Understanding Enneagram Instincts: A Comprehensive Guide
When diving deep into the realm of personality typing systems, such as the Enneagram, it becomes evident that understanding ourselves and others is an intricate and rewarding journey. The Enneagram is a powerful tool for self-awareness and personal growth, offering insights into our core motivations, fears, and desires. A key element within the Enneagram framework is the concept of instincts, which play a crucial role in shaping our behaviors and actions. In this blog post, we will explore the fascinating world of Enneagram instincts, their impact on our lives, and how we can harness this knowledge to lead more fulfilling and authentic lives.
What Are Enneagram Instincts?
Enneagram instincts, also referred to as subtypes, are the underlying impulses that influence our behavior and drive our actions. These instincts are deeply rooted and play a significant role in how we interact with the world around us. The Enneagram theory identifies three instinctual variants, each associated with a primary drive:
- Self-preservation instinct: This instinct revolves around our basic survival needs, including safety, security, and material well-being.
- Social instinct: The social instinct emphasizes our need to connect, belong, and build harmonious relationships within communities and social networks.
- Sexual instinct: Also known as the one-to-one or intimate instinct, it involves intense connections, passion, and the pursuit of deep intimacy.
Each of us possesses all three of these instincts, but we tend to rely more heavily on one instinctual variant, shaping our behavior and priorities. These instincts interact with our core Enneagram type, creating nuanced expressions of personality within each type. Understanding our dominant instinct can deepen our self-awareness, empathy, and interpersonal relationships.
How Enneagram Instincts Influence Behavior
The interplay between Enneagram types and instincts yields nine distinct combinations, resulting in a nuanced web of behaviors, drives, and coping strategies. Let’s explore how instincts influence behavior within each Enneagram type:
Type 1 – The Perfectionist
Self-preservation instinct: These Ones tend to focus on their personal well-being and the maintenance of a structured, orderly environment. They may prioritize creating a stable and secure life.
Social instinct: Ones driven by the social instinct place importance on moral and ethical principles in communal settings. They often hold high standards for the collective and advocate for societal improvement.
Sexual instinct: The sexual subtype intensifies Ones’ passion and drive for perfecting themselves and their relationships. They seek deep connections and invest significant energy into building intimate partnerships.
Type 2 – The Helper
Self-preservation instinct: Twos with a self-preservation instinct often prioritize their own well-being so they can be of service to others. They may focus on meeting their own needs to ensure they have the capacity to care for others.
Social instinct: Social Twos dedicate themselves to creating a nourishing environment for their communities. They excel in networking, creating social harmony, and attending to the needs of those around them.
Sexual instinct: The sexual subtype fuels Twos’ desire for deep, intimate connections. They may be more focused on romantic relationships and invest significant energy into cultivating and maintaining them.
Type 3 – The Achiever
Self-preservation instinct: These Threes focus on their personal success and well-being. They excel at managing their resources, optimizing their image, and creating a secure foundation for their ambitions.
Social instinct: Social Threes strive to succeed within their social circles and often leverage their achievements for recognition and validation from others. They excel at networking and building influential connections.
Sexual instinct: The sexual subtype intensifies Threes’ drive for personal achievement, often prioritizing their desire for success in intimate relationships. They may channel their energy into building powerful alliances.
Type 4 – The Individualist
Self-preservation instinct: Fours with a self-preservation instinct may invest significant effort in creating a unique, aesthetically pleasing environment that nourishes their emotions and supports their self-expression.
Social instinct: The social instinct drives Fours to seek out and connect with like-minded others. They thrive in environments where they can express their individuality while still feeling a sense of belonging.
Sexual instinct: The sexual subtype intensifies Fours’ desire for deep, authentic connections. These Fours often express their individuality and emotional depth within intimate relationships.
Type 5 – The Investigator
Self-preservation instinct: Self-preservation Fives focus on securing their personal resources and creating an environment that mitigates potential threats. They strive to protect their privacy and autonomy.
Social instinct: Social Fives invest their energy in building intellectual and knowledge-based connections. They excel at finding like-minded individuals with whom they can explore and share their interests.
