Enneagram Subtypes: A Synopsis

Claudio Naranjo, Beatrice Chestnut, Ginger Lapid-Bogda

Summarized by Jerome Wagner, Ph.D.

SUBTYPES result from the interaction of the Vice or Passion of each type with the natural expression of the Instincts: self-preservation (SP), social (SO) and sexual or one-on-one (SX). The summary descriptions of these interactions are from Bea Chestnut’s and Ginger Lapid-Bogda’s transmission of Claudio Naranjo’s latest thoughts and workshops about subtypes. The descriptive word(s) for each subtype are Oscar Ichazo’s.

There is a countertype for each subtype where the energy of the vice/passion runs counter to the energy expression of the type itself. This can lead to mistyping. Possible look-alike types are given in the parentheses below.

ONE

Anger (dissatisfied with how things are)

SP “Worry” – make self perfect – angry at self because imperfect – correct self – anger most repressed (like 6)

SO “Non-Adaptability/Rigidity” – make environment perfect – make self a role model – set standard of how to be – know the right way to be – teacher mentality – correct social institutions – anger if others and society don’t come up to expectations – anger half hidden; turns to coolness (like 5)

SX “Zeal” (countertype) – make others perfect – reformer vs perfectionist – perfect others (especially significant others and those important to them) – zeal/passion fueled by anger – anger most explicit (like 8)

TWO

Pride (self-worth depends on how others respond to them; appear appealing and helpful; get needs met indirectly by seducing others)

SP “Me-First/Privilege” (countertype) – seduce like child by being pleasing and cute to be privileged and taken care of – doesn’t look so adult – princes and princesses (like SP 6 or 4)

SO “Ambition” – seduce group – important to group – stand above group – over-adult – emperors and empresses who earned right to royalty (like 3 or SO 8)
SX “Aggression/Seduction” – seduce individuals to be desired by others and be given what need – feel especially valued when chosen by someone important and so meets needs of these individuals – – kings and queens whose royal status is their birthright (like SX 4)

THREE

Vanity/Deceit (need to achieve to appear successful and gain admiration from others)

SP “Security” (countertype) – goes against vanity by trying to be good – vanity for having no vanity – create image of having no image – being perfect model of quality – deceit: try to say truth but deceive self about their unconscious motivations (like SP 1 or 6)
SO “Prestige” – want to be recognized on social stage by creating polished image – shine before whole world or particular reference groups – prestige – socially brilliant – want to be recognized and admired – most competitive of 3’s – corporate mentality – what’s best for group – deceit: image covers any flaws (like 7)

SX “Masculinity/Femininity” – charismatic pleaser who focuses on being appealing and supporting others – promote others vs talk about self – want to be seen as successful by people important to them – important to be attractive – sex appeal and beauty vs money and prestige – deceit: don’t show unattractive parts to significant others (like SX 2 or 7)

FOUR

Envy (compare self to others and feel deficient, superior, or both)

SP “Reckless/Dauntless/Tenacity” (countertype) – long suffering – internalizes/denies suffering – endures – stoic – don’t appear sensitive or envious – more masochistic than melodramatic – (like 1 or 7 “Sunny Four”) – active – (like 3)

SO “Shame” – wears suffering on sleeve – overly sensitive – a comfort and familiarity about suffering – suffering makes them special – defective – sense of shame – “Sad Four” – (vs SX Four who is shameless) – want understanding and appreciation for their suffering from their group

SX “Competition” – projects suffering and makes others suffer to compensate for their suffering – pain turned into anger – “Mad Four” – refusal to suffer – arrogant in order to be recognized – become superior and attractive to get love – winning to be understood and come out on top (like SX 8)

FIVE

Avarice (for knowledge and for safe place away from intrusions to preserve energy and resources)

SP “Castle” – passion for hiding behind walls – need for boundaries and to store up supplies – inability to ask for what want or take what want – survive within walls – ascetic – get by on little – least communicative and most withdrawn of Fives – don’t want to be intruded upon

SO “Totem” – more social than other Fives – avaricious for knowledge – needs can get met through the mind – relate to idealized others vs real others – idealism can lead to spiritual bypass – search for meaning through being connected to something special – search for extraordinary people in the group

SX “Confidence” (Countertype) – more intense, romantic, emotionally sensitive (like 4) – passionate about one person – search for ideal partner that can trust and confide in and be transparent with – need for intimacy with someone they can share their secrets with – experience the divine in human relationship – doesn’t want to share this special person with others

