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Re: Enneatype: Defense Mechanism?

Re: Enneatype: Defense Mechanism?

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Posted by Hal on July 01, 1998 at 09:50:13:

In Reply to: Re: Enneatype: Defense Mechanism? posted by Aislinn on June 30, 1998 at 20:23:46:

: Just a side comment from me, a 4w5. When I first took the RHETI I tested as a 7 (with high on both 4 and 5, but definite a 7). After I had studied the enneagram for some months I realised why I was acting like a 7 - and I now know I am not a 7 at all but a 4w5 struggeling with my defense mechanisms (disintegrating to 7, for example).
: That does not mean I have CHANGED personality, but I have leanred a lot more about myself and why I do what I do, and I have no doubt that I am a 4w5. When I do the test now, the 7 comes out a LOT lower, as I have started to learn not to act out in my wing's point of disintegration as much as I did before.
: I think it would be difficult for most people to answer the test a 100% honestly (or accurately) the first time, especially if one doesn't really know oneself as good as one thinks.

: -Aislinn

I see everyone's point, but I'm not convinced that your enneatype never changes.
If you act like a 7 and have motivations like a 7, does that not make you a 7?
And if you then "fix" those problems so you now act out of the motivations of
a 4w5, does this really mean you were a 4w5 all along, even though all evidence
suggested you were a 7?

In my own case, by all accounts I used to BE a 5. I felt like a 5, acted like
a 5, and everyone else could instantly identify me as a 5. Now I test as a 4,
and it feels right--it describes me, the way I am now, much better than 5 does.
And all my friends can see how much I've changed and moved towards 4. Has my
type not changed, even though my personality and motivations have? Have I
spent my life as a 4 in 5's cloting?

I guess my real question is this: if you can change personality, why is it that
you can't change type? Exactly what is the difference?

- Hal -

Follow Ups:

Re: Enneatype: Defense Mechanism? Dave 19:45:20 7/01/98 (0)
Re: Enneatype: Defense Mechanism? Geenius at Wrok 10:24:59 7/01/98 (19)
- Re: Enneatype: Defense Mechanism? Hal 09:34:40 7/02/98 (3)
  - Re: Enneatype: Question for Hal Summer 11:11:06 7/02/98 (2)
    - Re: Enneatype: Question for Hal Hal 15:31:19 7/02/98 (1)
      - Re: Enneatype: Question for Hal Summer 10:10:37 7/03/98 (0)
- Re: Enneatype: Defense Mechanism? Christy 13:01:50 7/01/98 (14)
  - Re: Enneatype: Defense Mechanism? Andy 13:32:02 7/01/98 (13)
    - Re: Enneatype: Defense Mechanism? Andy 13:41:45 7/01/98 (12)
      - Re: Enneatype: Defense Mechanism? Christy 14:51:09 7/01/98 (11)
        
        Re: Enneatype: Defense Mechanism? Andy 17:13:23 7/01/98 (0)
        
        Re: Enneatype: Defense Mechanism? Any 17:13:11 7/01/98 (5)
        
        Re: Enneatype: Defense Mechanism? Christy 09:37:57 7/02/98 (4)
        
        Re: Enneatype: Defense Mechanism? Andy 14:13:31 7/02/98 (3)
        
        Re: Enneatype: Defense Mechanism? Christy 14:56:21 7/02/98 (2)
        
        Re: Enneatype: Defense Mechanism? Andy 19:03:19 7/02/98 (1)
        
        Re: Enneatype: Defense Mechanism? Christy 09:21:28 7/06/98 (0)
        
        Re: Enneatype: Defense Mechanism? -Hal Aislinn 16:08:45 7/01/98 (3)
        
        more about 4's? Christy 09:45:48 7/02/98 (2)
        
        Re: more about 4's? Aislinn 04:01:50 7/03/98 (1)
        
        Re: more about 4's? Christy 11:15:12 7/08/98 (0)

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Comments:
: : Just a side comment from me, a 4w5. When I first took the RHETI I tested as a 7 (with high on both 4 and 5, but definite a 7). After I had studied the enneagram for some months I realised why I was acting like a 7 - and I now know I am not a 7 at all but a 4w5 struggeling with my defense mechanisms (disintegrating to 7, for example). : : That does not mean I have CHANGED personality, but I have leanred a lot more about myself and why I do what I do, and I have no doubt that I am a 4w5. When I do the test now, the 7 comes out a LOT lower, as I have started to learn not to act out in my wing's point of disintegration as much as I did before. : : I think it would be difficult for most people to answer the test a 100% honestly (or accurately) the first time, especially if one doesn't really know oneself as good as one thinks. : : -Aislinn : I see everyone's point, but I'm not convinced that your enneatype never changes. : If you act like a 7 and have motivations like a 7, does that not make you a 7? : And if you then "fix" those problems so you now act out of the motivations of : a 4w5, does this really mean you were a 4w5 all along, even though all evidence : suggested you were a 7? : In my own case, by all accounts I used to BE a 5. I felt like a 5, acted like : a 5, and everyone else could instantly identify me as a 5. Now I test as a 4, : and it feels right--it describes me, the way I am now, much better than 5 does. : And all my friends can see how much I've changed and moved towards 4. Has my : type not changed, even though my personality and motivations have? Have I : spent my life as a 4 in 5's cloting? : : I guess my real question is this: if you can change personality, why is it that : you can't change type? Exactly what is the difference? : - Hal -

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