Today, we step into our Spiral of Discovery with the Subtypes. No conversation can take place about our Subtypes without first discussing our instincts.

Instincts are biological drives that every living being possesses for survival. Even humans, with our complex minds, are wired with these primal instincts. They operate in the oldest part of our brain, ensuring our well-being without conscious thought or feeling. The Enneagram focuses on three core instincts:

1. Self-Preservation: This instinct revolves around protecting our body and health. It prompts us to eat when hungry, dress warmly when it’s cold, and save resources for the future.

2. Social: The social instinct drives us to belong to groups. We seek recognition, relationships, and safety within our communities, work teams, and society. It also nudges us toward leadership roles.

3. Sexual (One-to-One): This instinct centers on specific relationships. It encompasses attraction, bonding, and even competition or aggression between rivals. It applies to both intimate relationships and friendships.

Enneagram Subtypes are based on these instincts. Subtypes (also known as instinctual variants) combine our main Enneagram type with our dominant instinct. Each of the nine personality types can be further divided into three subtypes.

To aid in your personal growth journey, we can play a little game with our subtypes. Below, I have listed all of the subtypes associated with the types. Scroll down to your type and rate each of the three subtypes (of your dominant type) on a scale of 1-10, 10 meaning it best describes you. You’ll discover which instinct is dominant in your life and it will help you bring awareness to your behaviors. All of us fall into these types during our lives, they just stack differently over time - meaning you can start life in a self-pres instinct as your number one, then two and three might stack as social and sexual (1:1). There is no right or wrong and certainly depending on what life presents you, theses instincts can show up stacked differently. Now it is your turn to play along:

Type One

Worry (SP):  Centered on improving and perfecting themselves.  Their anger is repressed and mainly aimed inward which drives more worry, controlling and focus on planning. This One converts their resentment into warmth, care and friendliness towards others which keeps others from seeing their inner critic.  They are incredibly hard on themselves. 

Non-adaptability (SO):  Focused on perfecting the groups or communities which they are involved.  They are intellectual and often skilled and inspirational teachers.  They can also be quite rigid, holding fast to their “right” perspectives and not open to others’ interpretations or opinions.  This can create a sense of superiority, judgment and “know-it-all” expression.  They can resemble 5s. 

Zeal (SX - countertype):  More a reformer and focused on perfecting others and society more than themselves.  Anger is more easily expressed in hopes to bring about the reformation and change they think needs to happen.  They feel they know what’s best for others and the world and that why have both the right and obligation to correct what is wrong, especially in 1:1 relationships.  They can resemble Type 8s for their tendency to be impulsive and confrontational.  

Type Two

Privilege (SP - countertype): Feels they need to seduce or persuade people to meet their needs.  They fear rejection, so they tend to be more indirect in how they ask for things, giving “hints” and “clues” about what they want.  This “seduction” is childlike.  These Twos tend to be warm and care for others while sometimes being needy and irresponsible in order to lure the help and attention of others.  They are playful, cheerful and charming.    

Ambition (SO):  Very “adult” Two.  They desire more power, competence and influence and can sometimes resemble Types 3 and 8 with their ability to woo an audience to be in their favor.  They tend to be generous in order to get others to follow and like them.  They feel loved by having an important place in the lives of friends, family and colleagues.  They make themselves indispensable by supporting, advising and helping out the group or community. 

Aggressive/Seductive (SX):  Focuses mainly on seducing a partner to meet all their needs.  To them, this feels like love and profound intimacy.  Emphasize physical attraction - they feel being attractive will keep their partner and others close.  They inspire others by giving off positive, intense feelings and passions and hope to be loved and admired in return.  They feel proud and inflated if their efforts are successful and they feel especially deflated if they aren’t.

Type Three

Security (SP - countertype): Strives to look good and be admired.  Desire the same recognition other Threes do, but can feel badly wanting it, so they won’t typically brag about themselves or their achievements.  Goals are on building material wealth like money and assets.  They tend to view love as transactional. The most “workaholic” type on the Enneagram. 

Prestige (SO):   Focused on achieving and looking good while they are at it.  They seek attention, influence and social status more so than other Threes.  They enjoy being in the spotlight, receiving approval and recognition.  More competitive and aggressive than the other two subtypes.  They desire to hide any negative information about themselves that may harm others’ view of them. 

Charisma (SX):  Deeply desire to be desired, especially by a partner and they want their partner to be proud of them.  They gain others’ affection through generosity, attractiveness, being there to support others.  They have more access to their emotions, although they can be emotionally turbulent.  Highly people-pleasing, and don’t desire the spotlight much. They put a strong emphasis on family. 

Type Four

Tenacity (SP - countertype): Not a typical Four.  They prefer to deal with emotions privately, can be more stoic and wear a happy face around others. They’ve developed a toughness that makes them isolate while also seeking recognition for their self-sacrifice.  Instead of envying what they don’t have, they work hard towards it.  Physical aesthetics and material gifts mean a lot to these Fours.  They appreciate effort and endurance.  

 Shame (SO): These Fours feel more suffering, shame, envy and grief - the most sensitive Four.  They express their suffering in hopes to lure others towards them for support and attention and connection.  They deeply desire to be a part of social groups and to be accepted while often feeling too flawed and defective to fit in.  

Competition (SX): To dispel feelings of shame, they constantly compare themselves to (and internally compete with) others, finding ways they are better than them.  These Fours are more vocal in expressing their needs and rebel and push against anything that brings  shame to what they desire, justifying their wants.   They seek the ultimate romantic relationships, being “the all” to their partners and can be possessive.  They sometimes resemble Type 8s.