Sexual instinct: The sexual subtype fuels Fives’ desire for deep connections and intimate knowledge exchange. They may seek relationships where they can share their intellectual passions and pursue mutual growth.
Type 6 – The Loyalist
Self-preservation instinct: These Sixes prioritize securing their own safety and personal well-being. They often maintain a constant vigilance to ensure they are prepared for any potential threat.
Social instinct: Social Sixes invest significant energy in creating and maintaining harmonious relationships within their communities. They actively seek support networks and strive to build trust.
Sexual instinct: The sexual subtype intensifies Sixes’ loyalty and drive for deep, trustworthy connections. They may channel their energy into building intimate partnerships and alliances.
Type 7 – The Enthusiast
Self-preservation instinct: Self-preservation Sevens focus on ensuring their personal happiness and well-being. They may prioritize securing resources that allow them to maintain a sense of freedom and spontaneity.
Social instinct: Social Sevens thrive in group settings and invest energy in creating social connections that allow for adventure and fun. They build networks of like-minded individuals who share their enthusiasm.
Sexual instinct: The sexual subtype enhances Sevens’ drive for deep, intense connections. They seek relationships that provide excitement, passion, and a sense of shared adventure.
Type 8 – The Challenger
Self-preservation instinct: These Eights prioritize securing their personal power and well-being. They take charge of their environment, ensuring they have the resources and support necessary for their objectives.
Social instinct: Social Eights channel their power and influence into creating positive changes in their communities. They advocate for justice and fairness, often leading through their confrontational yet protective nature.
Sexual instinct: The sexual subtype fuels Eights’ desire for intense, passionate connections. They seek relationships that match their energy and drive, often building alliances based on mutual respect and admiration.
Type 9 – The Peacemaker
Self-preservation instinct: Self-preservation Nines focus on creating a stable, peaceful environment where they can find relaxation and comfort. They prioritize the harmony of their personal space.
Social instinct: Social Nines excel in creating and maintaining harmonious relationships within their communities. They emphasize inclusivity, teamwork, and a sense of belonging for everyone around them.
Sexual instinct: The sexual subtype intensifies Nines’ desire for deep connections and intimate partnerships. Nines may invest significant energy in building relationships that provide a strong sense of unity and shared purpose.
How to Determine Your Dominant Instinct
Discovering your dominant instinct requires reflection and self-awareness. While Enneagram tests can provide some guidance, a thorough examination of your motivations, fears, and desires is essential for accurate identification. Consider the following aspects:
1. Reflect on your primary focus in life.
Do you tend to prioritize personal security, building harmonious relationships, or cultivating deep connections?
2. Pay attention to your habits and behaviors.
Where do you focus most of your time and energy? What drives your decision-making process?
3. Consider your responses in stressful situations.
Do you instinctively emphasize protecting yourself, seeking support from others, or intensifying your emotions and intimate connections?
By engaging in deep self-reflection and considering these aspects, you can gain insight into your dominant instinct and better understand how it shapes your motivations and behaviors.
Using Instinctual Knowledge for Personal Growth
Understanding your dominant instinct is a springboard for personal growth. Armed with this knowledge, you can:
- Develop self-awareness: Recognize how your dominant instinct influences your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, allowing you to make conscious choices.
- Improve relationships: Understand the instinctual patterns of others to foster empathy, deepening your connections and building more meaningful relationships.
- Cultivate balance: Leverage the strengths of your dominant instinct while developing the underutilized aspects of the other two instincts, fostering personal and interpersonal harmony.
- Overcome limitations: Recognize instinctual biases, fears, and limitations to transcend them and embrace a more authentic, fulfilling life.
Conclusion
The Enneagram instincts offer valuable insights into the complex dynamics of human behavior. Understanding our dominant instinct allows us to navigate life with more awareness, flexibility, and empathy. By embracing the unique interplay between our Enneagram type and instincts, we can embark on a transformative journey of personal growth and build deeper connections with others. So, dive into the depths of your Enneagram instincts, unlock the secrets they hold, and embark on a life-affirming path towards self-discovery.
References
Table of Contents