Common contradictions within typology systems
-by Ilsa (thejetblackwings1)
To begin with, I understand that typology systems are created separately and not necessarily made to work with each other. However, when typology systems are put together it becomes clear that there are contradictions; such as anti-intuitive E9’s and cognitively introverted E2’s. I’m aware that recently there has been an increase in people with contradicting typologies, however I just want to talk about the ones I believe contradict and give my reasoning behind it. (This doesn't mean you have to agree as this is just what I have understood from my own research).
First of all, I want to talk about why there are contradictions between different typology systems in the first place. Many people believe that, because the systems were made separately, there cannot be correlations between different types. This idea about typology systems is wrong, as many descriptions given in original typology books and resources show many clear correlations; while they mostly focus on different aspects of yourself, these aspects can overlap each other to create contradictions. For example, E5 correlates with descriptions of Ti and Ni dominant types. Most people with basic knowledge of MBTI and enneagram know of basic contradictions (such as cognitive introversion being contradictory with E3), but I will also explain lesser-known contradictions in this document. For all quotes and evidence, I will give reference to the resource and author. Hopefully it helps to give a more in depth explanation to why there are certain typology contradictions.
I would also like to address something about my sources in this book as I have seen a lot of people arguing about this. For Enneagram, the majority of the sources used (apart from ‘The Complete Enneagram’) are by Naranjo and I've seen many people getting annoyed because they believe Naranjo’s work isn't reliable or the descriptions are debatable. Personally I trust Naranjo as a good source for Enneagram so if me referencing his work is going to upset you then you don’t have to agree but if you're only going to complain to me because of my Naranjo references please don’t take the time.
A common contradiction discussed within MBTI and enneagram is intuitive types (Ni + Ne) and Enneagram 9. This is because the description of E9’s core structure and behaviour is contradictory to the description of intuitive types. Enneagram 9’s are described as having a want to stick to what is conventional and using narcotisation as a way of ‘putting oneself to sleep. The description of intuitive types described in MBTI and Jungian goes against this idea of psychological inertia that is found in the Enneatype 9.
One of the traits in the E9 trait structure is narcotisation, which is the idea of "putting oneself to sleep.” This doesn't mean literally sleeping, but the idea of putting their mind to sleep through repetitive and unconscious tasks like TV to distract themselves from what they do not want to think about. They deflect by immersing themselves in other activities that can make their life feel 'watered down' as they try to reject everything they don't want through indulgence.
"They use the mechanism of attending to the peripheral instead of what is right in front of them". Similar to E5's, E9's may 'flee' as a defence mechanism and isolate themself and take the form of hostility. According to the descriptions of intuitive types written by both Isabel Briggs Myers and Carl Jung, intuitive types focus on ‘reaching the highest point of actuality’ and wanting to encompass the greatest possibilities, as only then is the intuitive type satisfied. Intuitive types are constantly seeking new possibilities and outlets, dissimilar to the e9 whose focus is on ‘avoidance of experience.’ They don't want to be in touch with their own experiences. ‘Enneagram 9 however, approaches life through a strategy of not wanting to see, this can result in an oversimplification of the outer and inner world.’ This is very unlike the intuitive which lives for the idea of new possibilities and concepts; they focus on what new opportunities a new piece of information can bring, a new discovery that they may find.
Intuitive traits in the dominant and auxiliary are all about seeking out new ideas and possibilities, whereas E9 enjoys having the safety of ‘indulging’ so they don't have to deal with what they can't handle. They like to live without seeking out new ideas and this idea of oversimplification of both their outer and inner worlds is the opposite of intuition, which seeks to find as many new ideas from their environment as possible. Another important part of Isabel Briggs Myers's intuitive description is their way of facing life with a craving for inspiration. This isn’t saying that Enneagram 9’s cannot be ‘inspired’ - however, Naranjo describes them as approaching life through a strategy of not wanting to see, the idea that life is better if they stick to what is familiar or ‘’how things are done’’. He describes Enneagram 9’s trait of psychological inertia as ‘an intellectual expression of defensive loss of inwardness is a lack of subtlety and imagination’. Clearly, as psychological inertia is an important part of the core theory that Naranjo writes about for this Enneatype, intuition does not work with this idea.
Enneagram 3 does not work with any cognitively introverted types (Ixxx). Cognitive introversion should not be confused with social introversion, as E3’s can still be socially introverted (typically the self-preservation 3). In short, the reason that they can’t be cognitively introverted is that the focus of the E3 is that of their external world - they seek validation and affirmation from the people in their external environment. Naranjo describes vanity in the E3 as a passionate concern for one's image, the way they appear to those around them is extremely important to an E3. They also live for appearances, the focus of concern being not in their own experience, but the anticipation of another and thus the insubstantiality of the vain pursuit.