Type Five

Castle (SP):  They tend to be isolated within their own castle or sanctuary, either mentally or an actual physical space.  They have a strong need to control their boundaries, privacy and material resources and don’t like to lend important valuables.  They can be seen as greedy or hoarders.  They work to independently attain what they need to survive so as to not depend on others. They are the least expressive and the most introverted of these subtypes. 

Totem (SO):  This is the most extroverted and social of all Fives. They search for knowledge which to them is power.  They primarily prefer to connect with others who share their ideals and seem outstanding, particularly in their work or education.  Social chit-chat can be seen as meaningless and is usually unenjoyable. This is the most intellectual Five. 

Confidence (SX - countertype):  They express their hoarding in 1:1 relationships.  They want the absolute ideal partner to fulfill their perfect image of love and trust.  They can range from powerful intimate connections with others to significant isolation and privacy.  They are more emotionally in touch and turbulent than other Fives and can resemble type Four.

Type Six

Warmth (SP):  Fear expresses itself in insecurity, worry and self-doubt.  They are more “flight” in the face of danger.  Friendship and connection are how they feel safe, secure and protected.  They will form alliances with friends and trusted others so they feel safe and protected in the event of danger.  They may even take on a surrogate family.  In order to gain friends and protectors, they will be warm, friendly and trustworthy. 

Duty (SO): They see life in black and white and don’t tolerate ambiguity as it increases their anxiety and sense of instability.  Manage anxiety by adhering to rules in order to avoid blame and not “get in trouble.”  They attach to beliefs of a group or system as their authority.  They try to identify who is “good” and “bad.”  They commit to what is expected of them and tend not to stray from those expectations.  

Strength/Beauty (SX - countertype):  More “fight” in the face of danger.  They demonstrate strength both verbally and physically and can appear bold, strong and brave in order to appear intimidating and ward off anyone or anything who may cause harm.  Their motto is “the best defense is offense.”  They can mistype as 8s but under their strong front, they feel the fear, self-doubt and insecurity of other Sixes.  The strongest worst-case scenario planners of all Sixes.  Type Seven 

Type Seven

Keeper of the Castle (SP): They are more in touch with their anxieties.   They find safety in being pragmatic and planning and they focus on their own well-being by networking and working hard, so they can ensure every opportunity that may support their physical survival and need for fun and stimulation.  They can be more self-indulgent with food, money and material items.  People generally admire them and they tend to get what they want through their charm.  

Sacrifice (SO - countertype): These Sevens don’t want to seem as self-indulgent, so they tend to be more conscientious of others by serving them first instead of fulfilling their own desires first.  Like Types 1 and 2, they want to be seen as “good” for the sacrifices they make on behalf of others.  They hate to miss out on social gatherings, tend to overcommit and become scattered and disorganized.  They are idealistic and enthusiastic which helps them feel valuable.  

Suggestibility (SX):  The envision something bigger and more spectacular then what is normal or realistic, constantly chasing the next intense thrill.  Idealistic dreamers who live comfortably in their imaginations, they tend to see the world and opportunities through rose-colored glasses.  They tend to love the infatuation period of relationships but can get bored when things get comfortable or more settled.

Type Eight

Satisfaction (SP):  Expresses their passion for lust by focusing on obtaining what they need for power, position, survival and control. They are strong, practical, capable and tough-minded people who have a need for material wealth so they can remain independent and self-reliant. They work hard to protect and provide for their family.  They are often good at bargaining and bartering and can resemble Type 5s. 

Solidarity (SO - countertype):  Focuses on protecting and supporting others, a helpful Eight.  They appear to be more loyal and less aggressive. They will quickly step in to help someone weaker if they are being picked on or harmed.  They are more overtly friendly, nurturing, concerned with social injustices while also being resistant to follow society’s rules. They are more mellow and less quick to anger.  

Possession (SX):  They seek power by being charismatic and emotionally intense, demanding attention, and dominating their environment.  They enjoy intense stimulation and adrenaline rushes.  They adore their loved ones, yet can treat them condescendingly.  They want their partner to be as strong as them so they can relax and not have to be an adult all the time.  They’re the most rebellious, provocative and antisocial. 

Type Nine

Appetite (SP):  This subtype merges with familiar routines, physical comforts and dwells in supportive environment where they are untroubled.  They have their own pace, routines and philosophy of life and will stubbornly resist demand to change. They unconsciously use routines to allow them to zone out. They find comfort in eating, sleeping and reading.  They are rational and pragmatic.  

Participation (SO - countertype):  They merge with a group so they can feel they belong, although they never fully feel they fit in.  More outgoing, active and involved with the world and others. They are optimistic and tend to be unifiers in groups, yet still withhold themselves emotionally.  This Nine can resemble types 3 and 7 in their cheerfulness and task orientation, but they still struggle with inertia and fully knowing and pursuing their own desire.  

Fusion (SX):  Fuses with another person. They take on the attitude, ideas and feelings of others, losing themselves and identifying as a “we” instead of a you and I.   They wrestle between the desire to merge and the need for autonomy.  They have more access to anger and idealistic, romantic fantasies.  This Nine can resemble Type 4 and 6. They are more kind, shy, gentle and lack assertiveness.  They take in the world with child-like awe and wonder.

Understanding your dominant instinct and subtype can profoundly impact your growth journey. Here’s how:

• Self-Awareness: Recognize which instinct drives your behavior. Are you more focused on self-preservation, social connections, or intimate relationships?

• Balancing Instincts: Acknowledge the strengths and blind spots of your subtype. Strive for a healthy balance among all three instincts.

• Growth Pathways: Explore how your subtype influences your Enneagram type. Dive deeper into the nuances to uncover growth opportunities.

Remember, the Enneagram is a powerful tool for self-discovery and transformation. By understanding subtypes and instincts, we gain insights into our motivations, fears, and paths toward wholeness.