Please read the previous blogs as this is a continuing series. Now that you have taken the Student Inventory (TPI) on www.janetlevine.com and discovered that you are an Attacher,  Detacher or Defender your curiosity is piqued and you want to know more about the model. This blog answers some of the most common questions I am asked by young people when they first encounter the E-model.
In Greek ennea means nine and gram graph or model. The Enneagram is a dynamic flow model of consciousness. Each of us defaults into one of nine positions arranged equidistantly on a circle. At each of these positions (called a Point) clusters of characteristics cling like pins on a magnet and contain the motivations for our behavior. (You can see a diagram of the model on many web sites. Do a simple search on the Internet.) However, no two people who are the same Point are in any way identical, so the E-model describes the nine behavioral clusters to the nth degree thus accounting for each and every individual difference. The E-model does not place people in boxes.
On the circle each Point is joined to four others, the two on either side of your own, called wings that flavor your E-type, and two others on the lines that flow toward and away from you; these lines are depicted as arrows and they are arranged in a triangle and a hexagon. The direction of these lines describe shifts in consciousness such as when you are under stress or when you feel secure. Furthermore (this is a complex model) there are two hidden arrows that join four of the Points, so everyone has one part of their personality in each of the head, heart and body-based triads. (Hence my name for the TPI or Triads Personality Inventory). The TPI explanation on my web sites describes the Triads.
The origins of the E-model are still somewhat sketchy. For many years it was thought to have Sufi (esoteric Islamic) origins, then, research even further back revealed that it may have originated in the work of the post-Alexandrian Desert Fathers in Egypt, and more recently some claim Vedic origins for the model (myself included), and that is as far back as we can find any record of our ancestor’s thoughts.
Many philosophers and philosophical traditions have developed systems of nine forms and a tenth called unity (in the example of the E-model–a circle). Plato devised his model of the Divided Line and placed his nine Universal Forms at the top level of cognition. The mystical Jewish Kabbalah with its nine sefirot encompassed within the form of a human body is another dynamic system that explains consciousness. (It has alignments with the E-model.) In the 12th to 16th centuries, neo-Platonists and Christian Kabbalists added important understandings to these models.
The current iteration of the E-model has been sculpted since the 1960s by psychologists and others in the United States and elsewhere in professions and disciplines that explore the human mind and consciousness. As a baseline they used the Diagnostic Survey Manual (DSM) knowing as they did so that the DSM describes pathologies while the E-model descriptors draw a bell-curve of normal to high-functioning people.
Shorter answers to your questions–the nine E-types are evenly distributed among females and males worldwide. No E-type is better than another they are equally valid. There is no E-Type that is “better” for you as a partner. We all have to work hard at all our relationships
We are born with our E-type. We cannot change it, but the characteristics do ameliorate with age. For most people age 15-25 is when the E-type is most flagrant. Knowing your E-type brings you immediate compassion and understanding for yourself and others.
How will knowing your E-type help you? Stay tuned.
janetlevine.com’s done it once more! Great read.
I really loved reading your blog. It was very well authored and easy to understand. Unlike additional blogs I have read which are really not that good. I also found your entries very interesting. In fact after reading, I had to go show it to my friend and he enjoyed it as well!
Beautiful blog with nice informational content. This is a really interesting and informative post. Good job! keep it up, hope to read your other updates. Thanks for this nice sharing.
I like this web blog its a master peace ! .
Heyy – I should say, I sure am happy with your website. I had no trouble navigating via all of the tabs and the information was really easy to gain access to. I discovered what I wanted in no time at all. Pretty awesome. Thank s alot!
I recently came across your web site and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my very first comment. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this website very frequently.
Wow, interesting! Has anyone else come across the same thing compared to this? I am curious where to find more responses on this matter…
I recently came across your web site and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my very first comment. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this website very frequently.
Wow, interesting! Has anyone else come across the same thing compared to this? I am curious where to find more responses on this matter…
I’d have to make a deal with you here. Which is not something I usually do! I really like reading a post that will make people think. Also, thanks for allowing me to speak my mind!
it was very interesting to read. I want to quote your post in my blog. Can I? And do you have an account on Twitter?
