lets me in.”

In ‘Mirrorball’ “I’ve never been a natural, all I do is try, try, try / I’m still on that trapeze / I’m still trying everything to keep you looking at me.” This feeling of constantly trying to maintain an image or identity that will be accepted and admired is a reflection of the Type 4’s desire to be seen and understood.

In a’ A Place in this World” “I’m alone, on my own, and that’s all I know / I’ll be strong, I’ll be wrong, oh but life goes on / I’m just a girl, trying to find a place in this world.”

So that’s just a few! Now, onto the next point

Just a bit dramatic

Type 4s are known for their intense emotions and sometimes dramatic self-expression. This is because they strive to articulate their inner feelings and experiences.

I love you, it’s ruining my life

If you’re reading this, you likely don’t need me to write down the lyrics of all of Taylor’s songs because you’ll know them – but there’s no doubt they’re a bit dramatic -” You don’t get to tell me about sad.” Every song has its own emotional and intense story around it. She employs a dramatic narrative style that does a really good job of showing the depth and intensity of emotions.

And I feel like my castle’s crumbling down
And I watch all my bridges burn to the ground
And you don’t want to know me
I will just let you down
You don’t wanna know me now

Relationships

One-to-One Fours often experience relationships intensely and tend to idealize romantic connections. Someone who can see and appreciate their unique qualities. This can manifest as a longing for a rescuer “Romeo, save me, they’re tryna tell me how to feel, this love is difficult, but it’s real”—a person who recognizes their hidden depths and saves them from their feelings of inadequacy and loneliness.

However, if the relationship falls short of these ideals, it can lead to significant disappointment and emotional turmoil.

Let’s take her song “White Horse,” I’m not a princess, this ain’t a fairy tale / I’m not the one you’ll sweep off her feet, lead her up the stairwell,”

The chorus, “I had so many dreams about you and me / Happy endings, now I know,”

Her music discusses not just love but also the profound disappointment when reality falls short of her dreams. This reflects the One-to-One Four’s longing for an idealized, all-consuming love that fully acknowledges and accepts their complexity. Many of Taylor’s songs explore the idealization of relationships, and there is always a disappointment when they fail to meet these big expectations.

Now I’m down bad, cryin’ at the gym
Everything comes out teenage petulance
Fuck it if I can’t have him
I might just die, it would make no difference

The latest album ‘The tortured Poet’s Department’ definitely has this thread running through it! ‘You didn’t measure up, in any measure of a man.’

Common Enneagram Mistypes of Taylor Swift

I’ve seen different conversations around Taylor being different enneagram types, and I’d like to go into some detail on these and why I say she’s NOT these types.

Enneagram 1

Both Type 1s and Type 4s can display high levels of perfectionism. Taylor Swift’s attention to detail in her songwriting, performances, and public image could suggest Type 1 characteristics. But her perfectionism stems more from a desire to authentically express complex emotions and narratives rather than an intrinsic need for order or correctness (like a Type 1).

Type 1s are often driven by a strong sense of right and wrong, and they are typically vocal about their ethical stances. Taylor Swift has often used her platform for advocacy on issues like artists’ rights in the music industry and political matters. This could be interpreted as Type 1 behavior, but it also aligns with Type 4’s deep sense of identity and personal integrity. Her actions are more about expressing her true self and values than adhering to an external moral code.

Enneagram 2

Type 2s are known for their altruistic behaviors and putting others’ needs before their own. I can see why Taylor Swift could be mistyped as a 2 because of her charitable acts and her public efforts to engage with fans and support causes. But, these actions align more with her personal values rather than from a place of being needed (like a 2.)

Type 4s, including Taylor Swift, tend to withdraw in search of self-reflection, especially under stress or when processing emotions. This contrasts with Type 2s, who typically seek closer engagement with others to feel valued and to alleviate their stress. Taylor’s approach to dealing with personal issues involves pulling back and using her music as an outlet for self-expression, rather than actively seeking others to help or rescue.

Her music and public statements often focus on her personal experiences, emotions, and the quest for self-identity. This self-focused introspection is characteristic of Type 4s while in contrast, Type 2s are more externally focused.

Type 2s often position themselves as the rescuer in relationships. They hope to be loved for their helpfulness. While Type 4s tend to put themselves more in the role of someone who desires to be understood and perhaps “rescued” in a romantic sense. You see this in her songs about longing for deep, meaningful connections where she can be fully seen and appreciated for her authentic self.

And Taylor does have songs like ‘I can fix him (No really I can) where she puts herself in the role of rescuer, but it’s not from a place of wanting to be ‘helpful.’ This stems more from a desire for emotional authenticity and connection rather than a straightforward desire to fix someone. She wants the bad boy because he is different and interesting, not someone she takes pity on, that as needs to be helped.

Enneagram 3

Taylor’s significant achievements and her focus on career success might suggest Type 3 characteristics, because 3s are known for their drive for accomplishment and recognition. But Taylor prominently features her emotional life in her work, unlike Type 3s, who tend to put emotions aside to focus on tasks and goals. She does not shy away from exploring and publicly processing difficult feelings through her music (a hallmark of Type 4s!)

Her willingness to pause and delve into emotions, even when it might not be seen as “efficient,” contrasts with the Type 3 tendency to view emotions as secondary to achievement. Unlike a 3, Taylor emphasizes authenticity and expressing her true self. Even when it might not conform to mainstream expectations.

Type 4s are deeply concerned with being authentic and true to their internal identity, often at the expense of efficiency or external approval. In contrast, Type 3s are more likely to adapt their image to meet external expectations and achieve success, viewing performance and adaptability as key strengths.