Enneagram 6
The Loyalist | The Guardian | The Doubter | The True Believer | The Troubleshooter | The Traditionalist |
The Loyalist | The Guardian | The Doubter | The True Believer | The Troubleshooter | The Traditionalist |
Type 6 Overview
Type 6’s want to enable the best to manifest and the worst from occurring, with an elaborate scanning antenna that generates a variety of anticipating worst-case scenarios in order to be prepared should something go wrong. They may shrink from fear, go directly towards fearful situations, or both.
Basic Desire: To find security and support both within and outside of themselves
Basic Fear: Of having no support and guidance, of being unable to survive on their own
Holy Ideal: Holy Faith - The faith that both you and others can capably meet life’s challenges and having the courage to overcome fear through fully conscious action and knowing that there is meaning and certainty in the world
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Self-reliant | Courageous| Engaging | Reliable | Committed | Cooperative
Liberated 6’s let go of the belief that they must rely on someone or something outside themselves for support. They discover their own inner guidance and paradoxically achieve their Basic Desire (to find security and support, especially within). They then become truly secure with themselves, grounded, serene, and valiant.
Healthy 6’s focus on the environment to find support and to alert themselves to dangers. They are friendly, trustworthy, and engaging, seeking to build connection and stability in their world. Their Self Image: “I am solid, attentive, and dependable.”
Healthy 6’s reinforce their self image by responsibly working to create and sustain mutually beneficial systems. They form alliances with others, bringing thrift, hard work, and an attention to details. They are well-disciplined and practical, often foreseeing potential problems before they arise.
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Dutiful | Loyal | Ambivalent | Defensive | Authoritarian | Blaming
6’s begin to fear that they will lose their independence but also believe they need more support. They invest themselves in the people and organizations they believe will help them, but are uneasy about it. They seek reassurance and guidance in procedures, rules, authorities, and philosophies.
6’s worry that they cannot meet the conflicting demands of their different commitments, so they try to resist having any more pressure put on them without alienating their supporters. They are anxious, pessimistic, and suspicious, leading to greater caution, impulsiveness, and indecision.
6’s fear that they are losing the support of their allies and become extremely unsure of themselves, so they look for causes for their anxiety. They are embittered, cynical, and reactive, feeling that their good faith has been betrayed. They blame others and get into power struggles.
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Can be: Panicky | Unreliable | Paranoid | Lashing Out | Self-Destructive
Unhealthy 6’s fear that their actions have harmed their own security, and this may be true. Their reactive behavior may have causes crises in their lives, so they trust themselves even less. They feel panicky, depressed, and helpless, and so they look for something to save them from their predicament.
Unhealthy 6’s become so insecure and desperate that they begin to believe that others will destroy whatever safety they have left. They harbor paranoid fears and delusional ideas about the world. They rant about their obsessive ears and may strike out at real or imagined enemies.
The realization that they have committed acts for which they will likely be punished is too much for unhealthy 6’s. Guilt and self-hatred lead them to punish themselves, inviting disgrace and bringing down all that they hav achieved. In extreme cases, suicide attempts to elicit rescue are not uncommon.
Wings
6w5
“The Defender”
HEALTHY: 6w5’s at their best often excel at various kinds of technical expertise, making them outstanding practical problem-solvers, analysts, social commentators, teachers, and opinion leaders. They’re attracted to systems of knowledge where the rules and parameters are well established like mathematics, law, and science. They often have greater powers of concentration than the 6w7’s, although they can be narrower int heir concerns. Political causes and community service are areas of interest, and they often serve as spokespeople or champions for disadvantaged groups or individuals.
AVERAGE: 6w5’s in average health are more independent and serious than 6w7’s, and they’re less likely to go to others for advice. They are often loners and get reassurance from systems and beliefs, while remaining skeptical. 6w5’s tend to see the world as dangerous, leading to partisan stances and reactionary positions. Secretiveness can fuel suspicion, and they usually see themselves as rebellious and antiauthoritarian while ironically constantly being drawn to systems, alliances, and beliefs that contain strong authoritarian elements. 6w5’s are reactive and aggressive, typically tending to blame or scapegoat perceived threats to their security.