Firstly, I want to explain why the extraverted types fit with the enneagram 3. I will focus on this quote from ‘Gifts Differing;’ “Extraverts tend to value the reassurance of others in their work.” Furthermore, the description of the extraverted type as given in ‘Gifts Differing’ describes extraverted types as having “Outwardly directed minds, focused on the objective happenings primarily those of immediate environment. Their real world therefore is the outer world of people and things.” This sounds extremely like the E3, which is even described in the same way by Naranjo; “Vanity is a passionate concern for one's image, or a passion for living in the eyes of others.” The E3's value is placed on their external world, the validation that they can receive from others, and the praise and acceptance from those around them which falls in line with the attitude of the extroverted type. Their world view is external, opposite to the internal focus that the introverted types hold. This description definitely appears to correlate with the description of E3 we can see in Naranjo’s ‘Character and Neurosis’ and Beatrice Chestnut’s ‘Gifts Differing.’
Now I want to talk about why enneagram 3 does not make sense with cognitively introverted types. Firstly, the introvert does not seek validation from the outside world in the same way as the extrovert. Of course introverts can want validation; however, the introvert finds it more important that they themselves are satisfied with what they have done rather than focusing on the validation that they can receive from others. The minds of introverted types are described as being “inwardly directed” and focused on their internal world rather than the external world. Introverted types are also described as being more at home in their internal world of ideas than the world of people and things, which goes against the idea of the passion of vanity that the E3 holds and their desire to keep the image that they want to uphold for others which is not the main priority of introverted types. E3’s are focused on the external world in the validation that they search for from others. Therefore it makes very little sense for an Enneagram 3 to be focused on their internal world as an introverted type would be.
I often see people argue that self-preservation 3’s can be introverted types especially since they are the counterphobic type. I disagree with this. While sp3’s are the most likely type to be socially introverted, this does not mean that they can be cognitively introverted types. In Naranjo’s description of the Conservation 3 in ‘27 Personalities in Search of Being’ he says that, while the Conservation 3 may appear to not be vain or proud to those around them, these types care just as much about their appearance as the other two subtypes. They want to be seen as a modest and kind person, seemingly indifferent about how they come across to others. Vanity is still present in the Self-preservation 3 despite finding it easier to hide their vanity.
There are many other reasons why this enneagram can only work with Se. Enneagram 8 is described as a “sensory-motor dominant” type by Naranjo. The E8 places action above thinking or feeling in terms of importance, focusing on the act in the present and thinking later. This sensory-motor dominance is also reflected in Se as the aims of Se are to live and enjoy life to the moment and live life to the fullest. Isabel Briggs Myers describes the sensation type as “Preferring to live in the present to the satisfactions of enterprise and achievement.” This contradicts both dominant thinking and feeling types as they use thinking or feeling over action; for example, an ESTJ, regardless of their auxiliary function, would place thinking above sensing as they are Te dominant types.
The passion of E8 is lust, which Naranjo describes as a “propensity to boredom when not sufficiently stimulated, the craving for excitement, impatience and impulsiveness are in the domain of lust.” Just like this type, the sensor types are described as “facing life observantly craving enjoyment” in Gifts Differing. They want to make the most out of all experiences and live life to the fullest which reflects the passion of lust. Additionally, Naranjo describes E8’s passion for lust as a “passion for excess, a passion that seeks intensity, not only through sex but in all manner of stimulation.” Both types focus on making the most of their lives and enjoying it to the fullest which is why Se dominant types are directly correlated with Enneagram 8’s.
We know by now that E8 must be paired with a dominant sensing type,but the only possible dominant function for them is Se not just sensing in general. Si is not compatible with E8 as, much like the Enneagram 3, E8’s are focused almost solely on their outer world through their sensory-motor dominance and passion for excess and external stimulation. Their hedonistic nature is satisfied through experiences in their outside world and the need to ‘experience life’. This doesn't fit in with introverted types in general as we know that they are a lot more inwardly focused, something we don't see reflected in the E8.
It’s common to hear people say that Enneagram 4 cannot be thinker types and that it directly correlates with Fi. This is due to the description of E4 in the core theory that the passion of envy manifests itself in an emotional sense and an excessive craving for love.
They crave love because of “a need to compensate for the inability to love oneself,” and “chronic self-hatred,” which clearly shows that they value their relationships with others, craving the love and acceptance they can get. By “chronic self- hatred” here, Naranjo means that the E4 However, the description of thinking types presents them as ‘being more interested in things rather than human relationships’ which sounds nothing like the E4 who craves interpersonal relationships.
This enneatype is highly feeler associated because they approach life through feeling. In Character and Neurosis, Naranjo describes this type using “feeling-dominance,” showing that this type is heavily correlated to feeling.
According to Briggs Myers's description of thinking types, they “value logic over sentiment” and they “Suppress, undervalue, and ignore feeling that is incompatible with the thinking judgements.”
E4’s natural need to put feeling above all else directly contradicts with the preference of the thinker types to suppress their feelings for the sake of logic. Thinking and feeling are even described as “rival instincts of decision” by Briggs Myers. Thinking types focus on decisions through an impersonal lens, seeing the idea of evaluating through means of feeling as ‘unreliable’ and ‘uncontrolled,’ while feeling types believe the opposite. Enneagram 4, which is especially described for its emotionality and love-addicted and nurturant characteristics, is extremely incompatible with thinking and directly correlated with high feeling types.