Personal Growth Coaching: Instinctual Variants
Every biological being has INSTINCTUAL VARIANTS. We are equipped with instincts to ensure our survival.
Each of the 9 types has the same 3 instinctual variants.
Mixing the instincts with the type's core motivation explains the variants within the types.
SELF- PRESERVATION to remain alive and resourced physically.
Personal Well-being
Resources/Practical Knowhow
Home Domestic/Nesting
SOCIAL to belong and feel connected to a group outside of ourselves
Reading/Interpreting people
Bonding/Affiliating
Contribution to others
SEXUAL (1-1) to assert ourselves in our environment and intimately with others.
Risk-taking/Adaptability
passion/fusion
intensity/broadcasting energy
Self-Preservation
Worry
This subtype is centered on improving and perfecting themselves. Their anger is repressed and mainly aimed inward which drives more worry, control, and focus on planning. This One converts their resentment into warmth, care, and friendliness toward others, which keeps others from seeing their inner critic.
Social
Non-Adaptability
Actually strives to be perfect, ensuring they have the "right" answer, do things the "right" way, etc. 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 a “know-it-all” expression. They can resemble Type 5s.
Sexual
Zeal
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 they have both the right and obligation to correct what’s wrong, esp in 1-1 relationships. They can resemble Type 8s for their tendency to be more impulsive and confrontational.
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Self-Preservation
Entitlement
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” or “clues” about what they want. This “seduction” is childlike. These Twos tend to be warm and care well for others while sometimes being needy and irresponsible in order to lure the help and attention of others. They are playful, cheerful, and charming.
Social
Ambition
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.
Sexual
Aggression/Seduction
Focuses mainly on seducing a partner to meet all of their needs. To them, this feels like love and profound intimacy. Emphasis on 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.
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Self-Preservation
Workaholism
Strives look good and be admired. Desire the same recognition other Threes do, but can feel badly for 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.
Social
Prestige
Focused on achieving and looking good while they're at it. They seek attention, influence, and social status more so than the other Threes. They enjoy being in the spotlight, and 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 how others view them.
Sexual
Charisma
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, and 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 as much. They put a strong emphasis on family.
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Self-Preservation
Tenacity
Not a "typical" 4. They prefer to deal with emotions privately, can be more stoic, and wear happy faces e 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 toward it. Physical aesthetics and material gifts mean a lot to these Fours. They appreciate effort and endurance.
Social
Outsider
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, 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.
Sexual
Infatuation
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 relationship, being "the all" to their partner, and can be possessive. They sometimes resemble Type 8s.
Self-Preservation
Isolation
They tend to be isolated within their own "castle/sanctuary", either mentally or in 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 most introverted of these subtypes.
Social
Specialist
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.
Sexual
Confidence
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 4
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Self-Preservation
Warmth
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 trust 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.
Social
Duty
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 the 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
Sexual
Strength/Beauty
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 an offense.” They can mistype as Type 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.
Self-Preservation
Getting Mine
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.
Social
Sacrifice
These Sevens don’t want to be seen 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 valued.
Sexual
Suggestibility
They envision something bigger and more spectacular than what is normal or realistic, constantly chasing the next intense thrill. Idealistic dreamers who live comfortably in their imaginations, 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.
Self-Preservation
Survivor
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 & provide for their family. They are often good at bargaining and bartering and can resemble Type 5s.
Social
Solidarity
Focuses on protecting and supporting others - a “helpful” 8. 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, and concerned with social injustices, while also being resistant to following society’s rules. They are more mellow and less quick to anger.
Sexual
Possession
They seek power relationally by being charismatic & 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 the “adult” all the time. They’re the most rebellious, provocative, and antisocial.
Self-Preservation
Appetite
This subtype merges with familiar routines, and physical comforts and dwells in a supportive environment where they are untroubled. They have their own pace, routines, and philosophy of life and will stubbornly resist the 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.
Social
Participation
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 of their cheerfulness and task orientation, but, they still struggle with inertia and fully knowing and
pursuing their own desires.
Sexual
Fusion
Fuses with another person. They take on the attitudes, 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 Types 4 or 6. They are kinder, more shy, gentle, and lack assertiveness. They take in the world with child-like awe and wonder.
