Type 1
a)The idealism of a 1 can have practical applications. Ones can be highly pragmatic, competitive and achievement-oriented. They're competency triaders, at the end of the day. Competition is overemphasized with regards to 3s, 8s and 7s. The attentional pattern of Type 1s shifts to evaluating their performance not just against their own standards but that of others as well. You'd be surprised at how competitive Ones can be.
b) Ones can uphold absolutely any ethical/moral framework. A 1 can be a gangster, a terrorist, a genocidaire, a ruthless entrepreneur, a promiscuous vagabond and the list goes on. As long as they're acting in accordance with their own values (to which they will adhere to their best capacity), a One's perfectionism can be channelized in any lifestyle/career choice or personality.
c) Not all Ones are stereotypically SJ-ish neat freaks or whatever. In fact, if a Type 1 feels that it is inflexible and morally unacceptable to impose order on others, they will be very insistent and stubborn about living in the most carefree/outwardly disorganized way they please. @
snail may attest to this.
d) 1s can be rather aggressive, pushy and even possessive. Sx 1s and Sx 8s can look very similar, on the surface. These 1s are said to have the mentality of a conquerer, and they're often described as "animals in heat". On a related note, and I touched on it briefly above, not all 1s are sexually repressed and prudish. I knew a couple who are former porn/sex addicts. And, I know several with very high sex drives and rather devious sexual inclinations by most people's standards lol. Point being, pigeon-holing a type into the stick up the ass school headmaster category or other such oversimplified characteristics leads to a myopic understanding of type.
e) Ones like Sixes, and even 8s, tend to be watchful of authority and can even be anti-authoritarian. In fact, I find that revolutionary leaders are over-typed as 6s. The whole rule bound slaves of social convention stereotype does as much of a disservice to understanding Type 1 as it does to Type 6.
Type 2:
a) Twos are rejection-triaders. Like 8s and 5s, they are power-oriented and independence focused. Unhealthy 2s can be clingy and guilt trippy, but these are actually strategies of control. They can have a tremendous amount of unmet emotional needs and expectations that they deny up to a point, because their self-worth is affirmed through receiving love and approval for their seemingly selfless generosity. When in fact, there are strings attached; and, the two will manipulate others into getting these emotional needs met. For all their outward positivity and even effervescence, 2s can be very angry and resentful inside. Despite their seeming gentleness/warmth, Twos know exactly where they stand and what they want. They are consummate power players who are poorly understood in online forum communities. Their prideful nature is often overlooked in favour of, foolishly, portraying them as overly placating and needy mother hens.
b) Social 2s are amongst the most ambitious and influential types on the Enneagram. It's not uncommon for social 2 (men usually) to mistype as 8s. They're often very assertive and can be aggressive.
Type 3:
a)There's a shitload of misconceptions surrounding 3s. The amount of approval they need is grossly and ridiculously overestimated. I agree with @
Swordsman of Mana. This has always annoyed me. 3s are not seeking anyone and everyone's admiration. 3s
primarily want the admiration, respect and attention of people crucial to their rise up the success ladder. Period.
3s are not adversely affected by the negative opinions of random fucks. In fact, 3s like 7s are very good at reframing negative feedback positively, unless it's expressed in a severely disrespectful manner or comes from a person who holds the key to some opportunity or another that they're after. Even then, they're fully capable of excavating what's useful and discarding the rest.
It's a joke to assume that 3s, as RH put it, live and die on the opinions of others. That's some bullshit. Most theorists of note have always emphasized the pragmatism of the type. And, no pragmatist falls apart at the mere hint of negative feedback. Sure, a 3 like a 7 and like most people would much rather receive affirmation, admiration and so on, but it is folly to think that 3s are extremely dependent on people's opinions in general. Nonsense, as I just said.
b) It is Type 7 NOT type 3 that is narcissistic at the level of fixation. The narcissism of a 3 is earned and affirmed through constant striving and effort. It is the 7 that is the true narcissist. I have written a post about this, which I will quote later.
c)Threes have underlying anxiety about staying on top of things. This anxiety is best covered in the works of Naranjo and Maitri, and it's very important to grasp if you want to understand the type.
d) Like 8s, 1s and cp6s, 3s can tend towards an authoritarian orientation. In other words, they gravitate towards positions where they have control, and they work towards maximizing that control. 3s prefer being in positions of authority, and do not entrust others to look after their interests and progress as well as they can..themselves.
Type 4
They're emotionally quite resilient. I'll add more about how 4s and 8s are more similar in some ways than is realized. But, that'll have to wait. I am somewhat preoccupied and there's much to say.
My sections on 6, 7 and 9 will be fun to write. I look forward to finishing up this post.
