Here’s a brief overview of the 27 Enneagram subtypes 👇
A subtype is an energetic blend of the drive of the core type and one of three survival instincts. That is…
SUBTYPE = PASSION X INSTINCT
The passions are known as: Anger, Pride, Self-Deceit, Envy, Avarice, Fear, Gluttony, Lust and Sloth.
The survival instincts are known as:
Each passion is briefly described in the subtypes description, here is a quick overview of the instincts.
Each survival instinct represents a complex mix of drives, but in short:
Self-Preservation focuses on physical and material security. It directs energy towards having enough resources, avoiding danger and maintaining a sense of organisation and well-being.
Social Interaction focuses on our role in social groups. It directs energy towards issues of belonging, recognition and relationships in our families, teams, and community groups we are a part of.
Sexual Bonding focuses on the quality and status of our relationships with specific individuals. It directs energy towards issues of maintaining intimate relationships, attractiveness and bonding.
The passion of One is Anger, which is a resentment at having to fix or correct things, becomes three different drives for perfection.
SELF-PRESERVATION ONE
Strive to make everything perfect, including themselves. Worry and feel anxious, but appear friendly and warm especially when angry. More critical of self than others.
SOCIAL ONE
Strive to role model the perfect or “right way to be.” Less worried, more confident. Will teach or show others what’s right. Once they find the “right” way, they are rigid about it being the “only” way.
SEXUAL ONE
Strives to perfect others, as well as teams and organisations. More comfortable expressing anger, criticise others more than themselves. Can zealously advocate for reform.
The passion of Two is Pride, which is a way of making yourself important in the eyes of others, becomes three different ways of charming others to get their own needs met.
SELF-PRESERVATION TWO
Charm others by being pleasing and likable. Are more fearful and sensitive, and can be ambivalent about connection. Playful, fun-loving and cute. Tend to withdraw when upset.
SOCIAL TWO
Charm through power and competence. Tend to be in positions of leadership and influence. Often know the right people. Strategic, ambitious and super-competent.
SEXUAL TWO
Charm specific individuals through being appealing and generous. Charismatic, outgoing, create an attractive image and are not afraid to pursue relationships with specific others.
The passion of Three is Self-deceit, which is forgetting who you are by shapeshifting into an image of what others value, becomes three different ways of deceiving themselves.
SELF-PRESERVATION THREE
Want to be seen as a good person as defined by social consensus. Efficient workaholics, they want to be successful without appearing vain or arrogant. Feel responsible for everything. Anxious underneath.
SOCIAL THREE
Want to be seen as successful. Enjoy being on stage, present a polished image, like to be recognised and admired. Competitive, good at promoting themselves and pitching a product. Comfortable in the spotlight.
SEXUAL THREE
Want to be seen as appealing, attractive and as supporting others success. Sweet, shy, charismatic, enthusiastic. Put a lot of effort into promoting others. Want to make others look good.
The passion of Four is Envy, which is a way of comparing yourself to others and feeling inadequate, becomes three different ways of suffering.
SELF-PRESERVATION FOUR
Internalise a sense of inadequacy and work hard to prove themselves. Stoic, strong, appear happy as they don’t easily express their emotions. Work hard to get what others have that they lack.
SOCIAL FOUR
Externalise their suffering by complaining or competing when they don’t get what they need. Emotionally sensitive, their suffering feels comfortable and familiar. Believe their suffering makes them unique.
SEXUAL FOUR
Externalise their suffering by making others suffer. Assertive, angry, outspoken. Competitive and arrogant as they believe it’s good to be the best.
The passion of Five is Avarice, which is a way of withholding something that sustains the self, becomes three different ways of withdrawing or hiding.
SELF-PRESERVATION FIVE
Hide in a space that is all their own. Create a place of refuge that has everything they need, so they don’t have to leave if they don’t want to. Has a hard time communicating with others, more guarded.
SOCIAL FIVE
Hide behind knowledge and intellect. Have “super ideals” and connect to people who share them. Don’t feel connected to people in their everyday life. Searching for ultimate meaning in life. Readily share their knowledge.
SEXUAL FIVE
Are more romantic, emotionally sensitive and intense. Seeking an ideal relationship but hide themselves until the potential partner has proven themself. Vibrant inner life, which they can convey through artistic self-expression.
The passion of Six is Fear, or anxiety, becomes three different ways of responding to fear.
SELF-PRESERVATION SIX
Cope with fear by finding friends and protectors. Are warm, affectionate, friendly, and also questioning, doubting, and hesitant. They ask many questions but don’t answer any. Struggle with decision making. Good troubleshooters.
SOCIAL SIX
Cope with fear by following a good authority and being obedient. That can be a person, an ideology or a system. Tend to be highly responsible, dutiful and legalistic. Can be too certain and be too reliant on rules.
SEXUAL SIX
Copes with fear by looking scary, strong and avoiding vulnerability. Believe the best defence is a good offense. Can be intimidating without realising it. Can be rebellious, risk-takers and troublemakers. Good at managing threats proactively.
The passion of Seven is Gluttony, which is a need for variety, becomes three very different kinds of gluttony.
SELF-PRESERVATION SEVEN
Want a variety of practical pleasures. Opportunistic, pragmatic, calculating and good at networking. Good at getting what they want and finding a good deal. Make alliances with people who can help them get what they want.
SOCIAL SEVEN
Express an anti-gluttony through being of service to others. Want to be good and be seen as unselfish. They give more and take less. They imagine a better world in which there is no pain. Sacrifice their own desires for an ideal of service.
SEXUAL SEVEN
Want a variety of dreams and positive fantasies. Positive dreamers living life based on how things could be. Live with “rose coloured glasses.” Tend to embellish reality. Have hard time taking in the negative.
The passion of Eight is Lust, which is a need for excess, becomes three different ways of using their excessive energy.
SELF-PRESERVATION EIGHT
Excess of energy to get what they need for survival. They act in powerful and direct ways without fuss or explanations. They know how to barter and bargain, and are no nonsense, no worries, no pretenses and no long explanations.
SOCIAL EIGHT
Excess of energy to protect others. Rebel against social norms but are assertive in the service of others. “Social-anti-social” person. Protects the weak, exploited or the oppressed. Sensitive to injustice. More mellow and friendly than other 8’s.
SEXUAL EIGHT
Excess of intensity for possessing everyone’s attention or a charisma for taking over the whole environment. Rebellious, outspoken, like to be seen as bad, enjoy breaking the rules. Passionate, fascinating, magnetic.
The passion of Nine is Sloth, which is a laziness with regard to oneself and one’s own priorities, becomes three different types of fusion as an unconscious avoidance of their own agenda.
SELF-PRESERVATION NINE
Fuse with routines and physical comforts. Such as eating, sleeping, bodily comforts. Practical, concrete, fulfill material needs in simple, straightforward ways. Can be irritable, stubborn, and harder to move. Want more alone time than other 9’s.
SOCIAL NINE
Fuse with groups. Work hard to be of service to a group. Generous and sacrificing to do whatever is necessary to meet the needs of the group. Fun-loving, sociable, humble. Can be workaholics. Make good leaders.
SEXUAL NINE
Fuse with another person. Is as if there is no boundaries between their experience and the important other. Adopting feelings, attitudes, beliefs and even behaviours of the other person. Tender, sweet, kind, gentle.
