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
