E4 vs. E5

E IV and E V, sharing the bottom of the enneagram, share the under-dog identification that implies feelings of in-feriority and guilt as well as a submissive tendency. While E IV hangs on to relationships in face of frustration, however, E V gives up, and while the depression typical of E IV is-in line with its emotional background-one of grief, weeping and self-accusation, the depression of E V is a dryness and hollowness, a forlorness in which grief seem to have been buried under a layer of resignation. On the whole, we may say that E IV is intense, E V the least intense of personalities after E IX. — Character & Neurosis

An immediate distinction that can be drawn between the E5 and E4 is the primary motivation, since behavior, as always, remains the most shallow differentiating factor between any types whatsoever. Under the surface, we are met with neurotic envy and avarice, the desire to live in shame, to inferiorize oneself, to live in a world of personal deficiency, contrasted with quite the opposite: a drive to isolate oneself from all emotions. Whereas the E4 is an excessively emotional character, the E5 is one who compartmentalizes and separates the self from emotions, trying to lock them away, perceiving them as dangerous and as something to avoid.

As Naranjo noticed, both are quite self-defeating and identify with the lower spheres, although there is a nuance that appears with the E5, especially the social and sexual subtypes. Those types are more prone to be disgusted by the "earthly" realm, things that appear ordinary and uninteresting, things detached from their extraordinary affairs. The E4, in contrast, is quite identified with those lower spheres. That is not to say they don't desire something more ethereal and eternal, much like the E5, but rather that they resign themselves to the ground and dirt because they don't deserve more.

The E4 is much more of a romantic than the E5. The former is emotional, full of romantic idealization, as opposed to the aloof and detached E5. The difference does not become less clear with the sexual E5, as many would propose, for it is still a self-isolating character, one which fears connection and wants to keep all intimacy to itself. The E4 is much more open, emotionally and mentally, less afraid of invasion and more of rejection or humiliation. With all emotional types, there comes an attachment to image, self-perception, and external perception, all of which are the very center of the psyche. The E4 is avoidant, fearing failure due to its impact on how they are perceived. The E5 is indifferent in contrast.

Questions may arise when investigating the sexual subtypes of both ennea-types. As I mentioned, the sexual E5 is not any less isolated than the conservation or social variant; it is not a romantic, it's more of a scrooge, as all E5s are. It's a scrooge with intimacy and connection, sexuality and the self. Unless withdrawal and sabotaging connections are the center of one's neurotic issues, we are not speaking of a sexual E5. The more curious and less obvious case is the sexual E4, which, although not similar to the E5 in many ways, is more expansive than avoidant, hateful rather than shameful. In such an instance, self-defeat remains the very center of the psyche; such a character is overwhelmed with hatred for oneself, which they strive to externalize and project. They reject the despicable aspects of themselves and attach them to others. They attempt to rid themselves of their own perceived incompetence and attempt to hate incompetent people in turn. Needless to say, although not classically melancholic, the sexual E4 is still a shameful and emotional type.

Lastly, the E5 is attached to what further isolates them. They replace intimacy with totems, ideals, or even physical spaces and objects. For instance, the social E5 believes that knowledge can replace all intimacy, that belonging can be replaced with impartial ideals and great discoveries. The sexual E5 replaces the intimate sphere with its own idealistic fantasies, and the conservation subtype does so with items, resources, and spaces. The center of E4 is the aforementioned emotionality, one's own self-perception, and the internal impact it has.