In-Depth Comparison

At first glance, Eights and Fours seem like polar opposites, and in many ways, they are. But if you’ve ever seen a deeply emotional Eight or a fiercely intense Four, it starts to make more sense why they occasionally get confused. What they share is passion and depth. Both can be intense, stubborn, and prone to moodiness. Both resist superficiality and want to live life fully and authentically. But their approach couldn’t be more different.

Eights are assertive, outward-facing, and action-driven. They feel things deeply, but they rarely show it in vulnerable ways. Instead, they channel their feelings into doing, protecting, and confronting. They’re driven by a need to stay in control and not be at the mercy of anyone else's power.

Fours are introspective, emotionally expressive, and often feel at the mercy of their feelings. They aren't trying to hide vulnerability, they're often trying to understand or even elevate it. Where Eights repress pain and push through, Fours express pain and explore it. Their power lies in their ability to sit with emotion, not overpower it.

One core distinction is this: Eights fear being weak or controlled. Fours fear being ordinary or unseen. Eights move against the world to protect themselves, while Fours retreat inward to reflect and find themselves. One builds a fortress, the other writes a poem. They can both have a brooding intensity, but the source of that energy is very different. The Eight might be preparing for a fight. The Four might be preparing for catharsis.

  • Eights are driven by the fear of vulnerability.

  • Fours are driven by a longing to be seen and understood.

  • Eights suppress their emotional softness.

  • Fours express it, even when it’s messy.

  • Eights confront others.

  • Fours confront themselves.

If you’re unsure, ask yourself:

  • Do I express intensity to stay powerful and untouchable (Eight), or to be seen and understood in my emotional depth (Four)?

  • Do I fear vulnerability because it threatens my control (Eight), or because I worry I’m too much or not enough (Four)?

Quick Spot-the-Difference Table

Reflect & Explore

  • When I feel hurt, do I lash out or shut down (Eight), or dive deeper into the feeling and express it (Four)?

  • Do I push past difficult emotions to stay in control (Eight), or dwell in them to gain insight (Four)?

  • Do I feel more afraid of being weak (Eight) or of being unseen and misunderstood (Four)?

  • Do I crave intensity through action (Eight) or through emotional expression (Four)?