Elizabeth Wagele (May 31, 1939 – March 27, 2017) was an American artist, musician and author who became widely known for books that explain personality typologies in an engaging, pictorial style. Combining visual humor with concise descriptions, she produced accessible guides to the Enneagram of Personality and to the Myers–Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), helping many readers apply typology ideas to creativity, relationships and self-understanding.

Work and approach

Wagele's publications emphasized clarity and practicality. Her pages often include simple cartoons, lists and mnemonic devices that summarize traits, typical strengths and common stresses for each type. Her approach aimed to make abstract theory tangible for non-specialists by translating technical language into friendly, everyday terms and examples.

Background and multidisciplinary style

Her training and interests spanned the visual and performing arts: she drew on an artist's sense of composition and a musician's attention to pattern and rhythm to shape explanations. As a prolific writer, Wagele focused on the intersection of type theory with real-life activities such as parenting, workplace roles and artistic practice. She regularly discussed both the Enneagram and the MBTI, and often compared ideas from the two systems for readers curious about how they relate.

Context: Enneagram and MBTI

The Enneagram and MBTI are distinct systems used to describe personality preferences and tendencies. The Enneagram outlines nine core motivations, while the MBTI organizes preference pairs into sixteen personality types. Wagele presented each system on its own terms and also suggested practical correlations, while making clear that typologies are models rather than definitive scientific measures.

Uses, reception and legacy

  • Her books served as introductions for people attending workshops, coaching sessions or self-study programs.
  • Many readers praised the cartoons and plain-language summaries for making typology approachable.
  • Scholars and clinicians often note that personality typologies are tools with limits; Wagele's work is best seen as a popular bridge between theory and everyday application.

Today Wagele is remembered for popularizing personality ideas through visual storytelling and for helping lay readers use typology as a framework for personal growth, creative work and interpersonal understanding.