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Enneagram Tri-Center 9-6-2: Gut Type 9, Head Type 6, Heart Type 2


Sections: Top | Tri-Center | Gut | Head | Heart | Tri-Focus | Learn More | Tests



The 9-6-2 Tri-Center

  • 9-6-2 Centers

    Your tri-center consists of your dominant type in each of the three centers of intelligence with a preferred ordering of the centers (types). The preferred ordering of the 9-6-2 is:

    1. Primary Center: Gut (Type 9)
    2. Secondary Center: Head (Type 6)
    3. Tertiary Center: Heart (Type 2)



Gut Type: Type 9

  • /-Based Center

    Type 9 is located in the 891 triad which is often described as the gut or body-based center.

    There are several ways to interpret what the gut or body types represent. They may be thought of in terms of sensory-somatic (bodily felt sensation), sensory-motor (physical movement and activity), or instinctual (gut decision making).

    This may involve taking action based on one's gut instinct, getting pulled along by the agenda of others, and actively trying to correct what's seen as wrong in the world.

    Type 9 often seeks physical comfort and routine. There can be an inertia when it comes to physical activity. When at rest they tend to stay at rest and when moving they tend to maintain that movement. In other words, they may stubbornly resist doing what they don't want to and fall into routines which they dislike having interrupted. They often have difficulty setting and following through on personal goals. Instead, there can be a tendency to get carried along on the energy and agenda of others.

    Type 9 Anger

    The anger triad consists of types 8, 9, and 1. Anger for these types involves the gut or body center. It can be thought of as an energy of will that pushes against obstacles to create movement or resists being pushed.

    This may involve pushing through obstacles to get what one wants, stubbornly resisting attempts to be pushed in an undesired direction, and getting people to see what's right and correcting things not done right.

    Type 9 is said to fall asleep to their anger. Because they generally don't have a strong personal agenda, they tend to simply go along to get along instead of making an effort to overcome obstacles in pursuit of a goal. However, they can push back in resistance, through a stubbornness or passive-aggressiveness, when they are confronted to do something they don't want to.


    To learn more about Enneagram personality type 9 click here.



Head Type: Type 6

  • /-Based Center

    Type 6 is located in the 567 triad which is often described as the head or head-based center.

    Although the head types can be thought of in terms of reasoning, analyzing, and other typical thinking functions, a useful distinction from the other two centers can be made in terms of anticipating and preparing for future possibilities.

    This may involve gathering data and facts in order to better predict outcomes, preparing for negative potentialities that might occur, and planning or pursuing activities that provide enjoyment and avoid discomfort.

    Type 6 thinking often leads to doubts and questioning. This can take place regard one's own thoughts as well as those of others. Some sort of assurance or guidance may be sought in resolving doubts and making decisions. This could come from people, authorities, or systems of thought that over time have shown consistency and been found to be trustworthy and reliable. There can also be a reactionary impulse to jump into action in order to purge any doubts or fears.

    Type 6 Fear

    The fear triad consists of types 5, 6, and 7. Fear for these types involves the head center. It can be thought of as a negative anticipation of future possibilities and wanting to prepare for or avoid those possibilities.

    This may involve learning as much as possible in order to feel competent and knowledgeable, imagining worst-case scenarios and preparing for them, and having alternatives available to avoid being trapped in discomfort or pain.

    Type 6 fear can come from imagining worst-case scenarios. This can not only create a cautiousness and seeking of security but also a prepared readiness for the possibility of these scenarios. A general anxiety and sense of doubt about the future and one's own capabilities may be present as well.


    To learn more about Enneagram personality type 6 click here.



Heart Type: Type 2

  • /-Based Center

    Type 2 is located in the 234 triad which is often described as the heart or heart-based center.

    The heart types are focused on interpreting, expressing, and reacting to one’s own emotions or the emotions of others. More specifically, the heart center focuses on what's emotionally significant in the sense that emotions are an indication of how strongly a person resonates with or against something or someone.

    This may involve being attentive to the emotional needs and desires of others, seeking emotional affirmation for oneself from others, and expressing one's own unique emotional impression of the world.

    Type 2 pays attention to the needs and desires of others along with their emotional states. They also can be very emotionally seductive in an effort to pull people closer to them or to manipulate others into giving them the response they desire. Because type 2 reads and expresses the emotional cues underlying the words being said, there can be a sense of knowing what someone is feeling even when it contradicts what the other person is saying.

    Type 2 Shame

    The shame triad consists of types 2, 3, and 4. Shame for these types involves the heart center. It can be thought of as a feeling of deficiency for not living up to a more idealized sense of self.

    This may involve initiating connection with others to avoid feeling unlovable or unimportant in the lives of others, finding value and worth through performance and accomplishment, and finding significance by cultivating and expressing one's uniqueness.

    Type 2 shame can arise when they are thought of as selfish, unlovable, unwanted, and unimportant in the lives of significant others. They want to be perceived as selflessly giving and caring as well as lovable and often have an unconscious need to be needed by others.


