First, read about the Enneagram and its nine core types here.
The Enneagram has nine core types that can be further broken down into groups of three, or triads. People also call them centers of intelligence. What this means is each triad makes most of their decisions using one area: their body or instincts; their heart or emotions; or their head or thoughts.
Gut/Instinctive Center: 8, 9, 1
Types 8, 9, and 1 most often use the gut (or body) center. They have a more instinctual drive and may not be able to explain why they did something until they really examine it. They’re more likely to have gut feelings and act on them. They tend to be grounded individuals with a strong presence and, when healthy, a desire to protect others.
Gut types are very aware of the self and when their boundaries between themselves and others blur. They seek autonomy, and their main emotion when their autonomy is threatened is anger. 8s externalize their anger; 9s repress it or are out of touch with it; and 1s internalize it.
Heart/Feeling Center: 2, 3, 4
Types 2, 3, and 4 most often use the heart center. They are driven by emotional connections with others. Their association with the world is more about relationships (healthy or unhealthy). They truly see and connect with others and typically have a warm, inviting presence.
Heart types are very aware of their image and how others see (or don’t see) them. They seek validation, and their main emotion when they don’t receive this validation is shame. 2s externalize their shame; 3s repress it or are out of touch with it; and 4s internalize it.
Head/Thinking Center: 5, 6, 7
Types 5, 6, and 7 most often use the head center. They are very observant, and are more likely to think about things long after everyone else has moved on. They’re very perceptive, but they also worry that they’re wrong about things. They think about and plan for the future.
Head types are very aware of all the things that could do wrong. They have more experience with anxiety. They seek security, and their main emotion when they can’t find that security is fear. 5s internalize their fear; 6s repress it or are out of touch with it; and 7s externalize it.
We use all three centers, but one of them leads the others. With the Enneagram, we can find balance by accessing other centers and learning from the other types.
This is part of my Enneagram basics series:
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