Katherine Fauvre: What is the difference between the 461 Tritype® and the 641 Tritype®?

January 25, 2023 Guest User

Question: What is the difference between the 461 Tritype® and the 641 Tritype®?

Katherine: This question is usually asked by the sad, emotional, and creative 6 with the 641 Tritype®. There is so much I can say… First, a little about the lead types and working with our core fears, and then the comparison…

Overview:
The 641 often identifies with the sensitivity, suffering, and emotional identity of the 4 but have their doubts about the 4's need to create an image of themselves based on beauty, suffering, and elite exclusivity. They also identify with the 4s fear of abandonment not realizing that 6s also fear abandonment. The 4 and 6 will describe abandonment in a different way…for the 4 it is emotional whereas for the 6 it is mental. They can also share the identification with negativity. But what the 4 is negative about is different than what the 6 talks about. So, listening to the overall focus is key to seeing and hearing the difference.

The 4 is expressive in their language and word choices…the 6 can be but what stands out is that the 4 is very articulate and the 6 shows many expressions especially around the eyes and eyebrows while speaking or thinking or actually doing just about anything. So, tracking the different subjects, tones, expressions, and vocabulary immediately show the differences.

Both the 4 and the 6 can be anxious but what type of anxiety and how much? The 6 is and has always been anxious. They were drawn that way. 😉 Some will say that they are anxious, others will say hesitant, others will say timid, shy, uncertain, second guess, worry, doubt…simply repetitive negative thoughts.

It is a way of being for the 4. Everything matters and is considered critical to maintaining, a sense of self that is based on their need for both authenticity and sophistication… they are the artier focused on every detail: the aesthetics, the mood, the ambiance, the style, the look, the refinement, the quality, the elegance, the color, the fabric, the texture, the finish, the scent, the comb, the brush, the watch, the ring, the necklace, the belt, the shoes, the laces, the accessories, the leather, the mirror, the outfit, the shirt, the tie, the name, the pen, the paper, the words, the hairstyle, the hairstylist, the food, the restaurant, the furnishings, the home, the car, the type of paint, the metals, the architecture, the architect, the design, the historical influence, the marble, the roof, the lighting, the landscape, etc., and the exclusivity most of all. Everything must be elite and suit the 4s image of themselves as someone that is tasteful and elegant and possesses one-of-a-kind treasures prized for their rare beauty and perfection. Nothing is random or ordinary at least not for long.

The 4 has a strong, relentless, and often unconscious drive to be unique at all costs, which can separate 4s from others that find the 4 to be overly focused on themselves. If the 4 is immature, they may not see how off-putting this drive can appear and how it can push others away. This happens because others feel that they don’t matter to the 4 or are not unique enough for the 4 or do not want to discuss what the 4 is interested in. Others can feel judged, unseen and common. It is not what the 4 intends. Inside the 4 is a fragile heart that needs to be singular and stellar and a work of art to avoid painful feelings that they will never be enough or cherished because of their many flaws, both seen and unseen.

In contrast, the 6 with 4 and 1 may have a strong sense of aesthetics and wants to do things well and with a touch of flare but they know that their persona is a mask they can take on and off. The unaware 4 take themselves to be the image they have cultivated for themselves. The 6 knows the mask is their way to hide. The 6 may seek details like the 4 but the 6 is overly aware of not wanting to be too different whereas 4s wants to be different. The 6 knows they need backup more than the persona they may have created. So, the persona is fine if their friends also have a similar persona or if they are with their friends. The 6 knows they need people…at least a few key people. The 6 does not want their image to be so off-putting that it makes them a target. They may even avoid areas where they could be targeted. The 6 is focused on being safe more than being unique.

The 6 doubts everyone, not just themselves. They project the worst-case scenario in every situation and on to others they find suspect. The first impulse is to doubt others and watch to see if they are a potential threat. Many 6s, especially cp6s do not know that they are overly focused on safety, security, and certainty. The 6 is loyal to their person or people… not just anyone. They defer to the one they have attached to. They may say passive-aggressive things about their people but in the end, they side with their people or someone.

6s also prefer to be the everyman…the nice boy or girl next door with personal style rather than be so different that people are offended. The exception is the anti-social, counter-culture cp6. They are attracted to the group they have identified with that is counter-culture. They enjoy doing or wearing things that put people off… but they are not without their people. Even the most introverted, anti-social 6 will have a shy smile to attract others when they feel alone. The basic nature of 6 is to be friendly…they also struggle with anxiety so prefer to talk to people one at a time. They make friends one at a time. With each friendly relationship, they feel safer in their environment. So if they are a crusty 6 it is because they are anti-social and do not trust people or institutions.

146 Tritype®:
This Tritype® has a lot of 4 and 1 as they share lines of connection. The 1 has a line of connection to 4 and the 4 has a line of connection to 1. The 6 and 4 share the tendency to feel self-doubt. They fear scrutiny and do not always realize their scrutiny of others. The 6 and 1 focus on rules and regulations. Together they create a drive for high standards, beauty, meaning, dedication, and cooperation.

The 146 Tritype® is the Tritype® with the highest standards of the 27 Tritypes®. When their standards are met to their satisfaction, they relax and are extremely creative. When they feel stressed, they are very hard on themselves. and can become so rigid that they lose their sense of vision and creativity.

The lead type shapes the way in which the 146 will manage their core fears. The fears of all three types merge to create a more specific way in which the defense strategy will be activated. The 1, 4, and 6 are all striving to do things well and without error. Together in a Tritype®, the 146 has the opportunity to impact many with their meaningful contributions.

461:
The 461 is very particular and strives for beauty and creative expression in all that they do. And, what they do must be above criticism both technically and stylistically. They are the focused, fussy, exacting 4. The 461 has the highest standards of the 27 Tritypes®. The 461 leading with 4 has the highest standards of the 81 combinations. These standards include the expectation that they must continually be original to manage their fear of being abandoned because they are inadequate in a way they feel is critically important. They strive to perfect what they feel is essential, for if they miss the mark, they feel that they are fundamentally lacking and will never recover. As a heart type, they feel extremely anxious that a single mistake will forever impact their image. They fear that others will look down on them. In such a moment, they feel lost and disorientated. They also feel that all is lost and may say or do something they may later regret.

If we were to step into their shoes, we would have tremendous compassion for the very real pain and suffering that the 461 feels and never be upset when they are in a spin of criticism and self-loathing. Believe it or not, that spin may look like it is amplifying their negative sense of self but, in another way, it is ensuring the defense strategy that it has identified what the 461 must know to never be or feel inadequate in the same way again. Ichazo called the 4 the over-reasoner because the 4 tries to make sense of their suffering and find a way to understand the pain so as to never have to experience it again.

The key for the 461 is to go inward to find the stillness or to go outward doing something physical to release the negative thoughts and emotions. And to try and remember that there are moments in time that do feel extremely tragic and that no matter how painful these moments are, they will pass and are actually fleeting in a forever-changing world. Also, if they can remember the many moments in time when they have felt truly inspired and blissful, times when a mistake became the foundation to create something altogether new. What may be lost in one moment can be found in a new way in the next.

So, the 461 needs a mantra that recognizes that self-criticism is a way to punish themselves for not being seen as singular and accomplished. They cannot truly know what others think or feel or for how long they might think or feel it. If they use their intuition with common sense and inner strength they will know who they are regardless of what others think, say, or do.

641:
The 641 is identified with high standards as well, standards that will be appreciated and will keep them safe from criticism. They are the particular, creative, dutiful, and feisty 6. They try very hard to do what they feel they should but rebel against too many restrictions as they already have so many rules that they have created for themselves. They fear they will make a mistake and upset someone and/or be blamed for something they feel that they did not do. They do not want to be in trouble with anyone as it causes great stress to the 641 and the potential of being abandoned and left alone causes fear and panic. They run the highest level of anxiety of the 81 combinations of the 27 Tritypes®.

If we were to step into their shoes, we would have tremendous compassion and never be upset when they are in a spin of worst-case scenarios. Believe it or not, that spin may look like it is amplifying their negativity and fears or blaming you by sending barbs your way. But in another way, it is ensuring the defense strategy that it has covered all possibilities of what can go wrong so the 641 can feel safe enough to relax.

The key for the 641 is to go inward to find the stillness to release the racing negative thoughts that are amplifying negative emotions. The anxiety is very real but the 641 needs to create a practice of remembering that they are never truly alone if they can hold on to themselves regardless of what others think, say, or do. Perceptions of criticism or feeling blamed feel brutally painful and can torture the 641. They try so hard to please others that they become really anxious when it doesn’t seem to create the circumstances they had hoped would happen. And when you feel panic or extreme anxiety remember that it is because you have tried so hard and fear being at odds with someone. It has triggered your powerful drive to fight, flee or freeze as your defense strategy perceives blame and criticism as an extremely threatening situation. Freezing when feeling extreme anger and a sense of danger is the nature of rigidity and eventually, the 641 will react to release the adrenaline that is overwhelming and may regret what they say or do.

So, the 641 needs a mantra recognizing that what may feel like a threatening, painful, and anxiety-producing situation is a perception of the moment that can be terrifying. But in the stillness of the higher self, it can be seen as an opportunity to remember who they truly are and their powerful inner strength in the next moment.

Practice:
First, I would like to say that when we have developed a way to find the stillness of our higher self, we can manage our painful core triggers faster and faster and faster. This reduces the charge and pain we feel when triggered. With practice, many of our most painful triggers that were once at the highest levels causing us to over-react in a defensive and aggressive manner can be reduced to much lower levels… to even neutral.

