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.
Thanks very much for the info, nice post.
Good post, well put together. Thanks. I will be back soon to check out for updates. Cheers
I wanted to thank you for this great read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it.
Informative article, I am a big time fan of your site, keep up the informative work, and I will be a frequent visitor for a very long time.
Well said, I couldn’t write it better, pal!
Im impressed. I dont think Ive met anyone who knows as much about this subject as you do. Youre truly well informed and very intelligent. You wrote something that people could understand and made the subject intriguing for everyone. Really, great blog youve got here.
Thank you for this informative post. I have tried lots of different wine openers throughout the years. I have tried from original which is hard to operate to automatic, which would be good if it woudnt need batteries changed so often. I think the best choice would be Houdini Wine Opener. Corkscrews are removed just in fewtwists. Dont believe me?. You can dig deeper and see for yourself.
Hey, I think your blog is good
Howdy! You some kind of knowledgeable? Great message. Are you able to tell me learn how to subscribe your blog?
I hope that you are doing well- let me know if I can help in any way
Oh my goodness! a tremendous article dude. Thank you However Im experiencing situation with ur rss . Don’t know why Unable to subscribe to it. Is there anybody getting equivalent rss drawback? Anyone who is aware of kindly respond. Thnkx
Hey, I think your blog is good
Thanks for everything you do on this blog.
very helpful post, cheers!
Cool stuff here!
Bless you for the blog post, that’s some fairly useful information.
Im impressed. I dont think Ive met anyone who knows as much about this subject as you do. Youre truly well informed and very intelligent. You wrote something that people could understand and made the subject intriguing for everyone. Really, great blog youve got here.
Awesome, I like your post.
I definitely wanted to compose a note in order to say thanks to you for these magnificent techniques you are giving here. My rather long internet investigation has at the end of the day been recognized with excellent ideas to exchange with my colleagues. I would point out that most of us website visitors actually are really endowed to dwell in a remarkable place with very many wonderful professionals with valuable plans. I feel really happy to have come across your web pages and look forward to tons of more entertaining times reading here. Thank you once more for all the details.
This educational article encouraged me very much! Saved your blog, extremely great topics everywhere that I read here! I really appreciate the information, thanks.
Thanks for the information, helpful indeed. If I may, would I be able to use an extract or two on my article?
I was very happy to search out this web-site.I needed to thanks to your time for this excellent read!! I definitely enjoying each little little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you weblog post.
Thanks for the information, helpful indeed. If I may, would I be able to use an extract or two on my article?
Hey! I just saw one other message in another blog that looked like this. How have you learnt all these items? That’s one cool post.
Hello. I like this blog.
Hey, I think your blog is good
I started to follow your blog
Good post, well put together. Thanks. I will be back soon to check out for updates. Cheers
Interesting read, possibly the best post ive browse today. We learn everyday cheers to you!
Glorious submit from professional also it would probably be a wonderful know-tips on how to us and thank you numerous for posting this precious information with us all.
Thanks for the information, helpful indeed. If I may, would I be able to use an extract or two on my article?
I was pretty happy to locate this website.I wanted to say thanks for this fantastic read!! I was definitely enjoying every small bit of it and I have you bookmarked to have a look at new stuff you publish.
Hey. Nice Post
Im impressed. I dont think Ive met anyone who knows as much about this subject as you do. Youre truly well informed and very intelligent. You wrote something that people could understand and made the subject intriguing for everyone. Really, great blog youve got here.
I was very happy to search out this web-site.I needed to thanks to your time for this excellent read!! I definitely enjoying each little little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you weblog post.
Hey! That’s a extremely nice post. I’m very sure Ill recommend it to my co-workers.Should you publish extra posts please email them to me.
thanks for the post.Really thank you!.
Great post!
Good post, well put together. Thanks. I will be back soon to check out for updates. Cheers
I hope that you are doing well- let me know if I can help in any way
that awesome
Howdy! You some kind of knowledgeable? Great message. Are you able to tell me learn how to subscribe your blog?
Thanks for the info.
Good job and good website!
I have been reading the articles on this site for sometime. This is my first comment. Your blog has been very useful for me and it provides very good content.
Nice blog
I officially can’t hold out for this smart phone, just 2 days remaining and I simply hope I could get my hands on one,. I have been reading a lot about the Android two.2 update that can come in August, simply another reason to be psyched about this excellent phone. Motorola and Verizon say they will update the phone to Android 2.2 late summer. It will certainly be an over-the-air update. However out-of-the box on its July 15 launch it will probably have Android 2.1.
Hello. I like this blog.
Hey, I think your blog is good
Fantastic!