About Me

Watch the 5s squirm now as we talk about them, because they like to watch and analyze everyone else, but don't try to pry into their life unless they open their doors to you. There's at least another whole world inside the mind of a 5, if not two or three more. If you find a talkative 5, you will find an intellectual on many subjects. On the average to unhealthy side of 5, though, you will not even know he or she is in the same room with you. Rather than taking action, the average to unhealthy 5 would rather think about and analyze all the shoulds, coulds and possibilities.

Average to unhealthy 5s are difficult to reach. They form a protective wall for their emotions and view the world from their own inner perspective of skepticism about the environment. In this space, don't try to touch a 5--it will startle them too much. 5s believe they don't need much in life to be happy. Look carefully though, and you'll see the quality of what they do have materialistically is the best money can buy in their opinion. 5s also like to group their friends in various categories, so that 5s only show one part of themselves at a time. For example, their immediate family would be one group, computer club would be another group, church or spiritual friends would be another group, etc. As long as each group remains within their particular boundaries of pleasure for the 5, the average to unhealthy 5 will share and relate. But if the groups are combined for some reason, a 5 on the low side will disappear.

When 5s remove the walls of their safe zones, they become true leaders, understanding and sharing their wisdom. Healthy 5s teach us all how to appreciate and nurture ourselves and our environment.

Seeking control over their lives, Fives seek to increase their competency by withdrawing into their minds to gain knowledge. Fives tend to live in the mental world of ideas rather than in the outside world. They are good at creating systems, but their need to be in control makes it difficult for them to work within systems. They tend to work better outside the system than within it. At their best, Fives understand things more deeply than other people and advance science and human knowledge by sharing their insights. Stephen Hawking is an excellent example of a Five at his best. Although wheelchair-bound and almost completely paralyzed, Hawking lives in his mind, exploring the secrets of the universe

Point Five - the Observer

Worldview: Knowledge will keep me safe.

Unconscious Drive: Avarice

Gift: Detachment

Observers have a natural ability to detach from feelings, needs, and other people. Clarity and a cool head prevail for the Five in situations where others are emotional or succumbing to chaos. The observer stance lends itself to keen observational powers. Fives are often good listeners and do not push what they know onto others. Fives are independent, self-contained people. They delve deeply into areas of knowledge that excite them, often becoming experts in subjects they explore. They exhibit a highly developed capacity for systematization of thought, for analyzing and synthesizing complex information.

Dark Side of The Gift:
Five's approach can be overly mental when a more feeling approach is called for. They can seem to be distant or emotionally unavailable to the other types. Observers can seem disengaged with life, preferring the mental realms of thought to interaction. Their strong needs for privacy can extend to isolation. A belief that energy is limited can lead to compartmentalization of life. There are compartments for work, relationship,and leisure each with their concomitant time limits. Fives can withhold information, time, energy, and even themselves.

Internal Terrain
Fives have strong feelings just like everyone else, but prefer to deal with them later when safely alone. Observers feel that they only have so much energy and can be overwhelmed by too much input. They need blocks of private time to recharge. Yet, Fives can put out enormous amounts of energy if they know what is expected of them. They dislike open-ended unpredictable situations. Observers accumulate knowledge; they want to understand. Fives often feel safer if they do not share all that they know keeping some knowledge in reserve.