Enneagram Subtype Descriptions

Source: https://haiki.es

Translated to English with Minor Edits

Type 2

Claudio Naranjo described the Two subtypes as the Emperors, the Queens, and the Princesses. The Two has very clearly demarcated subtypes. The stereotype of the helper Two corresponds to the Social Two, while the Two’s connection with a more animal and instinctive side fits better with the Sexual subtype - pure energy in motion. On the other hand, as we will see, the Self-Preservation Two appears to not fit in super well with other fellow Twos. Their child-like disposition and tendency to acknowledge and connect with their fear hides the often obvious pride so unique to the Type Two. In any case, for all of the subtypes, it would help them to stop being slaves to their unlimited desire, and become servants of true, authentic love.

Social Two: AMBITION

We call the Social Twos Emperors, as they are more externally oriented. They have a lot of ambition, and both men and women of this subtype tend to be physically strong. They tend to train a lot and have thin waists and strong chests. This figurative armor helps them subconsciously feel invincible. This trait can give them a sense of coldness that doesn’t make them as emotional as Sexual Twos. These are also the subtype of Two that at times can seem like a One. Their pride and need to be someone important can occasionally seem overly strong. If we needed to put one type in charge of a just cause, Social Twos could be the captains of the boat. Ones too, but they would have to be very charismatic for people to follow them. At times, they can seem like some Eights, especially for their sense of protecting their own. They will protect their tribe with a sword and shield. They also will help those that they think need help (even if they didn’t ask). This action, which seems benevolent, as we will see, involves more traps than it seems at first.

This subtype of Two has a very strong capacity to attract others and corresponds quite well with the stereotype of the Italian mother. This Two, as opposed to the Self-Preservation Two, can be very competitive. Putting themselves as equal to others is hard for them and they tend to try to put themselves above. If this requires them showing their physical power, they will do it. It is not super easy for them to collaborate, as they have an inclination to give orders. It is extremely hard for them to ask for help. They tend to be people with a relatively forceful energy but interestingly, at times, some Nines can see themselves as this type. However, there are two basic differences between the types. Twos in general, especially Social Twos, have a more rigid energy (and an occasional narcissistic energy in guys of this subtype). On the other hand, Nines generally have a more masochistic energy. While this nuance can sometimes be difficult to observe, the Nine will say: “I can handle anything” while the Social Two will say “I can do anything.” Social Twos, when they do try to show their needs or that not everything is going well for them, feel a very strong sense of shame and embarrassment.

Sexual Two: CONQUEST

Here, we stand in front of the Queen. This subtype has an extremely developed instinctive side. The traditional Two pride is transmitted into the desire of conquering the other. We see here a clear feeling of superiority and a lot of narcissism. Others’ boundaries are vague to the Sexual Two and they feel like they have the authority to invade them.

As with the Social Two, Sexual Twos are very strong and appear more sure of themselves than normal. Both in women and men, behind a relatively soft facade, we find a warrior ready for battle. They can, in an instant, go from angelic beings to pure fury. Guys are often able to “Eight” a lot and get into their fair share of fights throughout their lives. Their intuition can help them be very attentive to what is going on with the other, as they are very good at reading non-verbal language. It is as if their instinctive energy comes out of them through their pores. They are Seduction in its pure state and they powerfully put themselves into play. They create extremely close relationships and to them, the partner is everything to them. Commitment is another thing…

In addition, manipulation, conscious or not, is an everyday activity for them. Evidently, they are not always especially physically attractive, but even so, they have an incredible capacity for attracting people. It is like taking seduction to the next level. The Sexual Two has a tendency to sexualize their relationships. They often always act loving and romantic, even if a lot of times the desired relationship never actually happens or if the other is in a completely different relationship themselves.

They take the Two tendency to put themselves ahead to another level, always trying to cover and fulfill the other’s needs, knowing well that this creates a debt in the relationship. They make other people feel really good about themselves, and then other people will have no other option than to like them and think of them highly. If after the Sexual Two has given something to someone, they don’t receive anything in exchange, positive feedback, etc., they will feel very angry toward the person, as they feel in some way they have been ignored. Because of this, the Sexual Two needs to come out of their neurotic need to always be on top - forcing people to love and admire them. They need to learn to truly love and admire the other, and through this, get out of their patterns of narcissism.

Self-Preservation Two: PRIVILEGE

Here we have the princesses. This subtype does not tend to be as able or strong as the other Twos. These Twos tend to seem like children (especially girls). These childish traits often also match how they look as well, and they always seem younger than they are. They have a Peter Pan vibe that (Sexual) Sevens often have as well. It is as if the privilege they think they are worthy of receiving has not let them take up their own space in life and take charge of their own lives. Also, we should point out that the typical Two seduction takes the form of manipulation in the hands of Self-Preservation Twos.

When they take their place in the world and become conscious of their shenanigans, they become beautiful souls that anyone would love to have around. Of the Two subtypes, this is the subtype that can sometimes seem like Fours. They are not a complete counter-type, but they are not typical Twos, because their pride is not super obvious. They also can be differentiated from the other Two subtypes in the realm of relationships. They have less difficulty with commitment or being completely available for one person. This contrast needs to be made because the Sexual Two will have a tendency towards romantic excess, always looking for the greenest grasses to fulfill their needs and wants.

Type 3

We see that Social Threes enjoy being externally oriented, being the center of attention, and of their own social life. In fact, they tend to use all of their skills to reach their goals and power. This being said, for the Sexual and Self-Preservation Threes, the social world does not come as easy. They have a hard time having to relate themselves to the group, and they often would rather die than to be the center of attention. They can’t handle being exposed, even if it’s not a lot of exposure; what for other people is normal generates a lot of stress for them. Therefore, while the Social Three is the prototype of the cool guy, the other two subtypes have a tendency toward shame and embarrassment.