In neutral, our triggers may still arise, but we can recognize them and appreciate that our defense strategy is just alerting us of situations that appear to be the same as painful experiences in the past when we were powerless to protect ourselves or influence what was happening. The defense strategy collects emotional memories and is designed to signal the possibility of a painful situation. In time, we can sort out which triggers are real or imagined and calm the need to fight, flee or freeze. We can learn to soothe the wounded aspects of our personalities that were harmed and unable to fully comprehend what was happening.

With practice and understanding, we can learn to see old wounds but not overreact to them. This happens when we can recognize our triggers, comfort the wounded parts of our personality, understand the circumstances that triggered us, and learn ways to self-soothe and restore a sense of equanimity. In neutral we no longer feel the emotional pain and suffering at the level that we once did. With deeper work, with a coach, therapist, or guide we can develop the insight needed to transform negative thoughts, emotions, and experiences into personal empowerment, empathy, and compassion for ourselves and others.

More on the types at www.katherinefauvre.com

More on Tritype® here:
Katherine created a test that has been programmed to pick up particular patterns that the types use.
Take the Test here: https://enneagramtritypetest.com
General Information: www.katherinefauvre.com/tritype
YouTube: Katherine Fauvre | Creator of Tritype®

Katherine Fauvre: Reflections on Enneagram Type - A Workshop with Dr. Claudio Naranjo

January 17, 2023 Guest User

Reflections on Type: An Enneagram Workshop with Dr. Claudio Naranjo
by Katherine Fauvre
April 1996
Take the Test here: https://enneagramtritypetest.com
I thought I posted this but was told it could not be found, so I am reposting it. The reason for doing so is to put into context what was unknown about the Enneagram of Personality, in particular, what was unknown about Claudio Naranjo's contributions to the Enneagram. He said this was the first time he taught the 27 Subtype Archetypes.

Introductory Note:
Studying the Enneagram was a turning point in my life, beginning with the first Enneagram training manual I received from a fellow attendee at a course on symbols in 1985. During the course on symbols, the instructor asked if anyone knew of the modern-day application of the Enneagram. The woman to my left had... She had attended Kathy Speeth's Enneagram training while working on her Ph.D. at the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology (ITP) in Menlo Park, California. I immediately asked her about it, and she kindly spent every break and lunch teaching me the Enneagram and gifted me her manual.

I have been fascinated with typologies since I was seven years old. As an adult, I mastered quite a few personality typologies to better interview, hire, train, manage, and develop personalities that differed from my own. The Enneagram was unique in that it was the one system that could hold every other system. I became fascinated with the transformational aspects of the Enneagram and understanding the nature of the forces that make us who we are at the level of unconscious motivations. Everything I do, I tend to overdo, and so I immediately began to avidly study the Enneagram from every perspective I could find, interviewing friends, family, and clients and their friends and families as well.

After the first Enneagram conference at Stanford University in 1994, I began the first of 23 qualitative research studies examining the "internal experience of type" with respect to the types and subtypes.

At the same time, I completed three Enneagram Certification programs: with Helen Palmer and David Daniels, Don Riso and Russ Hudson, and Kathy Hurley and Ted Dobson.

Each approach, while different, was still a testament to the seemingly inexhaustible way of evaluating human nature, and all filled a different section of the broad mosaic that is the Enneagram. For the wisdom of Gurdjieff, Ichazo, Naranjo, and my teachers, and those before them who have been the custodians of this knowledge, I am eternally grateful.

Writing this Article:
When I was asked to write this article, I felt there was much I could share about this extraordinary intensive. However, writing about the experience proved to be another matter, for Claudio's and my speaking and writing styles are so different, as I tend to string adjectives together for emphasis, and he chose concise words or phrases that say it all.

Therefore, this article is, in effect, my "translation" of Claudio's teachings, and so any awkward phraseology should be attributed to me. Similarly, although this is my impression of what Claudio was saying, the information was so rich that it may well have resonated differently with others. Stated concisely, I walked away with a more expanded, integrated view of type. Now for the string of adjectives. ;)

Claudio's 10-day Enneagram Intensive:
In April of 1994, Claudio Naranjo held a 10-day workshop in Boulder, Colorado, his first in-depth teaching of the Enneagram in this country in more than 23 years. I was fortunate enough to be able to attend and found that Claudio's unique style of teaching as an INTP, contributed as much to the learning experience as did the content. With wisdom, kindness, skill, and patience, Claudio freely gave of himself, indulging us and politely answering questions in a responsive yet neutral manner, creating an environment in which I thrived as an ENTP.

I had many, many questions about everything that was unknown about the Enneagram since he had not been teaching in the US for almost 24 years. Ichazo was also not available except at his school, Arica® Institute. Claudio answered them all through the intensive and thereafter.

Teaching Style:
Claudio placed little emphasis on the structure of the workshop, instead placing more significance on transmitting information toward a greater goal that emerged daily. Interspersing nuances and descriptors with theories, the week unfolded.

Rather than having an agenda and covering the types in an A-to-Z manner, Claudio's approach was distinctive and focused on relativity. Instead of a methodical approach, he employed an intriguing conversational style, similar to the way we actually speak, spontaneously and with free association. Just as you might begin to predict what he would talk about next, he would suddenly journey into another deeper realm of the Enneagram before ultimately returning to his original path.

On any subject, he would weave in nuances, theories, information, comparisons, character sketches, and a touch of humor. Thread by thread, random thoughts were strung together, and the tapestry of type began to take form. Often serious, sometimes thoughtful, clearly curious, and always knowledgeable, he elaborated on the types. As a teacher, storyteller, and sage, he interwove more obvious, overt pathology with the hidden simplistic view of the wounded child.

I found myself paying rapt attention to each pearl of wisdom, stringing them together one by one. This was especially meaningful to me, having discovered so many wonderful nuances of the types during my various research studies.

Beginning with a history of the Enneagram, Claudio acknowledged the works of Gurdjieff, Ichazo, Freud, Jung, Sheldon, Pearls, Horney, and others, combining their theories with Eastern philosophies and spiritual practices. Claudio explored many schools of thought, uniting Western psychology with Eastern traditions, resulting in a highly integrated view of type.

Claudio's Approach:
First, he discussed the different passions, and then examined the types, ultimately breaking the types down into the three instinctual subtypes.

His approach was remarkably effective in that we got the essence of the fixation prior to assigning it a number. The benefit of this approach was that when we were examining the actual passion, it was unfiltered by our previous conceptions of what that type was supposedly like. It contributed to an overall "layered" effect that I think opened up the organized mind.

Claudio started with interesting general observations of the passions, and then proceeded to discuss each passion in depth, making memorable statements along the way. For example, he defined the sloth of the 9 as a "lack of voltage," no motivation, and out of energy, stating that you cannot repress anger without repressing everything. He referred to it as "laziness of awareness", which he called being "functionally dumb," not a dumb person, but choosing to function with dispassion; and the laziness was of awareness or consciousness because awareness is too painful, and distraction is preferred (e.g., "don't rock the boat; let's not create a problem by seeing how it really is"). He described it as a defense of "not knowing."

In contrast, the passion of the 2 is pride and "ego flattery" or "egocentric generosity," and represents a "love trauma." The 2 has a sense of "false abundance" and is in full denial of emptiness, filled instead with false love, often "promising more than they deliver, and delivering more than they promise." As Claudio noted, there is not much room for the self when filled with pride.

In describing the passions, Claudio did not try to make them appear equal, yet suggested that all the passions equally keep us from our essence. Possibly, the mood in a society or a historical moment may determine whether or not a particular passion is considered good or bad. If so, this explained his theory that many 3s believe they are 8s, for in business, some 8-like traits are valued and esteemed. Thus, some 3s, recognizing that this is how they need to be seen in order to be successful, have identified themselves as 8s; but their underlying motive is that of a 3, which is to fulfill the role.

Claudio taught that the wings are ever-present and that the Enneagram point is the convergence of the wings. He introduced theories that the passion is the "yearning" that is visible by age five and is a response to the situation, an emotional pattern, whereas the fixation is the "way of being," a life philosophy and an abstraction that is fully in place by age seven.

Claudio's words were carefully measured, extremely concise, and effective. There was nothing forced or artificially balanced, with no sense of "apology" with respect to any particular type, thus permitting one to view the types clearly.

For example, when discussing the passion of fear, he described it as a lack of courage or as too much fear, in effect a fear of fear, adding that perhaps all of us can be cowards, but not all of us are afraid of fear. He submitted that the passion arises from the attempt to avoid experiencing fear or projecting fear, and trying to ignore having fear, resulting in suspicion and no faith in self. So a defiant, counterphobic attitude arises from the need to defend and be guarded, to be inhibited.

This explained the way the counterphobic 6 differs from the 8; the 6 is inhibited, whereas the 8 is not. For example, the counterphobic 6 can be bold and do heroic things ("military man") but still have phantoms or phobias.

He further stated that 6s feel "swallowed by others." This choice of words creates a clear visual picture that rings with validity. Being "swallowed by others" might be interpreted as a fundamental fear of what could happen to them, a terrible fantasy, imagined exaggerated danger. There is a tendency to submit, and the counterphobic fights that tendency, while the phobic runs away. Anything new would be threatening, terrible. Therefore, the 6 is slow and "holds back and does not display" and instead becomes a "proof" junky.

Choosing words that create pictures is another impression of Claudio's teaching style. Furthermore, he does not seem to use the same approach for each type, and instead uses the words that serve the type. As an illustration, Claudio sees the 7 as passive-aggressive with humor, diplomacy, and conscious manipulation, believing that "having my way is love." When he talked about the aspect of rationalization of the 7s, he referred to them as having a lubricated or "slippery" quality. As "utopians," the 7 likes and offers gentleness. With a philosophy of life to "live and let live," the 7 has a lighthearted way of getting around the super-ego. Yet, "behind every good boy there is a spiteful brat" (Fritz Perls), and what is not observable is the 7's non-connection and hidden paranoia.

