by Joy Wong
I recently attended a seminar on a personality theory called the enneagram. In this theory, there are different personality types, numbered 1-9. The enneagram personality types delve into the motivations behind our actions, thoughts, and habits. I took the seminar with thirty other chaplains of a mix of different races and ages, and I turned out to be personality type number 3, labeled the "Achiever" or the "Performer." According to the enneagram theory, people with Type 3 personality are motivated by performing to the expectations of others for self-worth, tend to keep a busy schedule and are prone to burnout. Because they spend a lifetime trying to please others, they are often out-of-touch with their own desires and passions. In the seminar of thirty chaplains, I was the only person with a Type 3 personality. I was also the only Asian American woman attending the seminar.
In the following weeks, I talked with women in the young adult small group at my church about the enneagram personality types. Most of these women were Asian Americans. Among the five women, at least four of us felt strongly that we fell into the Type 3 personality on the enneagram, always driven to meet the expectations of others. In addition, it was the women, not the men, who identified themselves as Type 3. I was astounded that there were so many Type 3 among so small a group, when I was the only one amidst the group of thirty chaplains.
This discovery caused me to reflect upon the impact of culture on personality. What is it about being Taiwanese American females that drives us to perform to the expectations of others for our self-worth? Perhaps even more importantly, how is the Gospel message received by those of us who are Type 3? What aspect of the Good News do we especially need to hear?
In 1 Corinthians 9:20, Apostle Paul wrote, "To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law…so as to win those under the law." Perhaps we need to fully understand what it means to be Asian American women in order to fully and effectively minister to other Asian American women. For this reason, I've come to see self-awareness as a worthwhile cause, and one to pursue with passion.
Joy Wong is pursuing a Masters of Divinity degree at Fuller Theological Seminary. Currently, she is the worship coordinator for the English congregation at Evangelical Formosan Church of Los Angeles. She and her husband live in Pasadena, California. To contact Joy, please send your inquiry to AAWOLblog@gmail.com.
I recently attended a seminar on a personality theory called the enneagram. In this theory, there are different personality types, numbered 1-9. The enneagram personality types delve into the motivations behind our actions, thoughts, and habits. I took the seminar with thirty other chaplains of a mix of different races and ages, and I turned out to be personality type number 3, labeled the "Achiever" or the "Performer." According to the enneagram theory, people with Type 3 personality are motivated by performing to the expectations of others for self-worth, tend to keep a busy schedule and are prone to burnout. Because they spend a lifetime trying to please others, they are often out-of-touch with their own desires and passions. In the seminar of thirty chaplains, I was the only person with a Type 3 personality. I was also the only Asian American woman attending the seminar.
In the following weeks, I talked with women in the young adult small group at my church about the enneagram personality types. Most of these women were Asian Americans. Among the five women, at least four of us felt strongly that we fell into the Type 3 personality on the enneagram, always driven to meet the expectations of others. In addition, it was the women, not the men, who identified themselves as Type 3. I was astounded that there were so many Type 3 among so small a group, when I was the only one amidst the group of thirty chaplains.
This discovery caused me to reflect upon the impact of culture on personality. What is it about being Taiwanese American females that drives us to perform to the expectations of others for our self-worth? Perhaps even more importantly, how is the Gospel message received by those of us who are Type 3? What aspect of the Good News do we especially need to hear?
In 1 Corinthians 9:20, Apostle Paul wrote, "To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law…so as to win those under the law." Perhaps we need to fully understand what it means to be Asian American women in order to fully and effectively minister to other Asian American women. For this reason, I've come to see self-awareness as a worthwhile cause, and one to pursue with passion.
Joy Wong is pursuing a Masters of Divinity degree at Fuller Theological Seminary. Currently, she is the worship coordinator for the English congregation at Evangelical Formosan Church of Los Angeles. She and her husband live in Pasadena, California. To contact Joy, please send your inquiry to AAWOLblog@gmail.com.
2 comments:
There are a lot of research studies published on personality and culture. The field of cultural psychology also has a lot to say on the topic. If we start with Personality Psychology we start with the assumption that indiviuals carry traits inside them consistently across contexts. To understand a person, you understand specific personality types. On the other hand, if we start with Social Psychology our assumption changes to understanding people as a product of their enviornment. To understand a person, you understand sociocultural construction of the self; which differ by culture. (cf. Markus & Kitayama)
I am one of those Taiwanese American women who is an achiever.
I have a PhD in Social Psychology from Stanford and I was a Fulbright Scholar. However, I don't think it's a personality thing that's inside me carried around different contexts; nor do I think it's problematic as if my true self is not being heard or expressed. I find comfort in my strong identity as someone who has a rooted sense of interdependent self AND independent self. I think that is one of the factors that contriube to achievement. I can be sensitive to social situations without giving up my personal principles. Having a bi-cultural identity gives the freedom to choose which side to activate as needed, and therein lies what I see as the source of success for many Asian Americans, males or females.
Exactly! I LOVE it that I'm bicultural. It gives me a flexibility/fluidity that can potentially give me an advantage. Of course, the journey to identity awareness comes with its own heartaches...as we've seen in several of the posts so far. Thanks for both your reflections!
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