Vanity, as we will see, is lived out in a different way in each subtype. In fact, in the Self-Preservation Three, we will see an interesting counter-vanity which earns them the title of the counter-type of the Three. In addition to living in this buried vanity, they often think that Social Threes are insufferable people and may even feel second-hand embarrassment for them. While Social Threes sell a glorious image of themselves, the Self-Preservation Three takes on a servicial attitude toward the world.

While all subtypes can be chameleonic, the Social Three takes the cake. In Threes, the preoccupation with their own image or the search for recognition has different manifestations; some more explicit and others more subtle. This being said, while the Social Three looks for relationships that let them brag about their achievements, the Self-Preservation Three looks for relationships where they can be relaxed and show their apparent modesty, reserve, and shyness. Meanwhile, the Sexual Three needs someone who needs them - someone who can give them the little pat on the back that they wish for. They need to feel that there is some sort of romantic bond (even if this love is full of attachments).

Social Three: PRESTIGE

Social Threes are what are generally understood as the stereotypical Three. They are very focused on success: a success that oftentimes comes from old ideas of extreme recognition. In fact, the typical Three passion of vanity turns into prestige for this subtype: the constant and relentless search for the spotlight. This aspect was defined by Oscar Ichazo in the 70s and remains just as valid today. We also note that pursuing success is not the same as having it. Some Threes see themselves in other types because they do not see themselves in the notion of social success. But when they look at themselves more deeply and with time, they realize that there is something that pushes them to act as if they were more successful than they really are. If to achieve this success, they have to be somewhat social-climbing and opportunistic, they will be. The idea of ethics, often, is not something thought about too much. They can cheat or plagiarize to get what they want without looking back too much. As in some Sevens, this subtype (not the other two) has a quite high level of self-indulgence. Obviously, the way we are describing all of these traits are extreme. In reality, it is evidently not necessary for someone to have no morals to be a Social Three.

They are a type of “victorious” individual while in the background they feel completely empty. Unfortunately for their growth, much of what they do neurotically is socially recognized as success: someone that knows what they want and goes for it. All of this has a lot to do with the patriarchal society we live in. They often have an explicit (or not-so-explicit) addiction to work. When this subtype discovers reality, their own reality, the fall tends to be extreme. They need someone to help accompany them in their newfound contact with the void. It is important that they feel there are people on their side, without them having to do anything.

Sexual Three: SELF-IMAGE

These are people who are not as externally-oriented as Social Threes and their vanity has more to do with the look of the other (singular other). They tend to seem very nice and trustworthy. Unlike the Social Three, they tend to be more timid people and have difficulty showing their aggressive side. They also may feel they are not smart or fun enough and this creates a lot of insecurity for them when relating to others. It is like exposing themselves to another would make them realize they are not all golden and the fear of that happening paralyzes them.

They often were not paid attention to as children and they now project their partner as a mother or father figure. They still want to get the love, affection, and attention that they had in early childhood. As children, they specialized in staying silent and not making noise. As adults, when their partner questions them about anything, they will take it like a dagger stabbing them - but it remains hard for them to show what they are really feeling. Normally, they focus most on a romantic relationship and every possible way of relating with the other. They must feel they are valued, and to do this, they will use a form of seduction so subtle that it can barely be noticed. In this sense, they could be compared to Twos but Threes put a lot of effort into this seduction while it comes quite naturally for Twos. Additionally, Twos are connected with their gut instinct while Threes are very much in their head. They are not rebellious, but good little boys or girls (or at least make themselves pass as such).

Infidelity of sorts is very common for both men and women of this type. In addition, they often form relationships with a sexual charge, even though the sexual aspect is often the farthest the relationship goes. Threes in general, but Sexual Threes in particular, are often victim to what we call “relationships” where they tend to seek out the most handsome/beautiful and successful person. They tend to value the other person’s appearance and status more than who the other person really is.

Self-Preservation Three: SECURITY/DOER

This is what we truly see as a counter-type. Not all of the types have an example as clear as this one. These Threes conserve in such a way that they do not seem much at all like normal Threes. Because of this, oftentimes they seem like other types at first, like Sixes. In this case, they transmit their passion for vanity into a passion for security, which makes them seem like Sixes. Like the Self-Preservation Two does not seem very prideful, this Three does not appear to be very vain. At least, not in the way we commonly understand the concept of vanity. Therefore, as Claudio Naranjo said best, here we see a counter-vain person. In fact, many people that end up being this type did not see them as Threes initially because vain people often annoy them more than most.

Their natural tendency, differently from the Social Three, is to be good - not necessarily only good at what they do, but also to seem like good people. In this way, they can even seem like good-natured Nines, but without the masochistic air so implicit in the Type Nine. Love in the form of admiration never completely encompasses or fills everything that the heart needs. This being said, Self-Preservation Threes feel a strong and obvious admiration toward certain people, whether they be spiritual teachers, scientists, or relevant people in whatever environment is important for them.

In some ways, this subtype’s compulsion to do, always being through doing, prevents them from being open to pleasure. Because of this, it is not strange that they tend to make work (or any other environment they are passionate about, especially one with people they admire) their lives, not paying attention to pleasure and other aspects of daily life. As Mateu says well, the passion for doing in this subtype also lends them the name the Doer Three and they can be confused with the tenacious Self-Preservation Four, especially in women.

They are hyper responsible and never stop doing things. This being through doing disconnects them from their emotions and even though they are not as cold as Social Threes, they are often unable to get into authentic relationships with others. They do not show this to others because they do not want to be the center of attention, but from their hiding spot, they desire the look of others, recognition, and above all, acceptance. They focus so much on getting results and making plans to get them that it seems they feel their worth depends on what they have gotten and not how they really are. This subtype, like Sixes, avoids situations that are risky and uncertain, even if they do not want money to brag about it (it’s quite the opposite), they feel they need it to feel secure and out of danger.