6w7
“The Buddy”
HEALTHY: 6w7’s at their best are engaging, funny, and less serious than 6w5’s. They tend to avoid “heavy” topics and restrict their focus to their security needs like taxes, bills, office politics, etc. However, they are very serious about commitments and making sacrifices to ensure the safety and well-being of their family and friends. They also enjoy good company, kidding around, and emphasizing their connections with others. 6w7’s combine interpersonal qualities with energy, humor, and a zest for experience. They can also be self-deprecating, turning their fears into occasions for joking and bonding with others.
AVERAGE: 6w7’s in average health are eager to be liked and accepted, but they are also more hesitant to speak out about themselves or their problems. While sociable, they are also visibly insecure and depend on loved ones for reassurance and advice before coming to important decisions. They have problems with procrastination and initiating projects on their own. They tend to get into diversions and distractions to quiet that anxiety including sports, shopping, and “hanging out” with others. Overeating, drinking, and substance abuse are possible. They are not particularly political, but can be opinionated and vocal about their likes and dislikes. Anxiety about personal failings or important relationships can lead to depression.
Subtypes
There are 3 instincts: Self-Preservation, Social, and One-to-One (AKA Sexual). We each use these instincts throughout our lives to survive and thrive; usually we use one of them quite often, one not much or not enough, and the other is somewhere in the middle. The strongest instinct is known as your “Dominant” instinct, which determines your subtype. So for each Enneagram type, there are three subtypes.
Many people know more about the wings than the subtypes, but each subtype can look very different from another subtype, even if they share the same core type. For example, Self-Preservation 3’s look VERY different from Social 3’s.
Self-Preservation 6
“Warmth”
SP 6’s have an intense need to feel protected from danger, often utilizing them family or a surrogate family or support group to provide this. They use their warmth and friendliness as a way to feel safe.
Can be confused with a SP 2
Social 6
“Duty”
SO 6’s focus on following rules, regulations, and prescribed ways of behaving within social environments or groups as a way to keep their behavior acceptable and not get chastised or punished by authority figures.
Can be confused with a 1
One-to-One 6
“Strength/Beauty”
SX 6’s deny their own anxieties and vulnerabilities by pushing against their fear, appearing bold, confident, charismatic, and sometimes fierce or fearless.
Can be confused with an 8
Arrows
Each Enneagram type has 2 arrows connecting it to 2 other types. These arrows express your direction of Growth and Stress, determining how you will likely act int hose situations. Understanding your type’s arrows is one of the best ways to use the Enneagram as a tool for growth (learning about your growth number) and how to cope with stress (learning about your stress number).
Growth Arrow: 9
When moving in a direction of integration (growth), fearful, pessimistic 6’s become more relaxed and optimistic like healthy 9’s.
Attributes of the 9 for 6’s to adopt:
Optimistic, relaxed, and peaceful
Trusting others
Peace within themselves and with others
Know that they are safe and secure
Quiet the “inner committee” of voices in their minds
In touch with their gut
Make decisions without needing permission from an outer authority
Stress Arrow: 3
When moving in a direction of disintegration (stress), dutiful 6’s become competitive and arrogant and 3.
Unhealthy attributes of the 3 a 6 might adopt under intense or prolonged stress:
Arrogance and competitiveness
Become controlling of others to manage their own anxiety
Work obsessively (or restrict themselves) to feel in control
Shut down and become completely passive, blindly follow authority, OR become aggressively rebellious
Want to dive deeper?
Get support on your inner work through 1-on-1 coaching, relationship coaching, group workshops, or figure out your type in a typing interview!
Resources:
The Wisdom of the Enneagram:
Book by Don Richard Riso & Russ Hudson
Do It for The Gram Podcast:
Podcast by Coach Milton Stewart
The Art of the Enneagram:
Book by Dr. Ginger Lapin-Bogda
The Enneagram Institute:
Organization & Website
The Art of Typing:
Book by Dr. Ginger Lapin-Bogda
Random Acts of Caroline:
An Enneagram Podcast (Yes, I added my own podcast to the list of references)