Style Nine Subtypes*
Stepping back to
define direction
Self-Preservation
(Appetite):
The “heavy” Nine. Merges with things. Serves 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”). 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. Merges with other. “Steam-rolled.”
Becomes
conscious of self through the other, finds “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, lives too much through another
(spouse, boss, friend)
Social (Participation):
Merges
with group (family,
team, organization, nation, humankind). A kind of “peasant”
mentality. Derives sense of being not from contact
with own
being but through feeling the value of the group.
Energy that could be spent meeting personal
agenda shunted to social activities. Gravitates
toward groups that allow participation at low level
of energy, and maintains ambivalence about the
group.
At best gregarious, active, inspires
responsiveness to multiple demands
At worst provincial, undeveloped, narrow view, finds it hard to
initiate except through group focus
*
* *
*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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