Re: Is your type a result of "nature" or "nurture"?

Posted by John DiFool (4w5) on February 18, 1998 at 23:35:25:

In Reply to: Re: Not all enneagram observations on the webb are accurate! posted by Tasha on February 18, 1998 at 12:57:14:

Hmm...I would have to say..."a little of both."

One trial is not enough to form a conclusion, but, in my case, well, here
are the facts. My dad appears to have descended from a long line of type
Ones (I know his dad was, and, after looking at a photo of his stern-
looking granddad, I think he was as well), while my mom (a 2), the oldest
in her family, almost broke down and cried when I made the observation to
her to the effect that she seemed to have many responsibilities when she
was growing up.
As for me, I'm adopted. I don't know what I would have become if I
had been adopted in another family. After meeting my birthmother last
month for the first time(!), I can definitely see the similarities. We
both are emotional, march to our own drummer, and have a strong compassionate
streak, but she is a dedicated runner while I must be ENTERTAINED if I am
going to exercise any, or forget it. Too many things about me seem
innate-my imagination, my sensitivity (tho I am trying to accomplish the
difficult task of making my skin tougher without encasing myself in
umpteen layers of emotional armor!), even stuff like my 20-15 vision,
which must have made a difference somehow...
Anyway, the upshot of all this is that, perhaps in another family I
would have been a Two, or a Nine, or a dedicated Five. I doubt that I
would have been an Eight, definitely not a One (that streak is broken
forever!), maybe a Seven, too individualistic to be a Three or Six. Maybe
nature precludes some pathways while leaving others open but
nurture makes the final determination.

---John DiFool

"It's hard to watch the past drizzling past..."

---The Church

Follow Ups:

• Re: Is your type a result of "nature" or "nurture"? Claudia 01:46:33 3/05/98 (0)
• Re: Is your type a result of "nature" or "nurture"? Hunter Brooks 16:56:52 2/19/98 (1)
  • Thanks for the insights Michelle 14:17:15 3/17/98 (0)

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