Type 4

We see that the Social Four and Self-Preservation Four have a lot of similarities and completely contrast with the principal traits of the Sexual Four. While Social and Self-Preservation Fours are contained deal with their sense of lacking internally and emotionally, Sexual Fours jump into action and can become quite violent. The difference in the level of aggression and self-determination between the Sexual Four and the other subtypes seems like day and night. Because of this, it could seem completely logical that the Sexual Four could be the counter-type.

However, from looking at suffering as an essential part of Type Four, we see the Self-Preservation Four as the most markedly different. According to Claudio Naranjo, Self-Preservation Fours are the most long-suffering of all of the subtypes, suffering in silence and struggling to show their tears. Additionally, he notes that the Self-Preservation Four is the most intellectual subtype of the three. In the same vein, the Chilean teacher would often talk about how Fours could be long-suffering (SP), suffering (SO), or insufferable (SX). (Note: Insufferable is not meant to be taken literally or as an insult). All three subtypes are equally neurotic (we all are disconnected from our true essence), but we just see that, at least in a literal sense, Sexual Fours can be quite abusive with the other.

Social 4: SHAME

Interestingly, the Social Four is not very social; in fact, the key word for this subtype is shame. You might be wondering why this subtype is called social when they are not social. Good question, but this occurs in other subtypes too, and the social instinct is different from being social. In addition to this little nuance, we will easily recognize the Social Four because they are very much similar to how Fours are in general, but with an extra bit of insecurity in themselves. They tend to feel shame and get attention through it. With respect to shame, we must also note that this subtype lives through a kind of anticipatory fear. For example, if they imagine that they will have to talk in public, fear and anxiety will take them over.

Shame seems to go hand-in-hand with its cousins: blame and shyness. The blame they put on themselves comes from a feeling that they have done something wrong and the shyness comes from not feeling like they are enough. While Twos feel full, Social Fours always feel like they are lacking. Oftentimes, this shyness leads them to hide part of their being and even their body. There can be a strong discontentment with their bodies that in extreme cases can lead to struggles with eating disorders.

Being the Fours they are, the Social Four pities themselves to no end and loves putting themselves into the role of the victim. They are the kings and queens of self-blame and negative comparison. The other always has something better than them. They prefer to swallow their own venom instead of spitting it out onto others. They learned as very young children to introspect their aggression, which may lead to a variety of mental and physical health problems throughout life.

As we can see, this constant search for love from any other leads them to live in a constant state of suffering and being at the mercy of another.

Sexual Four: HATE

This subtype is different from its fellow Fours because they are able to take their Anger on a walk and do so with a strong vehemence and righteousness. We could say that the Four’s normal behavior, crying, is substituted with shouting and violent criticism. While we see the Social Four’s constant shame, we see the Sexual Four as a shameless character. They are very loud and insistent on their demands. They can be very annoying and feel a strong sense of rejection from the world. And the more they feel rejected, the more they complain. They are Intensity in its pure form, competitive and arrogant.

This is the subtype we could describe as cutting off people’s heads due to their almost Eightish sadism. Some authors, including Ichazo in 1969, refer to them as the Hate Four. They also have some similar aspects to Sexual Sixes, because when they smell fear, they jump into action without being paralyzed. Even physically they can look like these Sixes, sometimes looking strong enough to survive a bomb attack with a strong chestplate.

Self-Preservation Four: TENACITY

Tenacious Self-Preservation Fours, while being the counter-type, look more like Social Fours than Sexual Fours. They show a kind of counter-envy and counter-suffering as their envy is not as obvious due to their enormous capacity for suffering and persevering. They have a tendency toward stoic masochism - a masochism that lives in the Self-Preservation Four from the time they were very young. They could carry carriages and wagons and more without complaining too much. It is as if they have always specialized in swallowing pain.

It is as if the passion of envy typical to this type transformed into a passion for masochism. If we add to this their undeniable tenacity, the Molotov cocktail is served. The self-demandingness is at its maximum. On the other hand, everything we have talked about shame with the Social Four, we also see in this Four, albeit in smaller doses.

Suffering, logically, is also present in these Fours’ lives, but the amount they show externally is smaller. They do not cry as much as Social Fours. However, like Social Fours, it is hard for them to express their anger and they keep it inside.

They also can look a lot like Self-Preservation Threes, but they are not as cold as them. However, they have the same aspect of effort deep inside their DNA. From the outside, they look very similar. For example, as Self-Preservation Threes do not have the same presence as Social Threes, and they often look more like Self-Preservation Fours.

As an example of this type of Four, Claudio Naranjo would talk about Miguel de Unamuno, saying that “he was a very melancholic and religious young man, who loved his girlfriend deeply for ten years before proposing, and through just this alone, we know he wasn’t a Sexual Four! He had high demands for himself, which was shown through the way he learned Danish just to read Kierkegaard and Ibsen, translated Carlyle from English and a bunch of other books from Greek. In any case, we can celebrate him for the courage he showed in his critiques of the buffoons, ignorant people, and authorities of the early Franco period, who kicked him out of his position at the University of Salamanca.”

In their self-demanding nature, they can seem a lot like Ones. However, although it comes close at times, it is not the search for perfection as is the case in Ones. They often have a thousand titles and degrees, etc. We are looking at the antithesis of a Seven, who may have done a crash course in something and feel they are qualified to teach.  All of this being said, the Self-Preservation Four is truly conserving their own suffering. They are born sufferers. Their ego feels worthy of enormous suffering - “I can deal with this and so much more.” They even feel special because of this, and can live their entire lives without a day of peace. For them, suffering and feeling like they are lacking is addictive.

Type 5

Even though in principle there is no subtype of the Five that seems “out of tune” with the others, the Social Five can be surprising at times in their way of being able to go out into the world (not without effort) and share their knowledge with more forcefulness than the other subtypes. This being said, we do not see any counter-type as clearly as we do in the Emotional Triad. However, if we have to choose one, we would say the Sexual Five is the counter-type, as they have a truly emotional side, unlike the other two subtypes.