Passions:
Claudio viewed the chief feature as the "core of character," a "distorting of reality, an illusion, a trap, a cognitive defect, a ruling passion, the crazy idea about things," and sees the passions as the basic motivations. He described that all the passions are various deficiency motivations, a wanting, a form of light passing through different filters creating different colors. The capital sins, as well, are thought to be deviations in psychic energy, creating destructive effects in life and spiritual obstacles.

Fixations:
He portrayed the fixations as ways of being hung up on our own assumptions of reality, the fixation is the particular assumption of reality we have, and it crystallizes in our consciousness, "lack of appreciation of life as it is," and is slightly different for each of us. He believed that we contend with all nine fixations and that it is just a matter of which one we overuse.

Claudio saw the 5 as feeling a sense of impoverishment, having very limited resources and energy, and with non-expression of feeling (dry, desert-like depression). They tend to amputate reality, repressing whatever they feel is bad about themselves, and because of such repression, their unexpressed anger goes inward. Thus, they are easily depleted and look inward so keenly that solicitations from the outer world are experienced as interference, i.e., "you are in the way of my listening to myself."

Both the 5 and 1 seem to repress anger. However, by comparison, the passion for the 1 is anger and is motivated by the need for "perfect values," perfectionism, and, more importantly, a lack of acceptance for imperfection.

So unlike the 5, the 1 has inverted anger "reaction formation," a moral superiority, kindly intentions that cover anger, a rejection of one's own experience in favor of what should be (a willed, positive regard not supported by true loving feelings), therefore at odds with reality.

Working with further distinctions, he explained that the reason the 1 and 3 have a surface resemblance is that the 3 has the "right image" (e.g., the perfect person), whereas the 1 has the "perfect values." He cited Dick Tracy, Barbie, and Star Trek's Mr. Spock as examples of the 3.

He saw the 3 as having no feelings, like HAL, the computer in the movie 2001. The 3 modulates the expression of feeling; they look like they feel "nice" when they do not feel "nice" at all. The deception is the logical and clear simulation of feeling. Think of HAL, who, in an effort to be efficient, killed off his own people on his space ship then kept the information from himself and searched for the killer.

Relativity, Comparing, and Contrasting:
Claudio taught his transmission through relativity, which he accomplished by comparing opposites by juxtaposition rather than by cataloging. Everything is compared and contrasted and has a point of reference, i.e., the Sexual 4 is arrogant and demanding, whereas the Self-Preservation 4 is oneish and tenacious; or the 8 is spending energy, whereas the 5 is saving energy.

Another aspect of comparison is the relationship of opposition in the Enneagram. For example, the 1 and 5 are on the "anal axis," the 2 and 7 are on the "oral receptive axis," and the 4 and 8 are on the "oral aggressive axis." Some of the similarities between types included those that shared common issues. In addition, the 1 and 5 have issues with control, the 2 and 7 share issues with connection, and the 4 and 8 share intensity.

Claudio introduced a multitude of theories and intriguing ways of slicing the "Enneagram pie." Of the triads, he said the 8-9-1 was the triad dealing with ignorance or unconsciousness, the 2-3-4 with craving or desire, and the 5-6-7 with issues of hate or aversion. In addition, the 8-9-1 was the neutral aspect of the Enneagram, the 2-3-4 was the extroverted perspective of the Enneagram, and the 5-6-7 was the introverted triad. He saw the right side of the Enneagram as primarily feminine and social, the left side as primarily masculine and antisocial, and so on. He gave us many, many different Enneagrams, so to speak. These perspectives suggested different internal views he had synthesized, resulting in how he saw the types.

With regard to the polarity of temperament, he viewed the 7 and 4, as well as the 5 and 2, in sharp contrast to one another. The 7 is seen as the happy character, whereas the 4 is seen as the sad character; and the 5 is seen as having cool aloofness, whereas the 2 is seen as having warmth and intimacy.

Another aspect of temperament was mood. He talked about mood (elation versus depression), and that the 2-3-4's are quick and gregarious, and the 5-6-7's slow and timid. He discerned that within the triad, there is a contrast in mood. For example, the 2 and 7 have the high moods, and the 4 and 5 have the low moods, in their respective triads. An example of the high mood in the "extroverted triad" is the 2, which we know to be up, quick, gregarious, and outgoing. Similarly, an example of the low mood in the "introverted triad" is the 5, which we know can be depressed, slow, withholding, and withdrawn, and so on.

As mentioned, the 4 and 5, at the pit of the Enneagram, are hypersensitive and see the abyss, and are difficult and fussy versions of the low moods from the two different triads. In contrast, 8-9-1, the third triad at the top of the Enneagram, is described as ignorant, neutral, insensitive, and unconscious, and as "defensive extroversion with an avoidance of inwardness." This insensitivity is perhaps a reflection of self-forgetting. As an example, the 8 has "solution mastery," tends to be a cynic, exploitive, and focuses on the simple nuts and bolts of life, and is viewed as tough, rebellious, vindictive, insensitive, and thick. Most important, the 8 is insensitive to subtlety, and needs strong stimuli, e.g., "loud music, heavy spices, and intensity to feel alive."

Instinctual Subtypes
Claudio decided to add his view of the 27 instinctual subtypes. He had not intended to teach the subtypes.

The backstory is that Claudio had seen my Enneastyle research work that was published in the Enneagram Monthly and found it to be noteworthy.

Jack Labanaskauas, from the Enneagram Monthly, when speaking with Claudio about another matter, mentioned to Claudio that the woman who conducted the qualitative research and article of Enneastyle: The 9 Languages of the Enneagram Types, that he liked would be attending Claudio's course in Boulder, Colorado. He had previously told Jack, " I have not explored the self-image of the types so was impressed with Katherine's qualitative research and keenly interested in what she discovered."

Jack mentioned that I had also conducted qualitative research on the subtypes, and would Claudio read it and tell him if my findings were accurate? Claudio said he would. So Jack told me to bring a copy to give to him. I gave my book to Claudio on the first day of the intensive. I thought I might get his feedback at some later date in the future.

To my surprise, he read it the first evening. When I asked him what he would correct, he said, "Nothing at all." It was at this time that he said, "I validate your research that validated my theory of instinctual Subtypes." He further said, " He did not think he knew enough about the 27 subtypes to teach them but was inspired when my research filled in some areas of interest for him, so he decided to make time to teach them. ."

As a result, everyone attending wanted to buy a copy of my book, so we went to Kinkos and had them make 80 spiral-bound copies of my book. And then we all began a deep dive into the Instinctual Subtypes; Claudio's major contribution to the Enneagram.

We discussed my findings over the course of the intensive. He said that "He was pleased that my research determined that all teachings of the subtypes were from his seminal work; since he had not been given attribution for the subtypes." It is true, people assumed they came from Ichazo. So you may come across early handouts that say Ichazo, but that is an error. Even the training manual I mentioned at the beginning of this article gave attribution to Ichazo.

He asked me, " Would you add my view of the 27 archetypes to your book?" I was surprised but said that I would be happy to. I asked why he did not want to write his own book on the subtypes. He said, " I need to contemplate your notions of the subtypes further, so I am not ready yet."

He finally wrote his own book on the subtypes with students in 2012. It is in Spanish. You can use google translate if you have a copy, but I should mention that each word he uses in English is very precise, so the right translation from Spanish to English is important as well. ;)

He taught that the instinctual type is one of three sub-personalities that is the "auxiliary passion." He suggested that outwardly the instinctual subtype can look positive, like a talent, or something of which one should be overly proud, but inwardly is a reflection of unhappiness with a price to be paid, e.g., "the oyster is not too interested in the price of the pearls."

With regard to the instinctual subtypes, one intriguing insight into type 4 was the introduction of a rare type of sexual 4 that can be "counter-envious" with 8-like tendencies, which Claudio described as often appearing "more 8 than an 8." This sexual 4 is in denial of envy, is self-confident, claims position, and knows his or her own worth ("I deserve it"). Moreover, this 4 can be cannibalistic, overstep boundaries, and diminish others to make the self bigger and to prove one right. Examples given were Hitler and Pacino in Scent of a Woman.

This raised my question to him about "counter types" for each of the Enneagram points. I discovered in my study with the instincts that each type had one stereotype and two countertypes, and that one of the countertypes appeared to be very atypical, like his example of the sexual 4.

Childhood Histories:
As a psychiatrist, Claudio was interested in studying what his participants would say about their type. Having submitted our childhood histories to Claudio prior to the workshop, we were also able to delve into a variety of self-diagnostic psychological exercises and broke into groups by type, where impressive similarities and patterns emerged when the data was shared. We put our results into graphs, clearly demonstrating a similar pattern of attention, which was even more visible when we shared the results on panels.

Through observing the demeanor of a person, something can be perceived that is deep and profound. The trick is to be able to recognize it when it manifests.

Visual Characteristics of Type:
This brings to mind a Holographic picture or kaleidoscope, which, when shifted, reveals images not previously seen. Similarly, you need to know what you are looking for when determining the type.

As to knowing what to look for, perhaps it is, in reality, everything synthesized that with subtlety reveals a crystallized sense of type, like the varying perceptions realized from the Holographic picture or the kaleidoscope. Therefore, when an individual displays an "eagle eye," upright posture, with a carriage that is very proper and held tight, and with a finger that tends to point out all the "shoulds" and "should nots," we might all agree that this is a 1. Admittedly, this approach may not always work, for there is invariably the element of individuality. However, this concept clearly represents a way of seeing that, if understood, can be extremely powerful.