    To learn more about Enneagram personality type 2 click here.



9-6-2 Tri-Center Focus

  • Gut/Body-Based Center
    Accommodating-Questioning-Connecting

    The tri-center focus looks at your dominant type in each center through the core focus.

  • Gut Focus: Behavioral Accommodation
    Type 9 - Harmony through Behavioral Accommodation

  • Enneagram type 9 core center

    Type 9 Initial Self-Belief: “I am not in unity as I am.”

    Type 9 Compensation: "I must accommodate others' agenda and opinions in order to feel at ease and in harmony with them."

    Type 9 Core Focus: Harmony comes from getting along with others and falling into comfortable routines. This requires that I accommodate others by finding common ground and minimizing my own agenda when around others as well as finding comfort and peace of mind for myself.

    Personality characteristics that might arise from the type 9 core focus:

    • Loses sight of own agenda in favor of the agenda of others
    • Smooths over conflict in order to keep the peace and feel more at ease
    • Has difficulty establishing goals and following through on them
    • Struggles with inertia: getting going or changing course once underway
    • Gets lost in peripheral activities that don't serve the primary objective
    • Avoids creating separation from people by going along to get along
    • Supresses anger which may surface as stubbornness or passive-aggressiveness
    • Finds it difficult to prioritize because everything can seem equally important
    • Numbs themself through comfort seeking and getting lost in routine
  • Head Focus: Mental Questioning
    Type 6 - Assurance through Mental Questioning

  • Enneagram type 9 core center

    Type 6 Initial Self-Belief: “I am uncertain as I am.”

    Type 6 Compensation: "I must search for someone or something that I can depend on that provides the assurance to move forward."

    Type 6 Core Focus: Assurance comes from determining what can be trusted so that internal doubts can be resolved. This requires that I find something outside myself that provides support and can be relied upon by questioning the intentions and thoughts of authorities, systems, other people, and even myself.

    Personality characteristics that might arise from the type 6 core focus:

    • Plays the devil's advocate through contrarian thinking
    • Tends to notice what could go wrong in situations
    • Mentally prepares for worst-case scenarios
    • Becomes suspicious when people behave inconsistently
    • Projects imagined thoughts and feelings onto others
    • Can be very loyal once someone has earned their trust
    • Scans the environment and people for possible threats and danger
    • Disarms others through warmth and self-deprecation
    • Seeks advice and reassurance when making decisions
  • Heart Focus: Emotional Connection
    Type 2 - Appreciation through Emotional Connection

  • Enneagram type 9 core center

    Type 2 Initial Self-Belief: “I am unappreciated as I am.”

    Type 2 Compensation: "I must find appreciation from and connection to people by responding to their needs and desires."

    Type 2 Core Focus: Appreciation comes from responding to the emotional needs and desires of others. This requires that I read their unspoken emotional cues in order to find a way to connect to and support them. From this I also find my role in the world and others' lives.

    Personality characteristics that might arise from the type 2 core focus:

    • Represses own needs in service of others' needs
    • Desires to be liked and important in the lives of others
    • Shifts image to become what others desire or need
    • Gets their own needs met by meeting the needs of others
    • Emotionally seduces others to bring them closer
    • Feels more comfortable giving than receiving
    • Pays attention to emotional cues more than verbal content
    • Thinks they know your needs better than you do yourself
    • Unconsciously expects something in return for what they give





Enneagram Tests to Help Determine Centers

Enneagram Centers

The Enneagram personality types group the nine types into three centers of intelligence often referred to as the gut, heart, and head centers.

These tests help you find your dominant type in each center and the order of preference for those centers.

  • Dominant Type in Each Center with Wings Test
    This test determines your dominant type in each center (aka tri-center, trifix, tritype, truetype) along with the wings of those types.
    Use when you want to know your tri-center or tri-center with wings.

  • Enneagram Type Preference Test
    This test produces a scored list of all nine types.
    Questions are forced-choice, similar to the method used by the Riso-Hudson Enneagram Type Indictor (RHETI).
    Use to determine type, wings, gut/heart/head types, and tri-center.

  • Center Type Comparison Test
    This test scores the three types in a given center to determine your dominant type within that center (gut, heart, or head type).
    Use when you don't know your dominant type for one of the centers.

  • Type Comparison Test
    This test compares any two types, producing a score for each.
    Use when unsure of your tri-center order or which of two types is preferred for a center.


Click here for the Complete Guide to the Enneagram.

This free guide explains
  • the nine Enneagram personality types
  • the many type variations within type
  • where the types came from (origins and history)
  • how the types use the Enneagram symbol

Click here for Enneagram tests.

These free tests help you find your
  • primary type
  • candidate types
  • preferred wing
  • intinctual subtype
  • instinctual variant stacking
  • center types (gut, heart, and head)
  • tri-center with wings


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