Social Five: TOTEM OF KNOWLEDGE

The first thing we must clear up is that, even though we may be talking about a social subtype, a Social Five, no matter how social they may be, will be much less so than other Social subtypes. Social Fives have to make an effort to be in the outside world - it is not something that comes naturally. Like all Fives, these Fives accumulate a lot of knowledge, but they do not struggle as much as other Fives to share it with the world. In addition their exposure in society will always be dependent on the security their knowledge gives them. If the circumstances are not ideal, they will return to their refuge.

In the words of the psychologist, Jordi Pons: “Of the three Five subtypes, these are the most intellectual and scientifically-focused Fives. They have a tendency to believe: I know, therefore I exist. For their great dedication to scientific topics they can become experts in areas that capture their interest. They dedicate their lives to the search for the extraordinary. They look for the origin of things, a special knowledge. They have the fantasy that the more they know, the happier they will be. Socially, they look to belong to groups where the common link is similar wisdom or being fans of the same thing. They can do so as students or disciples, teachers or instructors. For example, the scientist that meets with a small group of scientists and they talk about science in a language only they understand.”

They have a tendency to idealize and have a tendency toward admiring love. The problem, however, is that there are very few people that they consider worthy of being admired. Those who are, they see clearly up at the top with them. They look for the extraordinary and perform their tasks with excellence and ease. We already know that in Fives, it is hard for them to make contact with the mundane and earthly, and they have a tendency toward the “superior” world (in every sense of the word), but in this subtype it is even more exaggerated.

Sexual Five: (DIS-)TRUST

As in Fours, within Sexual Fives, we find a lot of people with a feathered pen and a propensity toward the world of art. The search for the extraordinary we see in the Social Five, in this subtype, is something much more concrete. They have the other more present in mind, even if it’s hard for them to bond, commit, and always be with someone.

The normal passion of the Five is transmitted into a passion for trust in this subtype. If they make the enormous effort of letting you enter their internal world, they demand that there is an absolute trust; because of this, they only let very, very few people join into such a fragile, demanding, and intimate relationship. It is easy to imagine that romantic love lives through idealization in this subtype, the concept always quite present in their lives.

Reinforcing this concept, we look at the words of the therapist Mireia Darder: “Our fantasy consists of us being able to be and daring ourselves to love when the partner that understands us appears at last. In this relationship, we believe that we will always be able to be ourselves completely, and we can become extremely demanding with the other, given the high expectations we put on them. That person is an idealization, and as such, it is impossible that they exist. At the beginning of a relationship it can feel like the other is everything we’ve idealized, but as the relationship continues, we realize the person is human, and frustration follows. We then emotionally inhibit ourselves and isolate ourselves completely. Until basic needs of a relationship and affection have accumulated again and there’s a need to channel this energy again. Because of this, we look for someone perfect who we can tell everything to or we look for a new partner to start fresh.”

They have notably more energy than other subtypes and struggle less going into action. Everything being said, people that they feel very secure with and have gained their trust are considered worthy to access their inner worlds. Those privileged people will receive all their attention, and when we say all, we mean all. The Sexual Five focuses like none other. They tend to have a very eccentric side, which causes a need for and fear of it being known.

Self-Preservation Five: REFUGE

This is the most timid Five and oftentimes we can call them the “Cave Five.” The passion for avarice is transformed into a passion for refuge. The basic need of the Five to withdraw is taken to the extreme in this Five. Their fixation on isolation, in a state of neurosis, can make this trait pathological. They see too many dangers in their environment, and as such, they have needed to create their own fortress.

They enjoy their alone time but if they are not able to get out of it, life passes them by and the void takes control of them. Sometimes, they can be Four-ish and be in contact with the world of creativity and art.

Type 6

The Social Six and the Self-Preservation Six are very different from the Sexual Six. In fact, the Sexual Six, who happens to be the counter-type, seems to not have any fear. They all search for security as they are naturally insecure people. The Sexual Six takes this quality to the extreme. However, while non-Sexual Sixes need (re-)assurance before going into action, the Sexual Six will seamlessly jump right into it.

When someone first begins learning about the Enneagram, all Sixes may seem the same to them. Having an extremely unclear and foggy vision of the type, they tend to type anyone they struggle to type as a Six. However, as this “fog” disappears and we begin to understand that everyone experiences fear on some level (except maybe some Eights), we can see that there are few people that have this emotion as a passion. After figuring this out, we can notice that even Social Sixes and Self-Preservation Sixes are very distinct. One is obsessed with duty and obligation and the other acts like a teddy bear.

Social Six: DUTY

The Social Six or the Duty Six is the perfect soldier. They are very disciplined and obedient. They need clarity and therefore hate ambiguity. If they know for sure where North is and what the steps are to follow, they will be calm. They have a strong sense of morals and will do what they feel like they have to do when it has to be done. It is very important for them to know for sure what is good and what is bad. If they do not know it themselves, they need someone to confirm it for them.

In this they are both similar and different from Ones. Ones also feel like they have to do the right thing, but they do not search for an external source of confirmation; they already know what the correct thing to do is. Both Social Sixes and Ones are very precise people. Additionally, we can also note the Social Six’s tendency to value efficiency, making them look a bit like Threes. Additionally, the One and Social Six share the tendency to repress their instincts. They act like their inner “animal” is locked below seven keys. Because of this, they run the risk of forgetting their more instinctive side which can harm them in the long run. All human beings have concrete needs, some of which are extremely mundane, but denying them does not help anyone. While on the outside, these types seem similar, the Social Six never stops being a good soldier while the One has a type of internal autonomy that makes them obey their own criteria.

Social Sixes are good at following and complying with the norms and they want everyone else to comply too. If others do not, they will be critical of them. And if those who do not comply are punished, great. If they are asked to lead and command and in an unhealthy manifestation of the type, they can be somewhat tyrannical. They may defend the ideology of the group to death. They can be cold and calculating. They cut off their more instinctive aspects due to the fear that they’ll enter a relationship that will create a bond requiring their soft and tender side to be shown. With their control and eagerness to ensure things do not get out of hand, they accumulate a lot of tension. They can very loosely connect with their anger, but as they are very correct people, they swallow it down and cover it up.

