Guide to the Enneagram Personality Types: Variations within type

Enneagram with Arrows

Enneagram Personality Type Variations

There are a number of concepts that describe variations within Enneagram type that explain why people of the same type can seem so different.

These variations within type can involve, among other things, influences from other Enneagram types, the Enneagram instincts, and levels of health or fixation.

When just starting out with the Enneagram types, it's generally best if you first get a handle on your basic Enneagram type before exploring the variations of type. Otherwise, you may get a bit overwhelmed in trying to figure out both type and all it's variations at once.

On the other hand, if you've spent a good bit of time on the types but still aren't sure about which is the best fit, the variations may offer additional details that can help you discover your type.

Not everyone finds all these variations useful. If it works for you then use it. If it doesn't then don't.

Click a topic below to learn more about that concept.

  • Enneagram Wings
    The wings produce two variations of type based on the influence of the types on either side (e.g., 9w1, 9w8).
  • Enneagram Instincts
    The instincts are generally considered to be three different survival strategies that we use to varying degrees (i.e., sp, sx, so).
    • Instinctual Subtypes
      The instinctual subtypes divide each of the nine personality types into three subtypes (e.g., sp 1, sx 1, so 1).
    • Instinctual Variant Stacking
      Instinctual variant stacking describes an individual's preferential order for the three Enneagram instincts (i.e., sp/sx, sx/sp, sp/so, so/sp, sx/so, or so/sx).
  • Enneagram Centers
    The Enneagram centers of intelligence can be used to identify three Enneagram types (your gut type, heart type, and head type).
  • Enneagram Stress and Growth
    The inner lines and arrows of the Enneagram symbol are used to represent movement between the types.
  • Enneagram Levels
    The Enneagram levels of development describe nine levels of fixation or psychological health within each type.

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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