Of course, there remains an ongoing question, which subtleties do you decide are defining and, thus, indicative of type? It is unlikely that one answer will apply to everyone, and so an approach for one type will not necessarily work for another. What was most noteworthy about this workshop, its style and approach, was how it emphasized the subtle nuances about all the types, the messages that surface on their own, and that you can recognize if you are receptive to them. The ability to do this must be what Claudio calls his "nose" or "seeing through the game of the other.

Claudio's focus was on recognizing the pathology and the hidden passion of the types. He reinforced that the study of typing must go beyond written descriptions and that of much more importance is the ability to recognize type intuitively. He emphasized creating more of an environment for seeing the subtleties, trusting the gut, and letting subtlety be the dominant factor.

I found the week to be evocative. I came away with a more expanded sense of type and yet a narrower set of criteria, "Ennea-types," Claudio's personality assessment according to the Enneagram. The nuances have continued to surface for me. I have discovered that there is an underlying subtlety that cannot be conveyed through using one particular word or descriptor. Perhaps we rely too much on descriptors since it is tempting to want to classify. I found that it leads most away from their actual type. More importantly, I believe there is something inherently revealing in a person's posture, something detectable in a person's tone, speech, lexicon use, manner, carriage, energy, and the distinctive way people respond to situations. I found all of this to be important as I had already mastered the study of behaviors, body language, and micro-expressions.

In conclusion, Claudio explained that the logic of the system suggests that whereas the truth is liberating, a felt insight must also come into play; and by working on the virtues with attention to practice, transformation can occur. Finally, he suggested that working with a trusted group that will call you on your fixation is one of the most effective ways to challenge your compulsive behavior and will support the growth process.

Katherine Fauvre: Enneagram Tritype® Test Results Evaluation - What is different about this Tritype® Test?

January 11, 2023 Guest User

Question: What is different about this Tritype® Test?

Katherine: https://enneagramtritypetest.com. The Enneagram Tritype® Test (ETTv8) is the only Enneagram, Tritype®, and Instinctual Type Test programmed to detect the test-taker's individual patterns of the types and Tritypes®. The ETTv8 test is also the most individualized test available, so it tracks patterns within patterns. The actual messages matter, too, so pay attention to what they say.

The test-taker chooses and ranks the Enneacards and Enneastatements according to their choice from the very beginning. It took a lot of programming, but the test-taker chooses the actual Enneacards that they will later be tested on but at a deeper level. If the test takes a long time, it is because the test-taker has chosen Enneacards that don't match, so there are crucial elements to be considered. The choices may be an inconsistent pattern, have a rare pattern, and/or need to be further refined, compared, and contrasted to get to your final choices. Every step helps, especially with those with type 6 and/or type 9 in their Tritype®.

To learn more about the patterns within patterns and the significance of your answers on your Enneastyle Questionnaire, you need Katherine's expertise. You can book a "new client special” Enneagram Tritype® Test Evaluation with Katherine here:
https://www.katherinefauvre.com/
https://www.katherinefauvre.com/bookasession

Katherine Fauvre: Is Yoko Ono an Enneagram Type 4 or the Sad Type 2?

January 9, 2023 Guest User

Question: Is Yoko Ono an Enneagram Type 4 or the Sad Type 2?

Katherine: Enneagram Type 4 vs. the Sad Type 2. So glad you suggest this. It gives me a chance to add what many do not know about the sad type 2 that was lost in the dissemination of the Enneagram and needed to be added to the Enneagram literature.

I am not sure what I said 25 years ago, but Yoko Ono is a perfect example of the counter-culture social 285. She is an introvert but moves toward people the way a type 2 does; steadily pushing forward towards the outcome they desire. So, I would make a case that she is this archetype.

Working with thousands of people during my qualitative research in 1994, which has now been ongoing for 39 years, I found many nuances of the types that were unknown by most of the Enneagram Schools in 1994. Later, in 1996, I learned from Claudio Naranjo that key archetypes of some of the Enneagram types had been lost or assigned to the wrong type. Also, as is common with any evolving work, there were naturally occurring errors along the way.

Typing Yoko Ono as a type 4 makes abundant sense if you did not see a description of the Avant guard, introverted social 2, determining type based on descriptions of behaviors; rather than considering type based on the core fears and defense strategies of the types, and are unaware of the type 2s that were lost in the dissemination of the Enneagram, in particular: the sad 4ish type 2, and the strong, 8ish type 2.

I thought Michael Jackson was a type 4 at first. But when videos of Michael on YouTube emerged unscripted his type 2 qualities were very apparent.

Typing Yoko or Michael as social type 4 would be a natural hypothesis and conclusion if you do now know about the 4ish type 2 that is introverted, artistic, and sad. But here is the key:

Type 2 vs. Type 4
Yoko is most known for being John Lennon's widow, which keeps his memory alive. She has basically crafted a career of promoting John Lennon's famous quotes since he was tragically killed. She was the person that said he should use his celebrity to make a difference, and she is continuing to do just that.

Type 2 in the Tritype®
The identity of type 2 is focused on having an identity based on people needing them and what they do for others.

The defense strategy of type 2 is repression, so the focus is on the repression of the 2s own needs in favor of being needed and indispensable and then they consciously or unconsciously feel they have earned the right to have their needs met the way they need them met. It's just that this agreement is not voiced until the type 2 feels unappreciated.

Type 2 pushes, sometimes quietly but steadily, toward the focus of their attention. Social type 2 focuses on managing social situations to meet their need to be significant, important, and liked by "the many" rather than "the few." This is to maintain a position of being an indispensable person who has the role of the power behind the throne.

Type 4 in the Tritype®
The 4s are inclined to focus on their own identity and develop an identity that is based on their sense of loss and an internal sense of lack. The 4 will create an identity about their loss more than memorializing the loss. It is how it affects them rather than the world.

The defense strategy of type 4 is introjection which "takes the qualities of the loved one that is gone: inside themselves; combining the good, bad, and ugly aspects of their relationship with the other. The focus is on the 4s identification with their own suffering to give meaning.

I understand Yoko’s desire to keep him alive in her mind and heart and for her son. I lost my elder son, Brandon, when he was 25 years old. He died in a freeway accident when he stopped to help two disabled cars when he was trying to rescue people after the accident.

As two sexual 8s with 4 in the Tritype®, his brother, Spencer, and I come together to honor Brandon’s birthday and death day in an intimate way... We have introjected him because we have the 4-defense strategy as our heart type. So we remember what made him laugh, what made him happy, and what he loved to do, so we eat the candy he liked and watch the movies that he liked.

We do this because it is natural for the two of us because we both have the sexual instinct with type 4 as our heart type. We do this intimate and private connecting instead of reenacting the events of Brandon's social acclaim or gathering with all of the people whose hearts he touched and/or helped... But we did do that for them for the first two anniversaries...

Comparison with Type 2 vs. Type 4
Yoko spreads John Lennon's words from Imagine all year long. Brandon was a social 629, and he had type 2 as his heart-type as well. So, both Yoko and Brandon appeared to have type 2 as their emotional type and, in particular, social 2.

Social 2 needs the world involved with whatever they feel is socially important. Rather than identifying with their grief, Type 2 in the Tritype® memorializes the loss of loved ones because it is a positive, outward gesture that includes a more upbeat feeling of pride. So, their attention is focused on the person they are or were connected to, and it is usually expressed publicly and is socially focused.

My son Brandon’s approach was like Yoko’s. He memorialized the lives and significance of his pets, their collars, bedding, and bowls, and was the same with the loss of my parents, his grandparents. He cherished and framed my father's medals and Hall of Fame documents. He really wanted to do whatever he could to honor them, their ancestry, and famous relatives that he had never met... ;)

He was enthusiastic about family and friends but underneath, he was a sad type 2 as well. This is the world of social 2 in the Tritype®; they can be secretly sad.

So, Brandon and Yoko both honored and demonstrated their love for the loved ones they lost in a public way that focused on how their loved ones were good and great and positively impacted the world. They moved out toward others.

Brandon was proclaimed a hero in the newspaper and on tv and then officially documented as a hero by the fire department and highway patrol. The proclamation was given to us at his funeral. We knew he would have been so proud, so we were happy that he was honored in a way that mattered to him.

Social and type 2 in Tritype®
If social is combined with type 2 in the Tritype®, you will see some type of long-term public memorializing of the achievements of the loved one.

Expressions of Emotions - Type 4s vs. Type 2s (Sad 2s)
Similarities and differences between Type 2 and Type 4
The 2 is sad when they do not receive the appreciation they feel they have earned by doing so many things for others. They feel uncomfortable in their body as they try to repress the anger that grows into resentment.

The 4 is forlorn when they are reminded of and identified with their flaws. They feel depleted, disoriented, and lost. They try to make sense of their suffering and feel they need an emotional compass to find their way out.

Both 2 and 4 may become punishing when they feel denied something they want. It is the emotional center's way of trying to find a way to have their needs met. Both 2s and 4s have a designated person or people they believe have withheld from them or have denied them something they feel is essential to their sense of self. Because they are motivated by emotion and shame, they keep trying to get what they need from designated others.

Naranjo described the down moods and/or depression of the sx 4 and sx 2 in a very clear way. Both 2 and 4 idealize love. And both feel heartache on an ongoing basis. Both feel depleted by the heartache they feel when someone they have chosen does not pay attention to them. Both are image types that create an identity from their views of their experiences.

The 4s create an identity around the heartache they feel and the sense of loss. They feel disconnected and in need of rescue.

The 2s create an identity by connecting to others to feel a sense of abundance. They feel that they are able to connect with and get a smile out of even the most difficult people.

The 4s have wet, emotional depression and melancholy that never gives up the hope that one day "their rescuer will come," whereas the 2s have strong reactive emotions in the hope that they will finally be given what they worked so hard to earn.