Sexual Six: STRENGTH

The Sexual Six is the counter-Six. They function in the direction directly against fear. We could associate the apparent lack of fear of this Six with strength, and therefore, the contact with fear the Self-Preservation Six has with a certain type of weakness. Both of these analogies are obviously just that - approaches to understanding the subtypes.

They tend to intimidate to not be attacked and they present an image of being cool and arrogant. They take the idea that the best defense is a good attack to the extreme. They even have a very forceful tone of voice. In this sense, Claudio Naranjo’s right-hand, Grazia Cecchini, notes: “In counterphobic Sixes, strength is often cultivated on a physical level (sports, working out, etc.). Another trait is showing resistance to fatigue, repression, humiliation, and pain itself. This quality makes them seem like Self-Preservation Fours at times. The difference is that the Sexual Six cultivates strength as an hope to be able to keep away attacks from others and fear. However, for them to transform themselves, they must recognize they use strength as an identity to cover up a deep sensation of not being worthy and that it works to make them not feel dependent on others. “If I am strong, I will not get into relationships and they won’t harm me.” “If I’m strong, I can exist, whether you are here with me or you abandon me.” This neurotic illusion of strength is directly connected with the illusion of independence and wellbeing, and also the narcissistic trait of megalomania.”

A lot of people of this subtype (and there are a lot more than it may seem!) do not type themselves as Sixes initially because they struggle to see their fear. They don’t react from a state of paralysis. If they smell fear, they go right after it. For them, dangerous situations don’t exist, they react from a type of impulse and often get into big messes.

In addition, even if they begin to feel fear, it is very hard for them to acknowledge it publicly.

All of this being said, it is not hard for them to jump into action as it is for other Sixes. They tend to want to impress the other with what they are doing.

Sometimes, they do not seem like head types and they can be confused with an Eight or a Sexual Four. Physically, they are often very strong, and even though sometimes we encounter small Sexual Six women, they often still have a strong energy.

Self-Preservation Six: WARMTH

Self-Preservation Sixes are the softest Six subtype. In contrast to the Social Six, they do not need as many rules to follow and they can relax a bit more. They are not as strict with the idea of good and bad and they can comfortably navigate the scale of grays that separate white from black. Sometimes, they can be like teddy bears and can be quite emotional.

They are very reliable people who are often nice to be around. This being said, they lack a bit of impulse in life to be able to demonstrate the potential that they have. Because of this, they lack a kind of direction and this leads them to go around in circles more than they need to.

They have a tendency to look for protection in others, and authority is very important to them. Because of this, they tend to find it, and if they trust it, they feel like they can relax under its umbrella. Therefore, in contrast to a Sexual Six, it is harder for them to openly distrust and call out people above them and even those at their level. With all of these qualities, they are the kings and queens of alliances. From these bonds, they feel that the other respects them and they will not be attacked by people in their close environment. This making of alliances could seem unproblematic; however, the problem is the excess of alliances, and more than anything, the reason why they look for them: under the surface, they do not trust the other.

With all of this being said, this Six pays a lot of attention to their bonds and they seek to be able to reference the people who can protect them at the right moment. Due to their tactic of self-castration, they can look like Nines in their meekness. They sometimes remain a little infantilized, and due to this, too attached to control.

Type 7

There are people who upon first glance do not seem like 7s, but when we look at the subtypes (especially the Social Seven, the counter-type), they end up fitting the type perfectly. In other words, the Self-Preservation Seven and Sexual Seven are the Seven stereotype, while the Social Seven is more of the “good kid” stereotype. Therefore, Social Sevens often take a while to type themselves as Sevens as they think that someone as genuine as them can be in the same category with a “gang of cheaters and snake charmers.”

Social Seven: SACRIFICE OF THEIR OWN GLUTTONY

Social Sevens tend to have grand ideals, and differently from other Seven subtypes, they exchange their passion for gluttony into a passion for sacrifice. They dream of a world where pain and conflict don’t exist. In fact, they think they can escape their own desires and become a sort of angelical being that escapes having the worldly needs the rest of people have. New Age culture was plagued by Social Sevens, very pure people who tend to primarily see the positive side of life. Their sacrifice is not like the masochism of some Nines or Fours, as the sacrifice is of their own gluttony. Gluttony that they do feel but they sacrifice it in favor of an idealized image of themselves. And if as a byproduct, others see them as a sort of saint, great! We could say that even if it is in an overly optimistic way, the Social Seven wants to love the other more than themselves. Obviously, goodwill should not have limits; but, in the Social Seven, their goodness has a strong weight of neurosis and a search of recognition for their goodwill.

Many times, when we talk to Social Sevens, the thought “too nice they’re dumb” comes to mind. Inside a single type, we find one subtype’s excess of innocence (the Social) contrasting starkly with another’s excess of manipulative craftiness (Self-Preservation).

Saint Francis was an example of the true saint that Claudio Naranjo placed as an example of a Social Seven.

Social Sevens feel that they have to turn themselves into greater causes with a big component of social commitment. They have a clear tendency toward spirituality. Many times, they don’t seem like Sevens, because they forget about worldly things. It is as if this world was not enough for them and they aspire to connect with something greater.

Some members of this subtype, especially boys, have a sort of verbal incontinence that makes them talk and talk without really saying anything important.

Outwardly, they are the least Seven Sevens and we could even say that they are a counter-Seven; in fact, they can even be confused with Fives. However, it is also very common for this subtype, especially women of this subtype, to type themselves as Twos and Nines.  