Fantastic job right here. I truly enjoyed what you had to say. Keep heading because you absolutely bring a new voice to this topic. Not many people would say what youve said and still make it interesting. Well, at least Im interested. Cant wait to see extra of this from you.
Yes you can quote this post with the proper acknowledgement.
This is really a extremely beneficial read for me, Have to admit you might be 1 in the most effective bloggers I ever saw.Thanks for posting this informative article.
How do you make this site look this sick. Email me if you want and share your wisdom. I’d be appreciative.
I completely agree with everything in this post. keep up the good work
Hi very nice little site you have right here 🙂 I work with the same exact template on my website and yet for whichever odd cause it seems to display faster on this site although the one you have carries a lot more content. Have you been using any specific plug ins or widgets that make it load faster? If you would possibly let me know the plug ins so perhaps I would try these on my resource blog so my fans could benefit I’d be stoked – thanks in advance.
Wow this is a great resource.. I’m enjoying it.. good article
Can you email me with any pointers about how you made your blog look this good , I would be appreciative!
This website is awesome. I constantly come across something new & different right here. Thank you for that data.
Truly appreciate you sharing this informative article. Great.
Well I truly liked studying it. This information offered by you is very helpful for correct planning.
You should definately write more about this! Please!
This web site is really a walk-through for all of the info you wanted about this and didn’t know who to ask. Glimpse here, and you’ll definitely discover it.
Fantastic publish. I discovered what I was searching for. Do you mind if I publish this on my web site and give you credit? If not, it is ok.
Thank you, go ahead with the proper attribution.
You made some clear points there. I did a search on the subject matter and found most guys will agree with your site.
I have been reading out a few of your posts and i must say pretty good stuff. I will definitely bookmark your site.
Just a fast hello and also to thank you for discussing your ideas on this page. I wound up inside your blog right after researching physical fitness connected issues on Yahoo… guess I lost track of what I had been performing! Anyway I’ll be back once again inside the future to check out your blogposts down the road. Thanks!
Great stuff from you, man. Ive learn your stuff earlier than and youre simply too awesome. I like what youve received here, love what youre saying and the best way you say it. You make it entertaining and you continue to handle to keep it smart. I cant wait to read extra from you. This is really a fantastic blog.
Congratulations on having 1 of the most sophisticated blogs Ive come across in some time! Its just incredible how substantially you can take away from a little something simply because of how visually beautiful it is. Youve put with each other a great blog space –great graphics, videos, layout. This is absolutely a must-see blog!
Took me time to read all the comments, but I really enjoyed the article. It proved to become Incredibly helpful to me and I’m sure to all the commenters right here It’s always nice when you can not only be informed, but also entertained I’m sure you had fun writing this article.
Cheers for this posting, guys, retain the fantastic operation…
I appreciated looking at your site thanks. I will add your blog to my blog reader so in the future I am able to read any more of your articles or blog posts.
Great read, thanks for taking the time to put it together.
I do value the quality of info you provide here.I have most certainly learned much from your posts and the comments in reply.
Excellent info you provide here.I have really learned much from your blog and the info visitors make.
This blog site has got some extremely useful information on it. Thanks for informing me.
Thanks for the info you publish here. Makes a really good resource for ideas
I don’t like to impress words and viewpoint most of the time, but yours just make me want to smile and say, go ahead keep me up to date together with your thinking, nice post by the way.
Thoughtful information you provide here. I will recommmend it as a top quality resource for ideas
I’m still learning from you, while I’m trying to achieve my goals. I certainly liked reading all that is written on your site.Keep the information coming. I enjoyed it!
Very useful ideas.Thanks for providing these comments.I have bookmarked your blog
When I am seeking ideas I always come to your blog. There are always many useful tips. Thanks
I do get good value from running through the comments and tips here. Thanks again
There are many great comments on this blog which i personally find very useful for my business. thanks.
Hello.This article was extremely fascinating, particularly because I was searching for thoughts on this matter last Saturday.
There are several good posts on this blog which i personally find extremely helpful for my company. thanks.
After several searches in the interent i found your site which gave me the exact info I need.
I’m still learning from you, but I’m making my way to the top as well. I certainly love reading all that is written on your site.Keep the tips coming. I liked it!