The 2 over-expresses a false sense of love and joy and disown their disconnection to their heart, and move to angry resentment. This is due to their defense strategy of being a loving and caring person that manages the needs of others... They secretly hope to win over the hearts of others to feel liked and safe. This is also due to a perception of having suffered a love trauma.

The 4 over-expresses their chronic frustrations, they disown their disconnection to their heart and move to angry contempt. This is due to their defense strategy of being an elite, sensitive intellectual with an innate sense of beauty and aesthetics. Their defense strategy is to amplify their emotional states to feel more deeply, and this results in reenactments of earlier traumas and painful dramas.

As mentioned, the 2 is wet but cheerful to gain attention. This is due in part to sharing the same center with the 4. Both are in the heart center. The 2 often has beautiful glassy or teary eyes that are hypnotic and move towards you. The 4 has beautiful vacuum cleaner "oral' eyes that draw you in.

The 2 is sad when they do not have the attention that fills them with a sense of joy and happiness. They seek fulfillment for having seen and then given the other what they need...They see a way out of their depression when they notice another's need. Filling it reminds them of who they are, and they quickly cheer up, but they still focus on the special item or time they wanted and were not given.

What is most noteworthy about the emotionality of the 2s are the moments of tearfulness and/or the hysterical attempts to get their "someone" to stay and pay attention to them.

2s struggle with entitlement when they want the time and attention and when they are not being gifted what they want most... When they have moved into resentment, it is because they feel that they have earned it and are desperate to be shown they matter.

Ichazo called the 4 the "Over-Reasoner." He described the 4 as always looking for a reason for their suffering, a reason for less-than-ideal circumstances. They continue to seek the reason for their suffering, and when they can't, they identify the person or persons responsible for their suffering in an attempt to restore a sense of hope. Such as: "Someday my rescuer will come."

Both 2 and 4 are trying to portray and refine the image that will help them get what they need... and manage the distress of not being enough... The goal is always to restore a sense of hope. The 2 moves toward others with an offer of hope, and the 4 moves away in the hope that they will be followed...

The 2 moves to entitlement because they have earned the special item, time, and attention based on everything they have done for others. Their identity is based on their acts of kindness. Upon reflection, they often hear themselves saying, "after all I have done for you, him or her."

The 4 moves to entitlement due to the personality construct of eliteness. 4s have carved out an identity by piecing together special and meaningful things they like. Upon reflection, they often hear themselves saying," I hate people that are vulgar, crass, unrefined, and shallow, with no sense of aesthetics."

Katherine Fauvre: What is the Difference between Trifix® and Tritype®

January 7, 2023 Guest User

Question: What is the difference between Tritype® and Trifix®?

Katherine: I taught 3Types, TriCenter, and Trigrams from 1994-1996. From 1997-2007 I taught all of my work as Trifix. In 2007, I renamed all of my work from 1994-2007 to the present as Tritype®.

1994 3Types
In 1994, after nine years of teaching the Enneagram, I began my qualitative research studies on the internal experiences of the types. In my first two years of research, I amassed a great deal of new information on the Enneagram types.

I immediately discovered that research subjects used three types, not just one, in a hierarchical stacking order. I called this pattern 3Types, TriCenter, and Trigram.

1996 Tri-fix
I first heard the term Trifix® in late 1996.
At the end of 1996, after I had begun to teach my 3Types research findings, I learned that Oscar Ichazo had recently begun to tell some students that they had a tri-fix. I thought that this was great news and immediately wanted to find out everything I could about the tri-fix. Unfortunately, Ichazo had not written anything or published anything on what has now become Trifix®.

Assuming both Ichazo and I were using the same concept, in the same way, "individuals using all three centers," I merged 3Types, TriCenter, and Trigram with tri-fix and gave Ichazo attribution for the term itself. I did this to avoid confusion for the Enneagram Enthusiasts.

In 2007-2008
I discovered an important distinction between my work and Ichazo’s term tri-fix. What is important to note is that Trifix® and Tritype® evolved separately from one another. So while they both recognize that individuals use all three centers, they are different in a key way thereafter, which can be seen in the names of the two processes; Trifix® (three fixations) and Tritype® (three types).

Tritype®
My descriptions and teaching materials are based on my vast and ongoing body of research, with thousands of study participants describing their use of three Enneagram types, one from each center. Most importantly, they used the defense strategies of three types meaning the “full use of the three Enneagram types.” They definitely used the idealized images, core fears, and defense strategies of all three types, not just the fixations of the types.

All materials, courses, presentations, posts, and discussions came from me alone and then were later modified and reposted by others.

Trifix®
Trifix® defines the term to mean the use of three mental fixations “only."

Tritype®, however, is the use of all three “full” types in a hierarchical, stacking order. And that the Tritype® includes the use of mental fixations but also; the emotional passions and gut convictions of the three types, etc.

Because Ichazo never posted anything on his term, Trifix, it became problematic for me to continue to use the term Trifix. This was because readers mistakenly thought I was teaching Ichazo’s work when in actuality, I was teaching what I learned from thousands of study participants, test-takers, qualitative interviews, and in-depth Inquiry sessions and simply gave Ichazo attribution of the term.

Many still do not realize that everything found on Trifix® actually came from me. So all teachings of 3Types, Trifix®, and Tritype® came from my seminal work with study participants and clients.

2007-2008
In 2006, I was teaching my theories in a number of different venues. During a course on Trifix for Therapists, I met a lovely woman that was an attorney and on the board of directors of Ichazo’s school, the Arica Institute.

After the course, we spent time sharing our knowledge of the Enneagram. During that conversation, I shared that I wanted to separate my work from Ichazo’s term, but because it had been merged for 10 years, I wasn't sure how to go about it without causing more confusion.

We continued to discuss the many ways that knowing Ichazo's Enneagram of Personality had changed our view of ourselves and others. We discussed our experiences with tri-fix and how it named additional aspects of our struggles that the single type alone could not.

It was at this time that we discovered a critical distinction in the way that we defined Trifix. According to Ichazo’s teachings, Trifix® defines the term to mean the use of three mental fixations “only.” Tritype®, however, is the use of all three “full” types in a hierarchical, stacking order. And that the Tritype® includes the use of mental fixations but also; the emotional passions and gut convictions of the three types, etc.

This was just what we needed to separate the terms. So we began to discuss how that could happen in a fluid and seamless manner.

The attorney shared that Arica had wanted to trademark the term Trifix. However, because I was the only person to use it, write about it, and offer courses and conference presentations on the topic and because I had popularized the term, Arica could not trademark the term.

I told her that because I had always given Ichazo attribution for the term, Trifix out of respect as the creator of the Enneagram of Personality, I could simply confirm and document that the term originated with Ichazo. Which I did.

I thought that I would go back to using my original terms. But the attorney shared that she and others thought that I should use the term Tritype. That way, it would be clear that both systems recognized the use of three centers, but one focused on the three fixations (Ichazo’s Trifix), and the other focused on the three types (my Tritype Research). I loved it because Tritype better defined what my research had revealed.

She told me that Arica would trademark the term Trifix as soon as they could. She then suggested that I trademark the term Tritype. That way, the accuracy of both bodies of work would be traceable to the correct originator, and as trademark holders, we could both maintain the integrity of the concepts and how they were alike and differed from one another.

She felt both systems emerged from extensive bodies of work and should be respected in their own right. She wanted to document that both recognized the concept that individuals used all three triads which was unknown in 1994.

She stressed that consumers should be able to quickly recognize the original services and/or products that were created by both Ichazo and me independently of one another. And that both were linked to his work with the Enneagram of Personality.

So simply put, the term Trifix resulted from Ichazo’s theory that focused on the individual moving from the ego-state to enlightenment, which resulted in the Enneagram of Personality. And the concept of Tritype emerged from years of teaching the Enneagram types and qualitative research, using original testing instruments, with thousands of research participants.

Ichazo’s attorney further explained to me that if I wanted consumers to be protected from misinformation, confusion, and being misled and wanted to be able to correct errors in the transmission of my intellectual property, then I needed to trademark the term.

Also, the attorney said that she hoped I would trademark Tritype because it would keep the evolution of both concepts as a more accurate transmission of the Enneagram of Personality. She knew that the school wanted to remain out of the public domain as much as it could, whereas my work was already in the very heart of it.

The attorney also knew that this meant the burden of maintaining a more accurate dissemination of their terms in the public domain would fall to me. And that I would be the one that would need to clarify the distinctions between these bodies of work in the public domain. It seemed reasonable to me in 2008…social media was exploding but had not reached the fever pitch it has today… ;)

Katherine Fauvre: Enneagram Tritype® Test - I Think You're Focusing Way Too Hard on the Possibility of Mistyped 6's

December 19, 2022 Guest User

Comment: I think you’re focusing way too hard on the possibility of mistyped 6’s
I think you're focusing way too hard on the possibility of mistyped 6's; I got the notification of a possible 6 after taking your test and getting 459. I think categorizing a 6 as someone who gives inconsistent rankings is reductive. Despite this, I was fully ready to embrace 6 as a possibility until I read the description. Almost none of it applied to me other than the commonalities of 6 and having a generalized anxiety disorder. Especially statements on loyalty; I'm the least loyal person I know.

Katherine: Generalized anxiety disorder can be any type. That said, it is common for those with type 6 in the Tritype®. Type 6 seeks certainty and so can worry or be anxious if they do not know how to do something and/or feel they could have others mad at them, be accused of something, or be blamed for something.

For what it is worth... The test is just programmed based on the tens of thousands of test-takers I have actually worked with over the last 29 years. This test alone has had 500k discrete test-takers. So, their adjectives and choices reveal patterns, and when I see a new pattern, I interview those who share it. So, this test is ever-changing.