They tend to exist on another plane and they seek alone time (albeit intermittently). This being said, their fear of pain and suffering is always present and it is exactly that which makes them embark on epic crusades provided they will not have to connect with what is going on in the here and now. Their mission is to ensure that no one finds out that they are not really the good boy or girl they have set out to be. They have difficulty understanding their own behavior and why they do what they do. Even when they do type themselves as this type, they still think that they are truly good, saintly, and pure. It is hard to make the curtain fall when the performance is so well orchestrated. In contrast with their neighbors, Eights, who are the bad boys of the Enneagram, Social Sevens are the good boys.

All of this being said, climbing down from their cloud and beginning to act more like a mortal is what will save them, They will never lose this core desire to save the world, but saving themselves is all they need. The behavior that could serve as a good example for everyone else, too much of one, harms them in the long run. Therefore, they must learn to love themselves truly, start being a little naughtier, and connect with their real needs. In doing so, they will lower the volume of their mental chatter and make true contact with their emotions.

Sexual Seven: SUGGESTIBILITY

These are the Sevens who have various forms of expressing gluttony, although still not as many or as intensely as Self-Preservation Sevens. These are the most “airy” of the three Sevens, and interestingly, they end up being not very sexual. They are dreamers with a tendency toward Enchantment. They do not have the hardness of the Self-Preservation Seven. They get along well through enthusiasm and creativity, avoiding the bad parts of reality. In any way they can, do whatever they can to remain a big child forever who gets out alright. At first glance, it seems that they do not like the concept of commitment. The figure of Peter Pan syndrome matches this subtype like a ring to the finger.

Also, they rarely fall into excess, being a subtype who gets along well in the world of fantasy and ideas. They are idealists, and their passion, in addition to gluttony itself, is suggestibility.

With this subtype’s desire to always be a child (like the Self-Preservation Two), they function out of suggestibility and suggesting things to themselves. They are like snake charmers who make the world fall to their feet and get what they want in that way. At the same time, they convince themselves that if anything has gone wrong, it was for the best. Whatever problem they face, they will reframe as an opportunity. But, as with everything in life, if you are too carried away by anything, even with optimism, a slap in the face from reality is certain.

Self-Preservation Seven: “FAMILY”

This is the Seven with the strongest tendency to exaggerate and be corrupt, which can cause them to become involved in a mess or two… They are opportunistic and they will take advantage of pretty much anything to get what they want.

Oscar Ichazo spoke of them as the “Guardians of the Castle.” If they are not very healthy, they can be very selfish within their “family network” (like the Godfather). In contrast with other Seven subtypes, Self-Preservation Sevens are not nice with everyone, but only those who they choose they want to be nice with. They are prone to a bit of lust which makes them a lot like their Eight neighbors. Excess of any kind is their thing - from food to drugs, and they are the most prone type to becoming addicts.

They tend to sweet-talk those they are close to, and are very persuasive; anyone will be welcome as long as they get what they want.

In their conversations, there can often be hidden motives and if they can sell you something on the way, they will. Making business is one of their passions. In addition, they are capable of even tricking and cheating themselves while maintaining the charming facade that allows them to get what they want when they want it. You could say if the occasion requires it, they can become quite manipulative and clever.

All of this being said, the Self-Preservation Seven does not want to enjoy their party alone. They are Sevens, after all, and no matter how Self-Preservation focused they may be, they will always need the group, their clan, to be able to give free reigns to their gluttony. We could say that they are the facilitators of group narcissism - a select little group of friends who enjoy life and its pleasures as if there were no tomorrow.

Type 8

While in most types there are clear differences between subtypes, with Eights, as in Nines and Fives, all of the subtypes are pretty similar. In fact, most of the time, it’s hard to tell which subtype an Eight is when they are not in an extremely neurotic state.

Social Eight: COMPLICITY

This is the Eight that is the most outwardly-focused of the three subtypes. To not be so frightening, they sweeten their image a bit, even though they are still a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Basically, they are antisocial people who try to be social.

If they see an injustice (not provoked by them), they can come to the rescue, but their intervention will always have an equally unjustly violent aspect. The passion of lust turns here into a type of complicity. However, it is not a delicate or sweet complicity, but rather a blood pact between brothers of taking a bullet for one another if something bad happens: an extreme loyalty that is so intense that it is harmful.

In love, this subtype still focuses on the ideas of abandonment, denying aspects of themselves, and jumping into action, all while being a cynical person. They show their harsher side and hope that it will work for the other person. They repress their more intimate part to portray themselves as supposedly powerful. Because of this, they can mistake love for hate in the moment (this is a brief hate, not like the hate of Sexual Fours).

All of this being said, if the Eight is able to look inside and leave this spiral of hate and maximum intensity, they can start a new life. If they are able to do this, it will be easier for them to take on their path of personal growth, being able to become good bosses. Even then, they will have a very protective style of leadership and they would take a bullet for their own. Whoever dares to harm someone in their close environment better start praying whatever prayer they know.

They have a tendency to especially protect the weakest people. With this approach, they can play the role of a sadistic leader. They want to lead, but at the same time, end up hating the people they lead, and may even pretend they don’t exist. It is hard for them to clarify what they mean and they tend to manage through chaos. These traits coincide with their antisocial desires and the attraction they can create in others. As we know well, strength without control is the most efficient road to the abyss.

Sexual Eight: POSSESSION

These are the most intense and rebellious Eights. Not a rebellion, as in the Twoish sense, but a rebellion in ensuring they get what they feel is theirs. It is a confronting rebellion, one of passion and action. One could say it’s complete social detachment.

They’re provocative and proud of their tendency to deviate from the norm and do whatever they want to meet their worldly needs. In the given moment, they can confuse their instinctual reactivity with emotional authenticity. It’s not that they do not feel authentically, however; they feel at full force, but they tend to want to possess others with what they are feeling.

