A Study of the Enneagram Instinctual Subtypes

Instinctual Types and Subtypes

Enneagram Tritype® Test

Introduction

This article presents some ongoing findings in my ongoing quest for information as to how the Enneagram points define themselves by the three instinctual drives: Self-Preserving, Social and Sexual. My original study began in 1995. For purposes of this study, I sent out questionnaires to the Enneagram community, and this article represents my initial findings on the patterns that emerged from the contributions received from the participants. In particular, this article will focus on how the Enneagram Types by Subtype perceived themselves and more specifically the Internalized Image vs the Externalized Image. For example, what the nine types wished to add to the study of Instinctual Subtypes from their own internal experience of type.

Various authors have used terms such as "instincts," "drives," "subtypes," "instinctual drives," "instinctual types," and "instinctual variants" to describe what I will refer to herein as "Instinctual Subtypes"; and as with the Enneagram types themselves, there are disparate views among the authors on the subject of Instinctual Subtypes. Surprisingly, however, to date very little material has been published on this subject.

Research suggests that the study of "instincts" and "drives" was part of Oscar Ichazo's early teachings of "Enneagons." In 1970, Dr. Claudio Naranjo and others underwent intensive training with Ichazo in Arica, Chile. In 1971-73, Naranjo formed the original SAT groups ("Seekers After Truth") in Berkeley, California, and began incorporating the Enneagram and Instinctual Subtypes into his own teachings. In 1996, after more than 20 years, Naranjo again taught the Enneagram in the United States in Boulder, Colorado, including an in depth look at his view of the three Instincts and 27 Subtypes.

Overview

Extensive study confirms that there are three instinctual drives or types -the Self-Preserving, the Social and the Sexual/Intimate. Like the nine passions of the Enneagram points, the instinctual drives act as a force underlying our life strategies - often unconscious yet all-pervasive - and represent our most fundamental way of being. The three instinctual drives color the way we act, think, feel, and ultimately express ourselves. Each instinctual drive can manifest within each of the nine Enneagram types (in effect resulting in a total of 27 Instinctual Subtypes).

Ichazo teaches that "the instincts are defined . . . as three fundamental reactions of our organism in order to sustain life. The interconnection between them produces a corresponding triad in the higher psychological levels, and the sensing of these three organic systems appear as our basic psychological levels in the form of instinctual centers of attention, whose demands we cannot ignore because they immediately threaten our survival."

Naranjo teaches that " the instinctual type is one of three sub-personalities that is the "auxiliary passion." He suggests 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." He also teaches the origin and drive of each instinctual subtype: self-preservation arises in the belly and is associated with protection; social instinct arises in the tongue, and the desire to be appreciated; and sexual instinct is genital in origin and driven by sexuality, oedipal issues."

Palmer teaches that, "like the nine passions, the behaviors called 'Enneagram subtypes' act as a hidden focus of personality type. Once it is discovered through self-observation, the subtype focus of attention is revealed as a behavior that is motivated by instinct (for survival, social relating, and sexual relating) dominated by the passion of type. The subtypes name a mental preoccupation in which the energies of the physical body (instincts) and the emotional energies of the passions are joined. Because the subtype focus of attention is an ordinary behavior, I have found them to be crucial pivots in the transformation of the nine passions into their higher opposites."

Condon teaches, "The original formulation states that within each style there are three possible suborientations that people tend towards. The subtype is determined by whether you are unconsciously preoccupied with personal survival (self-preservation), whether you incline towards one-to-one relationships (intimate) or whether your style of relating includes a lot of people (social)."

Riso-Hudson teach that " people can be divided into these three instinctual types (which they refer to as "instinctual variants") "simply by knowing the definitions of these categories, and without knowing the Enneagram types of the individuals . . . The Instinctual types can exist as a separate typology, but can also be combined with the Enneagram types in ways that explain some of the variations we see in real people that cannot entirely be accounted for by wings or Levels of Development."

Research confirms that we are governed by all three instinctual drives, for they represent our most fundamental way of being, but one is generally more dominant and influential in our lives and defines the way in which we act out the passion of our Enneagram point. If all three instinctual drives were in balance, we could function "perfectly" or "appropriately" to the needs of each situation. Nevertheless, such balance is rare, and usually one of these drives demands an undue amount of our attention; and it is a person's most "dominant" instinctual drive that is overused. The resulting imbalance distorts our perception of our essential needs, and we may find ourselves living large portions of our lives "in service" to this dominant drive.

