More Than Just Success: Type 3 SubtyPes
I’m fortunate to have taken a training on Instincts & Subtypes with Peter O’Hanrahan. He shared theories on how we develop a dominant instinct for either Self-preservation, Social belonging, or One-on-one relating. Said theories exceed the scope of this post, but Peter used a poignant metaphor I’d like to adopt—a 3 legged stool. He spoke of one’s dominant instinct as a “short leg” that throws the stool off balance. The key is to balance the stool by evening out these 3 legs—but how?
The first step is to know your Subtype, a.k.a your dominant instinct, so you can "check" the tendency to invest more energy in that instinctual arena. If you don't do this, you're pretty much sunk as far as working with these instincts (at least from my somewhat opinionated point of view).
Once you've learned to “check” the instinct you rely on most heavily/automatically, some energy starts getting “freed up.” Now you can redistribute that energy towards the other two instincts. I like to think of this as juicing up the secondary and tertiary instincts by “using them on purpose” - making conscious efforts to go forth and relate to the world through them.
With this in mind, let’s explore the subtype energies as they manifest for Enneagram Type 3s:
If you are an Enneagram 3, it can benefit you to understand how your task-orientation, achievement, forward-moving energy, competitiveness, chameleon-like abilities, self-deceit, and literally ALL components of your type structure get channeled primarily through a particular instinctual drive!
Where is your task-orientation and goal-setting “aimed?”
Is it aimed at acquiring wealth or material security/comforts, being the hardest working candidate for the job, and down-playing how how much you care about your image and achievements?
Is it aimed at acquiring “hard proof” of your many feats or contests won, adjusting your image to excel in various settings, living in lavishness, and gaining social influence within groups/organizations?
Or is it aimed at having an impressive mystique, affecting potential intimate mates, inspiring and motivating others, and “flipping the script” by becoming the prize that others compete for?
These are three very different ways of “living out” the Type 3 passion of Deceit. Your Subtype not only affects how others perceive/experience your “Three-ness,” but also the kind of self-work that will be most effective for you (and your specific expression of the type). Let’s dive a bit deeper:
Self Preservation 3: Security
This Subtype is the “buckled down” hard-working 3. The dedicated worker who gets in the zone, stays late, and maybe ends up falling asleep at their desk. For these 3s, task-orientation manifests as a highly practical, step-by-step approach to climbing the ranks. Stage A, then stage B, and so on—all the way to the top of the ladder. SP 3s somewhat prefer “keeping their nose to the grindstone." It can almost feel uncomfortable to stop working. This Subtype is less about achieving success through their appearance; they intentionally try to avoid being seen as vain. If anything, the image they cultivate is simply that of “the hard working professional.” They are less openly boastful than Social and One-on-one 3s. For these 3s, it truly is all about “the bottom line”—how much they can achieve in the way of material security. They find safety/satisfaction in the accumulation of wealth, rather than accolades. The paradigm of personal success and achievement is mostly a framework for relieving survival-based anxiety.
Social 3: Prestige
These 3s are all about accolades. The trophies/plaques that signify recognition for their accomplishments are of utmost importance—and ideally they’re on public display. They enjoy having a “trail of breadcrumbs” that leads back to their stack of victories and triumphs. These 3s are the workers of rooms. The “circular scanning energy” common to Social Subtypes is crossed with the task-orientation and achievement drive of Type 3. So they know how to have a “winning image” in most any context. These 3s can walk into a room, sense what the people in that room value, and then shift shape to “temporarily embody” those values. They know what others want them to be (at any given moment), and they’re good at being exactly that. What’s truly astounding about these 3s is that they can make each new “persona” every bit as likable, smooth, and charming as the last. This Subtype of 3 tends to be the most openly/fiercely competitive, and also the most assertive (or even aggressive) in going after their desired goals and outcomes.
One-on-One 3: Charisma
These are the “center stage” 3s. They strive to win the pageant of life by being the most charming, talented, and attractive contestant in the running. They tend to go for “movie star good looks” and charismatic appeal; a magnetic external presentation to draw others in. Riso and Hudson call this Subtype “The Catch.” For these 3s, competition and winning play out in the realm of impressing audiences and individuals, particularly potential mates. They can find difficulty with true intimacy “after the conquest is done,” fearing that others will see the cracks in their self-presentation. There's anxiety at the thought of being anything less than an ideal mate. This is the “most popular kid in school” archetype, the attractive-smooth-smart-sports-star, leader of the pack in the popular crowd. And these are also the “inspirational” 3s. They love motivating others to shine and be their best selves. Promoting others is a way to “achieve” in relationship. But of course they must first promote themselves as an attractive mate/friend/colleague, so they can draw in those people they strive to inspire.
To explore more about Type 3 and its subtypes join us at our next monthly workshop! You can see all of our upcoming events here. You can also work one-on-one with us by emailing us here.
*Shoutout to the Enneagram masters: I owe my understanding of Instinctual Subtypes to a long list of authors and teachers, but extra special credit goes to Peter O’Hanrahan, Helen Palmer, Beatrice Chesnut, and Ginger Lapid-Bogda