They test those around them and at the smallest indication one would not go with them to the grave, they will feel as if they are being betrayed. The passion of lust in this subtype is transformed into the passion for possession. They are the Eights who when in an extremely neurotic state are very possessive and can create horrible messes in the world of relationships. All of this being said, they have a clear problem with limits. They are, unconsciously, the big invaders of the enneagram. However, they certainly do not want anyone to invade theirs!

Self-Preservation Eight: SATISFACTION

These Eights will always search for the immediate satisfaction of their desires. In this case, they transform the passion of lust into a passion for satisfaction. They are obsessed with their desires and do not take frustration very well.

As a good Self-Preservation type, they tend towards accumulating resources for themselves, especially given their passion for lust and wanting more.

As they do not care about fitting in anywhere and any social aspect is forgotten, they do whatever they want to do and pass on everything else.  They won’t talk in an elevator to fill the silence. They don’t care about talking much, as long as they can take out their claws and go after their prey. They will go from zero to one hundred in a second. Once their objective has been attained, they return to their den.

To them, life is a jungle, and those who survive are the strongest, not those who adapt best to change.

While Ones, their fellow gut triad members, are obsessed with following the norm, Self-Preservation Eights don’t even know what the norm is. They are not interested in what they are supposed to do. They do what they feel and validate it no matter what. They tend to have a strange conception of good and goodwill.

Type 9

With Nines, like in Eights, we see that their subtypes are not that different from each other. We could say that with Nines, we don’t really see a clear counter-type. However, it is usually said that the Social Nine is the counter-type since they are more active than the other subtypes and sometimes want to make an appearance in the world.

On the other hand, the Sexual Nine and Self-Preservation Nine have a very strong passion for not being seen. In fact, this tendency to go through life not being perceived is something that they have practiced since childhood. These subtypes, while still being good-natured and friendly like Social Nines, are more timid and soft. The walking, talking manifestation of friendliness and good-will would be the Social Nine. They are like hearts with limbs, showing a never-stopping maternal, compassionate love, losing themselves in others. The Self-Preservation Nine is more concrete, while the other two Nines are more dreamers. For example, Sexual Nines are generally caught up in daydreaming about romantic love. Both the Social Nine and Sexual Nine are excessively generous people, while Self-Preservation Nines do their own thing more. In fact, this subtype is the only Nine subtype who would ever, in the right moment, go into conflict.

Social Nine: BELONGING

The Social Nine transforms the passion of sloth into the passion for belonging. They need to feel part of something better, and because of this, they become the biggest “nice guys” of the “nice guys.”

As opposed to other Nine subtypes, you can see them a little bit more, participating and trying to be useful in the world. In fact, upon first glance, they can seem a bit like Social Sevens.

They value friendship and tend to have a presence in social groups through participation.

In the words of psychologist Jordi Pons: “They can feel that if they are not part of the group, they lack their identity. They fuse with the group, its goals and ideals, and take the mission of the group to the point that their identity becomes the purpose or mission of the group. For them, it is very important to be on good terms with all of the members of the group. It is hard for them to say no or confront someone in the group. Their worst nightmare is the group turning their back on and shunning them.”

Because of this, they do not take control of the group, but they try to support it with their efforts. These efforts, combined with their tendency to not be seen, make them feel a constant frustration. This phenomenon makes them a bit similar to the Self-Preservation Three in that they want to be seen, but without others noticing that they want to be seen. Social Nines, similarly, want to belong, but they also try to make sure they will not be seen. If there is conflict in the group, they will avoid it.

Everything being said, Social Nines tend towards modesty and discretion and will do whatever as long as the group is in harmony. If they are part of the tribe, they feel they will be enough

When they get out of their neurosis, interestingly, they can go from not being seen in the group to becoming a good boss: a generous boss who is just and fair with their orders.

Sexual Nine: FUSION

Sexual 9s have a clear problem with limits with their partner. They transmit their innate passion for self-laziness through a passion for symbiosis. It is an addiction to fusing with the other. Even though it is tempting to use the word union for the sexual 9, it would be more accurate to use words with a more neurotic connotation like symbiosis or fusion.

As we have seen with the love-seeking of some 4s, they have a tendency towards romantic love, even when loving something/someone is impossible. Sexual 9s can often have a much greater emotional side than fellow gut-triad types.

It is as if they completely disappear. Instead of speaking in the first person, they tend to always talk in plural. “Us” is their new identity and they always think about what is best for their partner, and they themselves will always be left in last place. They make themselves invisible, even to themselves, and put themselves at the service of the other.

All of this anti-narcissist behavior, which 7s and 3s could truly learn a lot from, ends up truly harming them. When you reach an extreme of being altruistic and excessively good, it can be just as bad.

At the end of the day, they live in confusion and true identification with the other. The other who may very well also be an object of their own projections.

All of this being said, losing their own autonomy and consciousness of who they are is really important for them.

It is as if even as adults, like social 9s with the group, they keep searching for the fusion that they had with their mom during their first year of life. The concept of Contact-Withdrawal in Gestalt psychology is not their greatest strength; because of this, it is great for them if they practice distancing themselves, even just a little bit, from their partner.

Also, they even deny their own SX instinct, in favor of whatever their partner’s instinct is.

We see this subtype taking to the extreme the inability to stand up on their own feet, and as a result, the other ends up becoming everything for them.

This subtype has a desire for food, but fulfills it with a certain secrecy. They stuff their faces but only in a corner where no one will see them. Even being the way they are, they do not renounce the narcotization essential to the 9. They use the other to disappear and enter symbiosis. They need this sort of fusion with someone to fulfill their eternal wishes of true combination with another. It is a wild codependency. They make their partner or anyone close to them think they are irreplaceable with evident acts of care. Behind this, however, is the neurotic need that others need them, even if it means being like slaves or a disposal bin for others’ emotional garbage.

Self-Preservation Nine: APPETITE

They have a passion for food and put into it all of their hopes of satisfaction. They transform the passion of laziness into an appetite. With their voracious desires to eat, they cover their disconnection with the emotions of anger and desire. They tend to have problems with obesity and they may like to drink more than they should. They can be alcoholics in secret.