For what it is worth... Type 6 chooses who or what they are loyal to and for how long. They could believe that they are loyal to family, or loyal to a family member, to a mentor, a spiritual mentor, a coach, a boss, a boyfriend or girlfriend, a spouse, a school, a company, or an ideology, or loyalty to themselves or what they have found to be true... Or just to themselves period. However, the 6 do consider loyalty, even if they reject it.

A type 6 might say they are not loyal to anyone or the least loyal person they know; all of the above are examples of a focus on whether or not one is or isn't loyal.

This is the opposing nature of type 6, simply seeking balance within the head center, which is the point of opposition. Things that are extreme or out of balance are unconscious threats. The unconscious focus on imbalance is really the desire to see both sides equally represented.

The need to state what they are not with any degree of emphasis is type 6. The other types don't bother to name it and do not need to blame a person, system, or testing instrument... ;)

It is a whole lot more and it begins with the test taker's very first choices. And then every choice after that.

Each test taker makes their own choices and in their own way. All the computer does is that it recognizes the patterns the other types do not use. The patterns type 6 use and the patterns that type 9 use; the other types do not use.

Just the beginning can have over 1200 variations. The test Taker chooses their Enneacards from the very beginning... ;)

Katherine Fauvre: What is an ENTP with the 358 Tritype® Like?

December 12, 2022 Guest User

Question: What is the ENTP 358 Tritype® like?

Katherine: The 358 ENTP is a no-nonsense person that looks like the ENTJ but isn't, as they are more focused on changing as they go along...The stronger drive is for progressive thinking and change. So, they need to be in an evolving state of change rather than have the final conclusion the ENTJ seeks.

This is the mega systems builder that focuses on what is feasible and executes ideas by knowing all the details. They struggle in that they do not see that emotions are an important detail as well.

Having said that, they look at what works in detail which is the best way to guesstimate what others may need or feel.

And they change their facts and approach accordingly, even if they don't know what others are feeling.

Katherine Fauvre: How Can You Tell If I Have the 385 or the 395 Tritype®?

December 12, 2022 Guest User

Question: How can you tell if I have the 385 or the 395 Tritype®?

Katherine: Tritype® is based on your more hidden motivations and defense strategies. www.katherinefauvre.com/tritype
It is not three types alone. It is based on what is amplified and minimized because of the merge of the three types and is based on the shared views of the types in the Tritype®.

So you need to look at the blend, as the two Tritypes® you are considering may be right next to one another, but are very, very different from one another. The difference is based on the values and defense strategies that are combined and create a more specific view.

I suggest you look at which defense strategies you use rather than your behaviors. What is underneath what you do and what are your secret core fears, which gut action do you take or not take?

Type 9: Viscerally, are you afraid to act without hesitation and need balance? How do you feel about being uncomfortable because someone is or will be angry with your decision? How do you feel about being separate from others? What will you do to ensure you do not feel like the bad guy?

Type 8: Or do you need to act immediately and will change course later if you are wrong? And are willing to stand alone, for others or against others, for what you feel is true?

385: Type 3s with types 5 and 8 are a more opinioned and outspoken 3 than the 359 Tritype®. They deal in a no-nonsense what are the facts manner, and make their decisions without emotion. They seek the advantage. They know what they want to do and how they want to execute it. They do not mind if their reputation suffers as long as they are the winner.

395: Type 3s with types 5 and 9 are more reserved and almost like secret agents, and keep their opinions to themselves until they find a strategic way to share them. They seek the advantage by considering how others would react, even though this Tritype® has to guesstimate what others might feel. But, they know they do not want to hurt their personal reputation or cause separation from others.

If you have trouble deciding because you can do both, then consider the 369 Tritype® as more likely.

Katherine Fauvre: Can an Unhealthy 9 Act like a 6 Online and still be a 974 or a 947?

December 3, 2022 Guest User

Question: Can an unhealthy 9 act like a 6 online and still be a 974 or a 947?

Katherine: Good question, I would first need to know what you consider or think acting like a Type 6 online is.

If you are speaking of asserting a defensive or rebellious comment; or a yes or no answer it could be Type 6 or Type 9. Anyone can be defensive, but the question is what triggered the defensive response and what was it protecting?

If you are discussing showing the Type 6 defense strategy online; it suggests that Type 6 is most likely in your Tritype® in addition to having a line of connection to Type 6.

Type 9 and Type 6 relate to Type 7 in many ways. You could be the 964 Tritype®.

• The Type 9 and the Type 7 can share a love of ease, diversity, and going with the flow.
• The Type 6 and the Type 7 can share a love of curiosity, learning, and enjoyable interests.

For what it is worth descriptions and behaviors are never accurate for the purpose of typing. You need to drill down and find the emotional need under the behavior.

Also, someone with Type 6 in the Tritype® will naturally want a description that matches. They are experts at tracking behaviors and what people do and don't do.

It is important to note when typing, that the Enneagram is the only personality typology that is not based on behaviors or what people do or don’t do, can or can't be.

This is because type is based on motivations. idealized images, core fears, and defense strategies rather than behaviors, descriptions, skills, or talents.

Type 9: Being physically at ease and comfortable eases the tension and resistance of the Type 9 as well as their unconscious fear of lovelessness, being unlovable, without love, or feeling unable to love.

Type 6: Having certainty and/or allies eases the anxiety and worry of the Type 6 as well as their unconscious fear of helplessness; being alone, on their own, not knowing what decision to make, without someone they can trust.

Katherine Fauvre: Tritype® Identifies your Innate Blindspot

November 28, 2022 Guest User

Tritype® identifies your innate blindspot
Making this blind spot conscious often releases neurotic symptoms just as aligning oneself with the archetypal energies found in the three types in one’s Tritype® can align an individual with their life purpose and mission. Identifying one’s Tritype® Archetype creates an opportunity to discover one’s innate abilities, develop expertise, and experience a greater sense of satisfaction.

Katherine Fauvre: Do the Tritypes® have a High Side and a Low Side?

November 28, 2022 Guest User

Question: Do the Tritypes® have a high side and a low side?

Katherine: Just like our Enneagram type, we have a "high side" and a "low side" of these Tritype® interactions that distinguish each as having a separate purpose. The values and concerns of the three types in our Tritype® come together to become the guiding principles in life and give us our sense of values, purpose, and the guiding principles one should follow.

The high side of the intersection of these three Enneagram Types is that they define what gives life direction, focus, and purpose for the individual with that Tritype® combination. The low side of this intersection is that the defense strategies collude or "miss the mark" in the same way, narrowing one’s ability to accurately self-assess, and may even prevent a person from achieving a higher level of self-awareness by keeping the individual mired in outdated, rigid beliefs. This collusion is both an asset and a liability.

An individual’s strengths are a result of these three types working in concert with one another. An individual’s weaknesses result from this collusion as well, which limits self-awareness and spiritual growth, creating what we term an “egoic" blind spot.

Katherine Fauvre: Can your Tritype® Change?

November 28, 2022 Guest User

Question: Can Your Tritype change?

Katherine: Just as with your primary type, your Tritype® will never change. The only time you may think you have changed your Tritype® is because you have not yet discovered your true Tritype®. Unfortunately, there is misinformation as to what happens when the three types in your Tritype® merge to create the specific focus of attention of your Tritype®. This Trityping® error usually happens if you have identified with your behaviors or descriptions of the types rather than the actual defense strategies you use.

Katherine Fauvre: What are Some of the Common Mistakes Made When Determining Your Tritype®?

November 28, 2022 Guest User

Question: What are Some of the Common Mistakes Made When Determining Your Tritype®?

Katherine: A common mistake when typing is to determine your Type or Tritype® based on the types you identify with. Enneagram Type and Tritype® are based on the idealized image, core fears, and defense strategies. So, you need to actually use the defense strategy of all three types in your Tritype®. This may take time to see.

So, it is important to note that just combining the three preferred types, one from each of the three centers, is not enough to explain the attentional patterns of each of the 27 Tritype® Archetypes or to confirm which Tritype® is dominant. We can theorize about which type we identify with most in each triad, but the focus of attention of the Tritype® emerges as a result of what happens when these three types merge and, in effect, become one type, which is the Tritype®.

It is critical to determine your correct Tritype®. This is because the characteristics of all three types influence one another. As a result, some characteristics are amplified, while other characteristics are minimized by the characteristics of the two other types within the Tritype®. These distinct differences explain why each Tritype® is unique.

For example, the 478 Tritype® has the three “creative" Enneagram Types, one from each triad (4,7,8), which include the two types that prefer what is unusual (4,7), the two types that share the line of intensity (4-8), and the two assertive types (7,8) thus creating a type that is innovative, creative, outspoken, intense, assertive, and deep with an original sense of style. The defense strategies of the types within the Tritype® combine, creating a unique focus of attention with a shared worldview.

Research also suggests that the common theme found among the three types within an individual’s Tritype® identifies that individual’s archetypal life purpose and a critical blind spot to self-awareness. In addition, the shared view by the types in an individual’s Tritype® gives important clues as to what is needed to live a more conscious and meaningful life.

Katherine Fauvre: What is the Accurate Description of Tritype®?

November 28, 2022 Guest User

Question: What is Tritype®?

Katherine: Tritype®, a 27-point personality system coined and created by Katherine Chernick Fauvre, is based on the theory that an individual uses three Enneagram Types, not just one. These three types occur as one in each of the three centers of intelligence: head (5,6,7), heart (2,3,4), and gut (8,9,1) and are used in a preferred, continuously oscillating, descending stacking order, which create a “new" type unto itself with its own worldview, coping mechanisms, and defense strategies. The Enneagram Type at the top of your Tritype® Stacking is your dominant or "core" Enneagram Type.