SIX

Fear (hope for best but fear it won’t happen; doubt that others are trustworthy or whether they, themselves, can meet challenges of life)

SP “Warmth” – warm, affectionate Six – most fearful – insecurity –world is dangerous – fear of not being protected – dependent on others – look to family or family substitutes – seek alliances by being trustworthy and friendly – not aggressive – I’m no threat – indecision – uncertainty – too much tolerance for uncertainty (like SP 2)

SO “Duty” – cool, obedient Six – follow the rules – get approval from authorities – Prussian character – mixture of phobic and counterphobic – becomes overly sure as defense against being unsure – rely on reason and rules – ideology – can be fanatic – like precision and dislike ambiguity – can be efficient and legalistic (like 3’s and 1’s)

SX “Strength/Beauty” (Countertype) – hot, aggressive Six – counterphobic: push against fear – avoidance of fear – turns against fear with strength – can be intimidating – best defense is to attack – make others afraid – (like 8) – can be paranoid – move toward risk; confront danger – can also use charism/attraction/beauty to deal with challenges and offset fear

SEVEN

Gluttony (an insatiable search for new, stimulating, interesting, pleasurable experiences to avoid painful emotions and situations)

SP “Keepers of the Castle” – find security through gluttonous search for pleasure and like-minded allies – close network of family, friends, colleagues – good mafia – take advantage of opportunities – self serving – hedonistic, sensuous, earthy – cynical and materialistic vs gullible dreamer (like SX 7)

SO “Sacrifice” (Countertype) – anti-gluttony – sacrifice of gluttony through being of service to others or ideals – (like 2) – doesn’t want to exploit others or be excessively opportunistic – wants to be good – get by on less for self – ascetic (like 5) – take on responsibility in group or family – postpone desires

SX “Suggestibility/Fascination” – idealistic search for ultimate relationship and best imaginable experiences – can be fascinated by one other person – optimism of someone in love – rose-colored glasses – dreamer – imagine something better than reality – light hearted enjoyer – gullible and overly susceptible to enthusiasm – gluttonous for things of higher world

EIGHT

Lust (excessive self-satisfying behaviors; lust for life; pursue justice and control)

SP “Satisfaction/Survival” – get what is needed for survival in a powerful, lusty way – know how to get what they want – strategic – strong, silent type – satisfaction of material needs and intolerance for frustration – (like SX 1 but not concerned with norms) – self-armoring (like 5)

SO “Solidarity” (Countertype) – need to protect others and go up against those who might commit injustices – challenge social norms – social anti-social person – aggression in service of others but less aggressive than SP 8 – in solidarity with others against oppression – excessive for group causes – “band of brothers or sisters” – loyal and want loyalty – (like SO 2) – softer than other 8’s but blind spot for own needs for love and protection which gets compensated by power and pleasure

SX “Possession” passionate, charismatic character who goes against social conventions in a provocative way – most rebellious and emotional of 8’s – anti-social – pride in being “bad” – takes over environment and commands attention – possessive of those with whom they are intimate or close – charismatic, seductive, intense, passionate (like SX 6 or SX 4)

NINE

Sloth (need for fusion; self-numbing; acedia; forgetting self)

SP “Appetite” – fuse with own body or physical comforts – merging with routines and pleasant activities or objects (collectors) to distract self from personal priorities – satisfaction of physical needs – forget spiritual needs – erase self – fulfillment of appetites substitutes for need for love – concrete vs. abstract – inertia – more irritable than other 9’s (8ish)

SO “Participation” (Countertype) – fuse/merge with a group – work on behalf of group to distract from own priorities – friendly, congenial – need to feel a part of things to compensate for feeling of not belonging – exert effort to be part of group – lose sense of self in service of others – generous, unselfish) (like 2) – workaholic (like 3)

SX “Union” – fuse/blend with one other person – be through another vs. be on one’s own – find own passion for living and purpose through finding it in another – substitute another’s agenda for one’s own – confuse own fulfillment with gratifying needs of those with whom they have merged – kind and gentle, least assertive (like 2)

SOURCES

Chestnut, Beatrice. The Complete Enneagram: 27 Paths to Greater Self-Knowledge. SheWrites Press, 2013.

Lapid-Bogda, Ginger. The Art of Typing. The Enneagram in Business Press. 2018.

Naranjo, Claudio. Transformation Through Insight. Hohm Press. 1997