We utilize all three instincts in a preferred, stacking order every day, all day to be grounded in physical reality.

Enneagram Instinctual Subtypes

We strongly identify with one primary drive and with some secondary traits in another drive. On the occasion when two of the instinctual drives are equally dominant, it is noteworthy that the third drive is usually omitted. This perhaps still demonstrates the imbalanced use of the three very essential instinctual drives. The teaching of Instinctual Subtypes suggests that these fundamental instinctual drives need to be equally cared for and in balance in order to harness the energy needed to move toward transformation. The concept is that the energy expended in dealing with the instinctual drives' imbalance diminishes one's access to the energy necessary to move against fixation and toward transformation.

The instinctual drives appear to be not only instrumental in distinguishing the different styles of manifesting our Enneagram type behavior, but also perhaps the stronger, more unconscious, yet all-pervasive element of our personality type. The underlying influence of the dominant instinctual drive can be quite powerful. In fact, the instinctual drives of two people are more apt to determine successful relationships than their Enneagram points, for a shared instinctual drive would be a more likely supportive common denominator than a shared Enneagram type. The reason is that the instinctual drive is more indicative of our "animal nature," the one enabling us to survive, whereas our personality also includes our essence qualities that we define as "human nature." These two together create a partnership that we call the personality or "false self."

General Findings

It appears that the degree to which our instinctual drive's impulses control our lives is subject to the same kind of energy as our Enneagram point. For example, we can experience our drives and passions mildly or intensely; we can feel some sense of control or very little control at all; and in addition, we can either embrace our particular instinctual drive or act totally against it. It is important to note that whether embracing the drive as an asset or viewing it as a liability it is still ever present and influential.

More specifically, our dominant instinctual drive is, in actuality, our area of greatest weakness. Thus, when our sense of "survival" is threatened something has triggered whatever "button" happens to relate not only to our Enneagram point but, more important, also to our instinctual drive. The fixation then becomes even more severe as we take on the additional fears of the instinctual drive. The important factor here is that the triggering element of the fixation is the instinctual drive's issue. Nevertheless, the flavor will always be that of the Enneagram type, as the fixation and the drive are interactive, linked, and always related to the Enneagram type.

In the context of the "false self" or personality, it is the instinctual drive that supposedly protects the survival of the Enneagram point and is called to the front lines when in stress. However, since the dominant instinctual drive is actually one's "weak link," its entrance in times of stress may ultimately produce no "protection" at all to one's survival, and in fact, may exacerbate the level of stress and ultimate fixation.

The real question is, how do we express anger, fear and desire? How do we experience illness and what types of illnesses do we have? How do we act when we're happy or sad? As an example, ask yourself how you like to spend your time. Do you tend to make sure your own needs are met and satisfied with the essentials of life (self-preservation)? Or does your attention go to being in the company of others and, if so, how many others, and/or do you need to be in service of others (social)? Or instead do you find that your ultimate expression of self is linked to the company of one significant other in an intimate and profound way, and that no matter where you are or what you are doing, you are always in search of that beloved special person (sexual)?

Conclusion

I found that the instinctual drives appear to be not only instrumental in distinguishing the different styles of manifesting our Enneagram type behavior, but also perhaps the stronger, more unconscious, yet all-pervasive element of our personality type. Our instinctual drives motivate us in the ongoing human struggle to create and sustain relationships, to aggressively seek what we need to survive, and to defend what we have and fear losing. Clearly, the journey toward wholeness might well include the conscious exploration of these relatively untraveled, instinctual roads, and thus ultimately lead to a more balanced and integrated awareness.

When pioneering any new area of study, there is always the possibility of controversy, risk, mistakes, misunderstanding, and misrepresentation, and this was no exception. With this study, I found that responses from each Enneagram point gave insights that deeply broadened my world view.

A special note of appreciation: As a student of many teachers and many teachings I wish to acknowledge the works of Ichazo, Naranjo, Speeth, Palmer, Daniels, Riso, Hudson, Hurley, Dobson, Condon, Wolinski, Jaxon-Bear, Rohr, Linden, Olson, Forster, O'Hanrahan, Dentai, Keyes, Becker, Spalding, Shane and the study participants.