Extensive research with tens of thousands of international participants has confirmed that each Tritype® Archetype is made up of the character traits of the three types within the Tritype®. These traits, within the Tritype®, combine to create 27 unique Tritypes®, each with its own set of core values, needs, fears, and concerns that include: a specific focus of attention, idealized image, core triggers, core fears, desires, blindspots, sense of purpose, and growing edge, adding significant precision, accuracy, and scope to the Enneagram Typing process.

One of the three types in an individual's Tritype® is the “core” or dominant type and represents the ego’s preferred defense strategy and is in charge of the Tritype® defense system.

The ego always uses the strategies of all three types in unison in a rapid, repeating, hierarchical stacking order throughout the day, every day. The dominant type will continuously deploy the other two types in the Tritype® to make decisions and solve problems. There are some misunderstandings with both the Enneagram and the Tritype® Archetypes.

Katherine Fauvre: What is the Purpose of Tritype®?

November 28, 2022 Guest User

Question: What is the Purpose of Tritype®?

Katherine: Tritype® allows you to recognize your dominant type in each center of intelligence: head (5,6,7), heart (2,3,4), and gut (8,9,1). It helps you to discover the innate blind spot that is created by the way in which your three Enneagram types merge to create a more specific worldview and focus of attention.

With the knowledge of your head type, you can notice your fixated beliefs and use the Holy Idea of your head type to neutralize your rigid thoughts. You can learn to recognize the passion of your heart type by the way in which you emotionally overreact and use your Holy Virtue to neutralize the emotional extremes of your heart type. Over time, you can discover your gut type's convictions and the dogmatic ways you can justify your reality and use the Holy Action of your gut type to open to a greater sense of wholeness. When you recognize your true Tritype® you will have the ability to work with your Type and Tritype® at a much deeper level creating the opportunity for meaningful and lasting change.

Katherine Fauvre: Why does Tritype® have the Registered Trademark Symbol®?

November 28, 2022 Guest User

Question: Why is there a Symbol ® at the end of the word Tritype®?

Katherine: The ® means that the term is a registered trademark. Why is that important? There were so many errors in what was written about Tritype® over the years. It was written by those that had not studied with me or fully understood it. So, the registered trademark lets the general public know when something has been written by the creator and owner of Tritype® and is based on 23 research studies and hundreds of thousands of research participants.

The internet has made it possible to search for a single statement or concept which is totally amazing. But because of this, there is more misinformation on every topic that is available to the one googling a topic.

So now the USPTO requires that the ® symbol is in every sentence where it is used. That way when you google something on Tritype® and receive search results you will know when it came from many years of development. It is a pain for me to have to do this... but I has chosen to publish a great deal of free information on Tritype® which is rare for the actual author to do. So as a result, I neend to use it.

So, if you want to make sure you are getting the correct definitions of the Tritypes® look for the registered trademark. This way you can make an informed decision about what you read.

If you want to know more about the evolution of Tritype® and how it emerged you can find it on the websites listed below. I also have many free videos you can watch on YouTube where you can learn more. My YouTube is under Katherine Fauvre | Creator of Tritype®.

Katherine Fauvre: How to Potentially Spot the 963 Tritype®?

November 25, 2022 Guest User

Question: Trying to figure out my tritype as sp9w8
Tips on typing / Advice
Using my Enneagram results from 2 tests, I get different results. Using one, I'm 925 and the other I'm 947. Both were really close percentage-wise. A typing interview that can get around the super-ego helps of course. You need to be able to fool the superego to discover the deeper issues that are running the show… ;)

Katherine: Hello, what I can say is that this is a very common pattern for the type 9 with type 6 in their Tritype®. It is usually the 963 Tritype®. Without a typing interview, I can suggest you examine the 963, and 693. On rare occasions, it can be the 962 or the 692 because they have the type 6 and type 9 which produces doubt so they commonly struggle with knowing whether the 9, the 6, or the 2 is the dominant type. This is perfectly natural when the type 6 and type 9 are in the Tritype®.

The Enneagram type 5 and type 7 are opposites of one another within the head center… they point to type 6 as the head type because it has access to both type 5 and type 7 as wing types.

The Enneagram type 2 and type 4 are also opposites of one another within the heart center… they point to type 3 as the head type because it has access to both type 2 and type 4 as wing types.

If you have taken my test check to see if you received any special notices. They can help you determine if you might have 6 as your head type and type 3 or 2 as your heart type.

If you need to take the Enneagram Tritype® test, click: https://enneagramtritypetest.com

More about the 369 Tritype®
Is usually the 963 or 639 Tritype®. All three types in this Tritype® adapt, modify, and seek balance… more importantly, they naturally pay attention to what they relate to and/or identify.

The 369 is the primary Tritype® because it has all three types that represent the center of each center of intelligence. This makes it more difficult to see oneself and the defense strategies used. The 369 Tritype® is meant to track behaviors and the situation at hand rather than defense strategies and motivations. This is what makes it difficult to self-type.

So, I suggest that your track the defense strategy you use in each center. You need to be able to observe the ego's idealized images, core fears, and the actual defense strategies of these three types.

For what it is worth... the heart type is often the type 3... The 963 has the most trouble determining their Tritype® because they have access to all 9 types. If you are the 963 Tritype®, you may remain unconvinced for a long time...because it is part of the defense strategy of type 9 to see all points of view but to remain unconvinced by any... ;)

Katherine Fauvre: Which Enneagram Type will Ask for Online Help?

November 22, 2022 Guest User

Question: I was just wondering if you can help me. My Tritype is 8, 3, 1 in that order. I don’t identify with I but I can’t figure out if I am the 8 or 3. Any Advice? Thanks!

What is the Tritype®, What are the Instinctual Types and Subtypes?
Katherine is often asked for help from people when they are able to be incognito. The 6 asks for help by far and away more than any other Enneagram type.

Katherine: Tritype® is the dominant type in each center. Type 1 and Type 8 are in the same center.

I really do not know without an in-depth Trityping process interview, but chances are good that you might be the hard-to-type 6 or type 9 that will naturally identify as other types first. This is because they are meant to focus on the situation at hand, behaviors, and descriptions rather than their motivations and defense strategies.

The 6 is the ambivert of the Enneagram. This is because the degree of introversion and extroversion always depends on the situation and how comfortable the 6 feels.

To find your Tritype® you need to force yourself to look at your hidden insecurities and the defense strategies you use to manage them.

Feeling comfortable asking this question on a public forum suggests the inquisitive 6 that wants certainty and to end confusion. Otherwise, they are collecting different opinions just to be sure.

Katherine Fauvre: How do I Find my Enneagram Type and my Empathy Type?

November 12, 2022 Guest User

Question: How do I find my Enneagram Type and my Empathy Type?

Katherine: I began researching the different ways in which people experience and express empathy in 1969. My research has continued to suggest several different types of empathy. I have found that it is helpful for people to understand how they experience and express empathy to be able to increase their emotional intelligence and develop the compassion needed to create lasting change in their lives. Empaths are highly sensitive people but are not always emotionally mature people. So, developing one's capacity for empathy and sympathy is one of the greatest ways to enhance our emotional intelligence, and personal growth, and create community.

Cognitive Empathy:
Intuitive knowing and understanding
This type of empath has an intellectual understanding of what others are thinking and feeling. They recognize that others may be in distress and in need of assistance. They offer support by giving a logical approach to managing emotional states. They help others by mentally assessing what is needed.
The high side of this type of empathy is that they can deeply understand what others need, think and feel. They can be very wise. The low side is that they can use this understanding to manipulate others. Sociopaths can have this type of empathy and be devoid of any sympathy for the feelings of others.

Emotional Empathy:
Sympathetic resonance
This type of empath emotionally and physically feels what others are feeling. Emotional empaths feel what others feel as though they are their own feelings.
The high side of this type of empathy is that they can attune to others and can truly know what another is experiencing. They are identified with their depth of feeling. The low side of this type of empathy is when they can’t manage their own emotional states and focus only on their own distressing emotions, often hysterically acting out their emotions. As a result, they can emotionally burn out and/or feel like emotional vampires to others.

Physical Empathy:
Physical sensations
This type of empath is very sensitive and may not know how empathetic they actually are. They feel empathy through bodily sensations without a connection to their deeper inner knowing or their emotions. These signals may be pleasant or extremely uncomfortable. When someone near them is in distress, they may experience the uncomfortable sensation without realizing what is causing them to be so irritable and uncomfortable.
The high side of this type of empathy is that they know through their physical sensations what is true in the moment regardless of what is being said or done. They know when something is off. They often offer advice and solutions to fix whatever may be causing distress to others.
The low side of this type of empathy is that they are easily overwhelmed by negative sensations and have trouble tolerating the distress of others. They can be hyper-focused on fixing or getting away from the person in distress rather than demonstrating care. To manage their emotional sensitivity, this type of empath may shut down to the point of appearing calloused, cold, and indifferent.

Compassionate Empathy:
This is our goal and requires emotional intelligence and maturity. This type of empath can read others. They see, know, feel, and sense what others are thinking and feeling. They understand the predicament of others and demonstrate care and concern through sounds, words, and gestures. They readily feel the emotion and may feel like crying but will contain their own emotional empathic response in service of others, and instead step in and offer assistance in the manner that it is needed.

Biological Empathy:
Empathy appears to be inherited just as aggression and shyness are, which is why some people are naturally more empathic than others. We have a gene that may increase or decrease our innate capacity for empathy. We inherit our bandwidth for empathy, which is why some children feel pain when another child is hurt and cries while other children do not seem to be impacted.

