These people are usually high strung and sensitive. They literally don't have much insulation, physically or emotionally. Ectomorphs can easily become over stimulated by contact with people and need to withdraw to find privacy. On the other hand they can often handle a lot of intellectual stimulation, more so than other body types, because they can put their physical impulses on hold. However, they can get overloaded, and they may have difficulty calming their nervous system. It may be hard for them to get to sleep for example. They can also experience problems with digestion and assimilation. Perhaps because their bodies are more fragile, ectomorphs are further than other body types from the earth, or the biological ground. They are usually familiar with the experience of fear - fear of the physical world or fear of other people. It can be harder for them to maintain comfortable relationships with people, perhaps because they generally feel more threatened. They tend toward indiscriminate hostility, or at least suspiciousness, with others. The ability to detach, as represented by Point Five on the Enneagram, can be a real refuge for ectomorphs. Going into their heads reduces vulnerability and slows down their body energy. Both physical pleasure and pain can be a real challenge. In previous centuries, an ectomorphic body type may have been a real disadvantage. It's not suited for heavy agricultural work, or construction, or the warrior role. Hopefully ectomorphs were able to find a spot in society that valued thinking and nervous system sensitivity, such as planners, scholars, and musicians. Nowadays, to the extent that modern society favors or rewards the intellect and the manipulation of information over the physical world, ectomorphic types are enjoying more success. An extreme version of an ectomorph would be someone who lives entirely in their head, living in the world of books or computers while ignoring their body, but this is rare. Ectomorphs can also be athletic, as in running and biking.