Posted by Dave on June 26, 1999 at 22:25:03:
In Reply to: Re: Does dysfunction mask type? posted by Dave on June 26, 1999 at 09:58:26:
> My question is, does stress/personality flux/dysfunction, etc., mask type, or does it exaggerate type? If so, are there predictable paths of such, i.e., the triangulation of healthy/unhealthy modes is one of them.
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The enneagram is full of triangulations and triadic relationships. It was based on a trialectic logic and structure.
For example: The points on the circle represent a circulation of consciousness/energy/attention. These act in linear time in a clockwise fashion.
So, as a 4, let's say you walk into a party alone, and see your ex-love with their new squeeze. At first your 3 wing sparks into action (ie."God, I look foolish", "That's the loser s/he replaced me with? "), then you go into reaction and are attracted to point 5 ("If I'm alone no one can hurt me.", "I don't need him/her.", "I can't deal with these feelings so I'll feel nothing") which then leads to a synthesis at point 4 ("S/He never understood me. No one understands me.", "S/He will never have the depth of relationship nand feelings/bond we shared. Ours was a once in a lifetime love!").
Now, contrary to dialectics where the synthesis subsumes the other points, in a trialectic all 3 points are continuously active in a cycle. There is a function flowing between them. If that flow is stuck more on the 5 side, well that wing becomes more developed. Personality grows from where attention goes and energy flows. To the degree you unstick your attention and intention is to the degree you become more in essence (ie. living in liberated consciousness and higher thoughts and virtues).