Self-Preservation
(Family):
Family
doesn’t need to be “blood” family;
comforted by having own positive beliefs reflected
back by people who share same values and sense
of pleasure. Epicurean, sensuous,
focused on tastes, colors, tactile stimulation. A
little cynical like the Eight, not so gullible as
other Seven subtypes. Pain
is not felt directly; transforms lemons to lemonade.
Good at business.
At best earthy,
entrepreneurial, democratic/family-oriented,
team-builder; at worst opportunistic, selfish,
cynical, too pleasure-seeking, addictive (you name
it).
One-to-One/Sexual (Suggestibility):
Prestidigitator, more
the dreamer, the “charmed charmer.” The most
narcissistic of the Seven subtypes. More
enthusiastic (like being in love—a rush of initial
attraction), manic. Not so much into pleasures of
this world, more extraterrestrial. Commitment is
difficult, feels limiting because of gluttony for
one-to-one contacts - riveted by brief encounters
and magnetized by peoples’ stories.
At best enthusiastic,
aesthetic - in business ensure state-of-the-art focus on
products/services; at worst narcissistic, manic,
too easily enthused, not down-to-earth
enough - in business cheering people on in too many directions.
Social (Service
or Sacrifice):
More ambitious,
Six-like, willing to
accept a lack of personal freedom in service of
recognition, also very helpful/giving of love in
search of recognition: sweetness in exchange for
service. Creating an imaginary “perfectionism,” an
idealized social order, forming long-range interests
in the cause, the community, the church. “Good”
people. Important to equalize
authority: they hate the limitations of rules and
equality ensures their personal freedom.
At best, ambitious,
responsible - in business keep employees upbeat, focused on
solutions; at worst a "do-gooder" perfectionist,
sensationalist, "hyperactive."
*
* *
*According to
Peter O'Hanrahan,
the subtypes "show how the ruling emotion of our type is expressed through our
instinctual behavior." The above descriptions also draw from Helen
Palmer's The Enneagram in Love & Work and
workshops with
Dr. Claudio Naranjo.
Subtype Test
Answers to Subtype Test