Enneagram Instinctual Subtype and Pair Bonding
Interrelationship of Instinctual Drives

A noteworthy point of interest with respect to the Enneagram Instinctual Subtypes is that the dominant instinctual drive (self-preserving, social or sexual) will shift to the other two subtypes as needed to ensure its influential role in this trialectic instinctual system. The way in which the dominant subtype employs the other two appears to be very specific and predictable. The dominant drive maintains the role of the commander in chief and the other two are channeled through its lens. Generally, this is very primal and often unconscious. This is especially apparent with respect to the human drive to seek a mate and pair bonding, but applies to all areas of life. If a relationship displays conflicting instinctual needs the dominant drive perceives it as a threat to security and acts accordingly. Confusion about the manner in which the instinctual drives manifest to create and maintain a sense of security is often the root of misunderstandings. Such disturbances in the instinctual drive are often the catalyst for seeking counsel or therapy.

Self-preserving moves to Sexual
For example, the self preserving subtype considers a mate as an essential need to maintain and insure security. Therefore, when in search of a mate the self-preserving subtype will feel anxiety and suspense until a mate is secured. In order to attract a mate, the self-preserving subtype will shift to their respective sexual instinctual drive to accommodate this fear. Outwardly the self-preserving subtype will behave like the sexual subtype, pay more attention to their desirability and will be sensual or flirtatious. At first, the self-preserving subtype will spend more time one on more with the possible mate. Once the mate is secured, the self-preserving subtype will return to basic routines that ideally would include the mate. An area of pain and disappointment for this subtype is when they have a mate that is unwilling to pay attention to issues of security and disrupt their need for inner calm.

Social moves to Self-Preserving
The social subtype will think in terms more indicative of the self-preserving subtype when selecting a mate. This is very important to insure the desired securitythat rank and social status can provide. The social subtype seeks a mate with a shared social vision and similar values. This is necessary to fulfill the desire for a mate that will join them in their activities. Therefore, a secure social position is essential. Much attention is paid to the potential mate's connections, rank and ability to provide financial security. This subtype enjoys bringing others together, feeling that the more the merrier? They are often adept at creating the center stage and often use their home for social events, gatherings and causes. At first the social subtype will spend more time one on one with the potential mate. Once the mate is in place, the social subtype will return to outside interests, groups and/or activities, ideally, this is with their mate. An area of pain and disappointment for this subtype is when they have a mate that is unwilling to pay attention to their need for people, activities, causes and unwilling to share their interest in others.

Sexual moves to Social
The sexual subtype (one on one) will seek the greater world or social arena to find a desired mate. The sexual subtype is normally happy tucked away in a secluded setting with one significant other. However, when alone or in search of a mate, this subtype will behave much more like the social subtype. One must be with others to find ?the other? Once the mate is selected, the social activity will be replaced by the dominant drive for time spent in union with the other one on one. At first the sexual subtype may spend time with the potential mate in the company of others. They become a pair even in groups. Then when the passion for deeper connection is ignited the sexual subtype will want to bond totally with their desired other. When the mate is determined, the sexual subtypewill return to one on one style of relating. Ideally, this is intense time spent with the desired other or mate. An area of pain and disappointment for this subtype is when they have a mate that is unwilling to pay attention to their degree of connection and intimately share their deepest and innermost thoughts.

+Positive and -Negative Identifications within your Instinctual Stacking

The manner in which we experience the nurture aspect of our instinctual stacking nature is very revealing. Our positive and/or negative identifications with each type in our instinctual stacking greatly influence the way we express or repress our instinctual types.

+Positive and -Negative Identifications Within Your Instinctual Stacking
We may be positively or negatively identified with each of the instinctual types in our instinctual stacking. For example, you could be a sexual/self-preserving/social aka sx/sp/so stacking but have:
- Sexual/Intimate
+ Self-preserving
+ Social
How well we negotiated the realms of self-preservation (security, nurturance, comfort, physical well-being), social (groups others, friends and foes) and sexual (pair bonds, intimate attachments, closeness, desirability) can dramatically influence our identification with each of the instinctual types in our instinctual stacking.

If we are positively identified with an instinctual type we feel greater confidence and comfort with it. One important point of interest is what happens when you are positively identified with the last instinctual type in your instinctual stacking. In this case, our third instinctual type still needs to mature and become more balanced and a part of our decision-making processes but it does not cause the same level of anxiety as the third type, with a negative identification. As such, it is easier to develop it than when we have a positive identification with the last instinctual type in our stacking.

