PREVIOUS – Enneagram

BOOK : “The Complete Enneagram: 27 Paths to Greater Self-Knowledge” — Beatrice Chestnut

🟩 Enneagram SUBTYPES, from INSTINCTUAL VARIANTS
Several factors influence the traits & behaviors of each type.  The INSTINCTS (Self-Preservation, Social groups & Sexual / One-to-One bonding.) are variations on each core Ennea-type, called ‘Personality’, which is our unconscious ‘putting on a face’ to individuate ourself – ways we function, interact, & communicate with the world. Thus we get a minimum 27 variations of Personality. CHART ⬇️

As we grow through childhood, we typically develop one of them more fully, & the other two in lesser degrees. Just as all nine personality types are active in every number, all three instincts are active in every person. And as with the types, one instinct tends to be dominant.
Physical Source :
Self-preservation (SP) instinct is from the brain stem
Sexual (SX) instinct is from the mammalian brain
Social orientation (SO) instinct is from the neocortex.

Recognizing subtype nuances allow us to examining how our instincts affect the way we interact with the world around us, which provides basic survival strategies, & helps explain how people of the same Ennea-number respond differently.

EXP: A Sexual (“Intimate / 1-to-1”)  Type 6 person will likely not be as fearful as a typical 6. So much so that a SX-6 can seem like an 8, & even be mistyped as such! However, the 6’s core motivations are still there.

This CHART ⬇️ shows how 81 variations are derived.

RELATIONSHIPS : Knowing our-and-their subtypes allows us to better meet our partner’s needs for security & identity, managing the rhythms of connection & withdrawal – without taking it all so personally.
‣ What do we expect of our partner for personal time & attention, & how does this fit in with their priorities?
‣ Who initiates physical /sexual contact,  how much, how often?
‣ Who cooks & cleans?
‣ Who takes care of the finances?
‣ How do we include friends & family?

IDENTIFYING : The main way to figure out which subtype influences you – is to notice where you consistently, automatically put your attention when in public or in a group.

▪︎ SELF-PRESERVATION (SP) = PIG
SP prioritizes a person’s security for themself, the instinct to preserve our body, its life & effective function. The focus on well-being, material security & comfort – while  minimizing threats to physical needs such as health, finances, food, shelter & family.
They fear not surviving – poverty, mortality, annihilation. If stress & anxiety combines with this instinct, it can drive a person to conserve or hoard energy & resources, in response to demands from the environment or other people.

SPs tend to be more grounded, practical, serious & introverted than the other two. They can have active social lives & a satisfying intimate relationship, but if they feel that their SP needs aren’t being met, they won’t be happy or at ease. SPs are “nesters”, wanting domestic tranquility with a stable, reliable partner.

Most of the World is SP-Dom. This overall global predominance is one reason we see the general public so easily is so easily upset by news of natural disasters & imploding financial markets.

This Instinct’s ‘eye’ if forever focused on every situation or condition affecting their physical self — all about the ‘me’. SP-Dom people can put too much attention on :
⚠️ day-to-day details such as food, shelter, health & finances
⚠️ their physical environment  (hot/cold, light/dark, dry/humid, clean/dirty, quiet/loud….).
how they experience the immediate environment (inviting/disturbing, familiar/haunting, enticing/disquieting….)
⚠️ tangible resources – money, tools of all kind, time, practical know-how, material provisions & useful objects…. stockpiling for future survival.  Particular value is placed on ‘getting things done’ & building or acquiring things that will last.

How satisfied their needs & wants are at any given moment ——> will decide how they feel emotionally.

ARCHETYPE animals of the Bhava-chakra (pig, snake & rooster) plus the Life-giving elements (fire, air, water, earth) animate & shape the ecosystem.

“All relationships between people are essentially social (Rooster). Human connections involve Sexual (SX-snake) & Self-Preservation (SP-pig) in varying ways, but aren’t the raw stuff that compels bonding & closeness.

∆ The snake has no friends, no bond, no romance.
∆ A pig will ‘eat anything,’ so we call someone a pig / hog when they take-&-take & never give, or take more than their fair share.
∆ BUT – Social (SO) – in part 2 –  is the ‘human instinct,’ differentiating us from animals, with complex verbal & written language, the animal-instinctual that bridges to our hearts, connecting in commonality &/or purpose, to find our place with others.
It gives the urge to achieve, befriend, compete, excel, illuminate, improve, learn, protect & teach.” (MORE…)
♥️

NEXT : 3 SUBTYPES – Intro (Part 2)