Callahan - The Enneagram for Youth
 

Type Six: The Defender

Personality Identification

What do I want most?

  • I want to belong, to be safe in my own kind of friendly group.

What is most important to me?

  • It is important to me that people be straight and fair with me.

What is the worst thing that could happen to me?

  • The worst thing that could happen to me is that someone I trust betrays me.

How do I see myself (on a good day)?

  • I am strong-minded, friendly, and cautious.

Path of Peace: Six (Defender) looks to Nine (Peacemaker)

When a Six makes the leap to trust in a Higher Power, it becomes peaceful like a healthy Nine, discovers its commonsense wisdom like a heatlhy Five, becomes expressive like a healthy Three, and is a self-starter like a healthy Seven.

I am peaceful.
[9. Peacemaker]
I am resourceful.
[7. Materialist]
I am loyal.
[6. Defender]
I am decisive.
[5. Watcher]
I am honest.
[3. Performer]

Path of Storms: Six (Defender) looks to Three (Performer)

When a Six gives in to its anxieties it disconnects from loyalty to others and becomes heartless like an unhealthy Three, confused and indecisive like an unhealthy Five, self-defeating like an unhealthy Nine, and dependent like an unhealthy Seven.

I am self-defeating.
[9. Peacemaker]
I am dependent.
[7. Materialist]
I am rebellious.
[6. Defender]
I am indecisive.
[5. Watcher]
I am cruel.
[3. Performer]

A Counseling Approach

  • Yes, it is important that you consider the consequences of an action before you act and to take both the credit and the blame for what you do. It is the adult way.
  • Yes, your wisdom makes itself known when you think about important things in a practical and responsible way.
  • Yes, when you are truthful with yourself and others life is much less complicated and confusing.
  • Yes, make your future happen by doing now what you need to do.


Rev. William J. Callahan, S.J.

The Enneagram for Youth
Counselor's Manual
Loyola University Press, 1992, 156 pages