Maturational Empathy:
Generally speaking, between 9-11 years of age, we have enough ego development to expand our empathy by understanding our impact on others. Ideally, with the right guidance, we can develop this type of empathy. But, even if we didn’t have the benevolent kindness of a guiding mentor, it is never too late to develop this capacity. We call this sensitivity with emotional maturity.

Experiential Empathy:
This type of empathy comes from having experiences. Some people might not be able to truly understand what another might be feeling and/or experiencing until they, too, have had the same experience. For example, they might feel sympathy for someone that lost their job but if they also lose their own job, they might then move from having sympathy to having both sympathy and empathy. They now know on a personal level what it feels like to lose a job and have developed empathy for those that have lost their jobs.

Spiritual Empathy:
This type of empath is often described as an ‘old soul’. With this, empathy, compassion, and understanding are always present even if their behaviors are immature or reactive. The spiritual empath does not need to have had the experience to know what another is feeling. This type of empathy is what motivates us to create bonds and build bridges of community.

Spiritual Empathy is what connects us to one another on a universal level. This is why we care and are impacted when we see or hear of others' suffering. Charity is born out of this type of empathy. When we recognize that we are deeply interconnected to all things great and small, we engage with and wish to support the needs and concerns of others. This is why we can feel moved to help a total stranger that is in distress.

Shutting down Empathy:
We all have empathy but to varying degrees. With empathy, we are able to put ourselves in another’s shoes, understand what is needed at any moment in time, and make informed decisions. Because empathy gives us the ability to know what others are thinking and feeling, it improves our decision-making processes.

However, there are times when the ego shuts down empathy due to empathy overload. This may be for a few seconds or much longer.

This is necessary for us to do in order to manage the adrenaline that comes from overwhelming distress. The defense system manages this distress by disassociating from the overwhelm of the empathetic feelings. It is usually immediate but temporary. It gives us the time needed to recognize solutions and take the appropriate action for a problem. This is needed because we are unable to make informed decisions when we are in a highly emotional state. Once we have a potential solution to a problem, we usually return to our natural empathetic style.

When and why do we shut down?
When we are hurt and/or in an argument with someone, we often shut down our empathy to manage the pain we are feeling, whether it is real or imagined. This is when we might say or do something we regret. Later, when our emotional states are no longer in overdrive, we can restore a sense of calm and apologize.

In order for the species to survive, people will have some degree of empathy, even if it is a tiny amount. Someone with a small amount of empathy might use it to manipulate and take advantage of others to increase their chances of survival. Others with greater amounts of empathy might instead use their empathy to help others survive in addition to their own survival.

Regardless of the level of empathy, we all need to be able to shut down our empathy at times to survive. If we did not have the ability to shut down our empathy, we would also not be able to survive as a species. I see this as a biological imperative.

Empathy shutdown can last a few seconds, or in extreme situations, last a lot longer depending on the intensity of the distress, the duration of the distress, and/or what values one has been taught or both.

If we were in full empathic resonance with others at all times, we would never be able to kill to eat, or protect ourselves or those we care about from life-threatening danger. For example, soldiers need to be trained to shut down their empathy to be able to kill. They are taught to demonize the enemy and act with prejudice to survive going against the enemy.

The empath with a high level of empathy has a greater capacity to understand the suffering of others. However, when one understands the suffering of others, they, in turn, will suffer until they learn to manage their empathy and turn it into sympathy.

Being hurt or seeing someone else being hurt is extremely painful and upsetting for the empath with a moderate to a higher level of empathy. But even then, an empath with a high level of empathy may shut down their emotional empathy if they are repeatedly harmed or humiliated or need to protect someone else from the same. This type of wounding creates deep scars in the empath’s psyche, but with emotional support, this indifference can be healed, and the innate caring and compassion of the empath may re-emerge.

The Enneagram is a powerful tool for building bridges and understanding ourselves and others deeply and profoundly. It is an ancient symbol of unity, diversity, change, and transformation. The building blocks for a supportive community can be found in the innate ways the 9 types demonstrate empathy. This is due to the fact that empathy is the way we connect with one another.

There are 9 types of empathy and 7 levels of empathy. There are also 9 Enneagram types, each of which expresses and experiences empathy in a very specific manner. Understanding the 9 diverse ways the 9 types express empathy helps us understand the ways in which others may be demonstrating compassion and consideration.

We can appreciate the diverse ways others may show us compassion and consideration. This is key as each type demonstrates empathy according to the needs and concerns of their own Enneagram type. We can miss the signals of empathy that other types are demonstrating, simply not know how to read the other type's style, and often feel let down when their way is foreign to us. So, for example, a 5 will demonstrate empathy by sharing the knowledge that they have acquired to be of assistance.

To create and sustain meaningful relationships, we need to develop our emotional intelligence and sense of personal empowerment. To feel empowered, it is essential that we be critically self-aware; recognize our values, goals, and skills, and our impact on others

When we discover our style of expressing empathy, we can make sense of our world and the struggles we face in a new way. Empathy connects us to one another and gives us the compassion needed to build a community that honors and appreciates diversity.

My research with empathy began in 1969. To learn more about the Enneagram and Empathy, you can purchase my in-depth work here: https://www.katherinefauvre.com/products/empathy

About the course:
9 Types of Empathy, 7 Levels of Empathy, 9 Types of Empaths and Personal Empowerment 3-week Masterclass Recording: Advanced Series
Empathy is the invisible thread that connects all of us to one another. It is our innate sense of humanity. It is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another to put ourselves in their shoes. All 9 types experience and demonstrate empathy, but how? And why does it seem like some types have more empathy than others? Discover how the 9 Enneagram Types and 3 Instinctual Types experience and express empathy and how we may miss how loved ones show us compassion according to their type.

Do you want to learn the ways each Enneagram Type expresses Empathy?
As promised, Katherine is now offering a 3-week recording of the in-depth intensive on the Enneagram and Empathy.

In this online course, Katherine teaches about her 52-year study on empathy. She covers the subtleties of the 9 Types and the distinct way in which they express empathy.

Empathy, The 7 levels of Empathy, and The 9 Types of Empaths. In addition, she included what is needed to understand your type of empathy and the steps to become more personally empowered

Katherine will expand more on:
• The 9 Types of Empathy
• The 7 Levels of Empathy
• Tips on Personal Empowerment for the 9 Types
• How you can use Empathy and Personal Empowerment to work with the Types in a new way
• How Empathy can be better understood in relationship to the Tritype® and how the expression of Empathy can differ by Tritype®

For example, some Tritypes®, like the 269, express empathy in the way they personally tend to others, and other Tritypes® like the 358, will express empathy by providing for others. Another example is that the 146 Tritype® is focused on their sensitivity to pressure, and their need to always "get it right," so they will express empathy by helping to find and implement accurate and specific solutions in a caring way.

Katherine's study of Empathy began with a term paper for her psychology course in 1969. Empathy, like the Enneagram, has the power to transform people and situations. She has come to learn that empathy is the invisible thread that ties all of us to one another. When we have empathy for others and ourselves, we have the ability to express and speak the language of compassion. With empathy, limiting beliefs fall away, and all differences are forgiven and understood.

Since that first term paper, Katherine has taught her findings in several diverse settings— from the board room and executives in the Federal Reserve to heads and divide managers in department stores, to high schools and universities, and even in the county jail. Over the years, she learned a great deal more about empathy and how to recognize the different ways empathy can be expressed and why.

Katherine has conducted interviews in businesses, in courses, within families, and in coaching sessions. She has continued to learn more about how people think in terms of empathy. And, like the Enneagram, empathy, when more fully understood and correlated with the Enneagram Types, is deeply compelling and life-affirming.

Katherine Fauvre: Does the Enneagram Tritype® Test v8 have Inherent Biases?

November 7, 2022 Guest User

Question: Does the Enneagram Tritype® Test v8 have inherent biases?

Katherine: Your comments are important considerations. Having said that, your considerations show how you organize your internal data but do not necessarily lead you to your dominant Enneagram Type, Tritype®, Instinctual Type, and Subtype. It is much more likely to lead you away from your TrueType.

Depending on your definition of the bias- it absolutely does! The test recognizes testing patterns based on tens of thousands of international test takers for the last 18 years. However, these word clusters emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s prior to my work with the Enneagram.

Tests can, of course, appear to be too obvious to the trained eyes of the Enneagram Enthusiasts and appear to be too vague and confusing to those new to the Enneagram of Personality.

To more accurately, type yourself, and others, you need to be able to evaluate and rank the data in front of you rather than projecting into the future and answering based on what you think you should answer. ;)

It might be helpful to know that, unlike most personality typologies, this test is not meant to be a set of descriptions of the Enneagram types, and how well you know them. Instead, it is meant to be a collection of 9, in-depth inquiry testing instruments, designed and programmed to help you recognize, sort, and rank the ways in which your defense strategies will operate; collecting data, organizing the data, and then when and how you will act on the data, and why.

So, remember that there are no right or wrong answers only your rankings within each category and how you ranked them. From there, each person is in effect. given a much more personalized Enneagram Tritype® Test.

It is not meant to trick the test-taker, disguise the answers, or make the questions seem too obvious. The approach instead is based on “your” approach. The special programming is simply helping you to discover the words, sentences, pictures. and phrases that you chose and when.

To determine your Type, Tritype®, Instinctual Type, or Subtype; it is not whether or not it is obvious that you recognize the adjectives, Enneastatements, or Enneacards, but rather whether or not you recognize your idealized images, core fears, and defense strategies.

So be sure to pay attention to any "Special Notices" that you may have received. Then compare and contrast your results with one another.

Remember that due to the highly personalized nature of this Enneagram Tritype® Test v.8, two people may lead with the same Enneagram Type and Tritype® and Instinctual Stacking but identify with different cards. So there are many, many wonderful patterns within patterns.