Type 3 Initial Self-Belief: “I am not valued as I am.”

Type 3 Compensation: "I must become accomplished and prove myself to gain value and regard in the eyes of others."

Type 3 Core Focus: Esteem comes from being valued and having the positive regard of others. This requires that I not only package myself and perform in ways that will garner that recognition and positive regard but also find ways of measuring my success toward those ends.

Personality characteristics that might arise from the type 3 core focus include:

• Looks to external indicators for how well they're performing.
• Packages and markets self-image that's admired by intended audience.
• Pushes aside feelings that get in the way of achieving goals.
• Sense of self-value comes from what they produce or accomplish.
• Competes in arenas where there is someone to beat and someone to notice.
• Chamelon-like shifts of image occur to match situational expectations.
• Confuses self-presentation with who they truly are.
• Avoids failure by avoiding pursuits where failure is a possibility.
• Gives priority to goals and achieving them over other things.

SP 3 - Security, Company Man/Woman (counter-type): security through hard work, material success, and accomplishments; seeks recognition from others through effort not overt self-promotion; can overidentify with work role and career.

SX 3 - Masculine/Feminine, Charisma: presents attractive and pleasing image to others; promotes and supports important others more so than promoting oneself; success of significant others becomes one’s own success.

SO 3 - Prestige, Achievement: adopts the persona and image that garners respect, approval, admiration, etc.; can confuse persona and image with who they truly are; enjoys the spotlight and achieving success, reputation, status, influence as they climb the social ladder.

In the average range, Self-Preservation Threes feel that they must constantly work for security and stability and want to build up a base of material well-being.¹

In the average range, Sexual Threes are characterized by a powerful desire to be desired; not just sexual desirability, but an overall drive to be valued and wanted.¹

In the average range, Social Threes need recognition and reassurance that they are making progress, moving up in the world.¹

Security in the Area of Self-preservation: Threes are caught up with money and material ownership as a way to reduce anxiety about personal survival. Threes work hard to produce the money and status that provides security.²

Masculine or Feminine Image in One-to-One Relationships: Threes tend to adopt a sexually appealing image and are often aware of performing a role. Being recognized as physically appealing or as sexually potent is taken as a sign of personal value, and Threes can compete to be attractive in other people’s eyes.²

Prestige in Social Groups: Threes are preoccupied with presenting a good social image. Their personal presentation will alter to assume the valued characteristics of the group. Threes want to lead the herd.²

Self-Preservation Threes: Have a preoccupation with acquiring material security as a way to calm core anxieties about survival. Concentrate on doing well, having enough, especially of the right things.³

Intimate Threes: Mask themselves with an image of what a sexually appealing man or woman is. Image is based on community or cultural standards of desirability or a given partner’s expectations.³

Social Threes: Often extremely status-conscious. Most confuse their inner self with the world’s badges, honors and totems. Measure themselves by money, position, awards or results.³

Self-Preservation Three: "Security"
Wants to be admired by others, but avoids openly seeking recognition. Seeks a sense of security through being good, working hard, and being effective and productive.⁴

Sexual Three: "Charisma"
Focus is on achievement in terms of personal attractiveness and supporting others. These threes have a harder time talking about themselves and often put the focus on others they want to promote.⁴

Social Three: "Prestige"
Focus is on achievement in the service of looking good and getting the job done. They act out vanity through their desire to be seen and have influence with people.⁴

¹Book: The Wisdom of the Enneagram; Website: The Enneagram Institute

²Book: The Enneagram; Website: The Narrative Enneagram

³Book: The Enneagram Movie & Video Guide

⁴Book: The Complete Enneagram; Website: Chestnut Paes Enneagram Academy

Instinctual Subtype Test
This test compares the three instinctual subtypes for a given type.
Use when you know your type and want to find your instinctual subtype for that type.

Instinctual Variant Stacking Test
This test ranks the three instincts to determine your preferential order of the instincts.
Use when you want to know your instinctual variant stacking independent of type.