This identification can most easily be seen in the dominant instinctual type.
A few examples…

Sexual/Intimate
Both positively and negatively identified sexual instinctual types long for their favorite, their beloved and the object of their desire whether a life partner or a lifelong friend.

The positively identified sexual instinctual type was told that they were attractive and desirable as a child by those that were close to them and often by those in their larger groups such as with their extended family, and with schoolmates and teachers. They grew up hearing things such as “You are so handsome or you are so beautiful!” “Aren’t you adorable!” “Aren’t you charming.” Most importantly, they felt that they had the ability to attract the one they most desired to have a close connection with.

The negatively identified sexual instinctual types felt that they were not desirable or not the right kind of desirable to draw in “the one” they most wanted to be close to. This is not about popularity but rather about being and having your ‘favorite; above all else. It is about being in sync and have the union, fusion, and closeness with the object of your desire, the one with whom you have exciting chemistry. The negatively identified sexual instinctual type either gives up trying or learns the tricks of the trade by adorning themselves and seducing the object of their desire with sparking conversations that includes the revealing of one’s deepest and innermost thoughts and the sharing of secrets.

An interesting point I have noticed when working with the positively identified sexual type is how much they struggle to feel attractive and desirable when they lose what they perceived made them desirable and attractive in the first place. They often feel a lot more stress than the negatively identified sexual instinctual type because they did not have to work as hard to develop the skills needed to attract their desired mate, pair bond or BFF as the negatively identified sexual instinctual type did.

Wherever they go and wherever they are they seek the special someone with whom they can deeply connect share their deeper and innermost thoughts.

Social
Wherever they go and wherever they are they seek a place or position that gives them security through status or belonging. Due to positive experiences as a child, the positively identified social instinctual type sees himself or herself as friendly and often wants to find others and/or groups to join to experience a sense of purpose and belonging. This social instinctual type is most inclined to be philanthropic.

Due to negative experiences as a child, the negatively identified social instinctual type sees himself or herself as somewhat of a loner and often wants to avoid grouping of any kind because he or she feels that others will exclude him or her or that he or she will be cast out. This negatively identified social instinctual type is more inclined to be misanthropic. He or she may report that he or she hates people, parties or groups. They usually do not realize that they are the social instinctual type because they are unaware that their attention is focused on people and what others are doing rather than their resources or their designated favorite.

Self-preserving
With the self-preserving instinct, you can be overly focused on scarcity and not having enough time, energy, or money even if you have a trust fund and don't have to work. Or you can keep track of every penny you spend and worry about expenses but have a serious disease and not monitor it. This can be seen if you eat the wrong foods, fail to exercise according to the needs of your condition, don’t regularly take your medications, and/or do not have the treatments required to manage your health issue, especially when it is a life-threatening concern.

The extreme polar opposite can be seen when the self-preserving instinctual type engages in high-risk activities without being concerned that he or she could be easily injured or have a fatal accident. For example, I have known self-preserving cp6s that are very afraid of flying but engage in extremely dangerous sports. It helps the 6 manage their fear of flying when they learn the statistics of those who perish in an airplane crash and those that crash and burn on a dangerous ski slope.

When someone is positively identified with their self-preserving instinctual type they usually have a sense of abundance. He or she feels that their hard work or the world will provide what he or she need financially and/or physically. However, the positively identified self-preserving instinctual type can identify with not having financial and/or physical needs even if they do have them or should pay better attention to them. ;)

The negatively identified self-preserving instinctual type will feel a sense of lack and that they can never have enough resources, and that the resources they do have could be taken away by some sort of catastrophe. They may bring food with them everywhere they go just in case but they will be inclined to hoard it for fear they might not have enough whereas the positively identified self-preserving instinctual type would be more inclined to share what they have, believing when they need food someone will share with them.

Your Tritype® stacking, of course, would amplify this. The positive self-preserving sp/so 792 would not only share the food they brought, they would bring enough for everyone. The negatively identified self-preserving sp/so 541 would be more inclined to hide the food they have and fear that others would take more than their fair share leaving them without enough. They would also feel ‘to each his own’ and that everyone should provide for themselves.Wherever they go and wherever they are they seek security by having enough provisions, resources and physical essentials.