This subtype takes the theme of invisibility to the extreme and they seem like they are capable of disappearing from this world.

Being with people takes them out of their comfort zone, so they prefer to avoid it. They are very shy and embarrassed and if they can they will escape from any crowd.

However, they will be with their close friends and family, but the rest of the world does not matter.

Additionally, in opposition to the Self-Preservation Eight, who is wild and power-seeking, the Self-Preservation Nine is kind and good-natured: a person perceived as noble and inoffensive. This being said, as they lick their lips in their narcotization and beat themselves down with their Robotic Doing, their lives become sad and gray.

Type 1

Remember that, in almost every type, the subtypes significantly change how the types manifest. In this case, Sexual and Social Ones show their passion more externally, while the Self-Preservation One’s passion is more internally focused and they may not externally seem very demanding or perfectionistic, but inside, they are very hard on themselves. This being said, Social Ones also have a correcting side that covers up their anger.

The Self-Preservation One has an extremely high level of self-repression. Externally, it seems like anger is nowhere to be found inside them. This being said, these Ones know very well what goes on inside.

The counter-type of the One is the Sexual One, as they actually let themselves show their anger and, in some way, they feel more free and open than the other two subtypes. This might seem a little counterintuitive since the passion of one is Anger. However, the term anger in Enneagram terms describes an anger that is swallowed. An anger that is there but not shown.

In any case all of the One subtypes have a tendency to suffer a lot. In neurotic states, they even have a tendency to put themselves in very extreme situations.

Social One: INADAPTABILITY

Interestingly, these Ones struggle a lot with being social, as they always expect that things will be done as they think is correct. The passion of anger is transmitted in a passion for Inadaptability. They believe to be a perfect being, never satisfied or asking others for help. Differently from Self-Preservation Ones who think they need to work harder to improve themselves, Social Ones feel like they already are perfect as they are. If they can throw in your face that you are wrong, great! They are very much “I told you so. See how I was right.” In this way, they show their strength and moral superiority: strength that since they were very young masked their tenderness.

They think that everything would be better if everyone acted like them. Without a doubt, they are the most rigid of the rigid. Unlike Threes, Social Ones care very little about what other people think. Their attitude is the opposite of the chameleonic Three.

They tend to say things like: “You do it like this” and “This has to be how I say.” They have a tendency of thinking there is only one way of doing things.

In some ways, they can seem a lot like a kind of English Lord. They tend to correct others in an aristocratic way. They can often be intellectual and educated.

All of this being said, Social Ones do not adapt well to the social world, as their desires for others to do what they want make them seem socially isolated. The way they act superior to others makes them seem distant and cold.

This being said, when healthy, they have a very strong inclination to work for the common good.

Sexual One: VEHEMENCE

These are people that give their all in everything they do. They obsess and worry about every detail, with an addition for intensity and they transmit their anger into a passion for vehemence.

They are able to easily tap into themes of domination and conquest. They are sure of what there is to be done and they do it without hesitating. Claudio Naranjo spoke of them as being like Spanish conquistadors; in favor of a benevolent God and for the glory of their kings, they sacked and killed without weight on their conscience. To them, it was what had to be done.

In the terrain of romance, they end up being very suffocating while demanding a lot of the other. They confuse sincerity with assertiveness. Differently from Self-Preservation Ones, Sexual Ones can jump from hidden irritation to explicit rage in a heartbeat. They are extremely faithful and loyal; in this sense, they can be very similar to Social Sixes. They create boundaries and limits with clarity and try to respect them. But if they become careless, they can become possessive and jealous.

They are excellent agents of perfection, with a dangerous tendency toward idealization. They experience a constant search for intensity.

In order to grow, they must tone down their intensity and give their impulse a break, making contact with true serenity.

Sexual Ones spew out their anger on the world. There is bitterness written all over them. Their blood boils with their own violence and they become agents of righteous anger.

Self-Preservation One: WORRY

In this case, we are looking at the most perfectionistic and anxious One. The passion for anger turns into an excessive attachment to control and “I have to/I must” thinking patterns, which evidently makes this subtype suffer a lot. They live in an almost constant state of anxiety. Their worry focuses on ensuring that everything will go well, and what “well” means to them will be more than well for everyone else. They do not have a normal measuring stick. They are very farsighted and want situations under their control. However, they are not able to see that everything is good as is and that they are merely in constant improvement mode. They can feel dirty or that they have a lot to improve in themselves, which gives them an excess of extra pressure. They tend to hide their anger, worry, and control, wasting time trying to make it seem like something it isn’t.

In the words of Claudio Naranjo, “We could say that this is effectively a person where worry becomes a true passion. And this is not just talking about a behavior that could be described as worrying too much, but rather that they worry about things that are already good, and sometimes end up losing what they are trying to fix because it didn’t need to be fixed in the first place. This need to worry so much can also be understood as an exaggerated need for foresight and having everything under control, simultaneously motivated by a fear that their survival seems threatened.”

They accumulate a lot of energy trying to appear like an almost perfect person. They tend to always be physically tense and sometimes this can even make them feel like they have physical illnesses. Also, they can sometimes seem quite emotional.

With this being said, in the same way that Social Sixes end up mistyping themselves as Ones, a lot of Self-Preservation Ones can mistype as Sixes. This is because, at first look, we cannot see the anger Self-Preservation Ones carry inside, as they just seem like people who look for control and security.

Additionally, the Self-Preservation Ones seems quite reasonable and coherent, with an air about them that seems Threeish (definitely not Social). It could seem that if we did not know they were emotionally more dead than alive, they would have little to change.

They are the most affable and friendly of all Ones since they deeply mask their anger. They are very hard-working, down to earth people. This being said, they are extremely critical to things they do not care for.

To Claudio Naranjo, Aristotle was a good example of a Self-Preservation One: a more down-to-earth philosopher who had an immense influence on his disciples.