Out of
the Box Coaching and
Breakthroughs with the Enneagram,
Mary R. Bast, Ph.D.
Copyright © 1999. All rights reserved. Revised:
October 05, 2008
Style Nine Subtypes*
Stepping Back to Define Direction
Self-Preservation (Appetite):
The “heavy” Nines. Serve sloth through appetite, neglecting real needs in favor of substitutes - most commonly food, travel, TV, or collecting. Yearning for affection. “Doing without” is often somaticized. Very concrete, more aggressive than other Nine subtypes, but doesn’t know it (steam-roller) - can be invasive, talkative (“epic tale”). Merges with things. Doesn’t realize personal agenda is being shelved when gripped by an appetite (e.g., shopping fever).
At best concrete, conversational, generous, strong opinions about what's possible; at worst too talkative, invasive, stubborn, addicted to creature comforts.
One-to-One/Sexual (Union):
The most tender of the Nine subtypes. “Steam-rolled” - become conscious of self through the other, find “being” through merging with one person. Confluence, fusion, symbiosis (living too much through the other), confusion about contact (real contact would be awareness of differences). Union with another provides focus and energy, but the Nine is swept along without conscious awareness.
At best bonds with others, supportive of their ideas, gets buy-in through consensus; at worst self-denying, live too much through another (spouse, boss, friend).
Social (Participation):
Merge with group - family, team, organization, nation, humankind. A kind of “peasant” mentality. Derive sense of being not from contact with own being but through feeling the value of the group. Energy that could be spent meeting personal agendas shunted to social activities. Gravitate toward groups that allow participation at low level of energy, and maintain ambivalence about the group.
At best gregarious, active, inspire responsiveness to multiple demands; at worst provincial, undeveloped, narrow view, find it hard to initiate except through group focus.
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*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
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