MBTI and Enneagram Speculations, Part 2: The Heart Triad

People often debate which Myers-Briggs and Enneagram combinations are possible. A few months back, I wrote an article speculating on which Myers-Briggs personality types would make sense coupled with Enneagrams 1, 8, and 9 (also known as the Gut Triad). Originally, I was going to go over every single Enneagram type in one article, but it started getting way too long, so I decided to make it a series. Of course, since I’m incredibly bad at completing series, I’m only just now getting around to writing part two, which is MBTI and Enneagram Speculations, Part 2: The Heart Triad.

Disclaimer

I’ve never claimed to be an expert on Enneagram. However, I’ve looked into Enneagram enough to have a reasonable understanding of the system, and the various ways people interpret it. My goal is to share my thoughts on different MBTI and Enneagram combinations, based on my understanding of the cognitive functions. I’m not claiming absolute certainty. There could always be a scenario that I haven’t yet considered.

Enneagram Basics

Enneagram is a system built around describing how someone copes with their core fear. The profiles essentially describe an individual who is taking extreme measures to avoid ever getting close to experiencing their core fear (which may or may not be conscious). In other words, you might say that an Enneagram profile describes excessive, unhealthy behavior. I think a lot of people fail to understand the implications of that.

MBTI and Enneagram Combinations: The Heart Triad

Certain Myers-Briggs and Enneagram combinations are extremely common. I believe that this is because the cognitive reasoning of each MBTI type naturally aligns with specific Enneagram types. Nevertheless, trauma is ultimately what determines someone’s Enneagram type. I theorize that most traumas will push someone into a natural or common combination; but given the right set of extreme circumstances, someone can be pushed into a more unnatural, or rare combination. Therefore, in theory, any MBTI and Enneagram combination is possible, although certain combinations should be rare.

Below, I’m going to discuss each Enneagram type within the Heart Triad, and share my speculations on its cognitive function implications. Remember, these are just thoughts, not absolute stances. I’m open to having a rational discussion with anyone who is capable of doing so.

Enneagram 2 and MBTI Combinations

Enneagram 2s are the people who need to be needed. They try to earn people’s love by expressing their own feelings through both words and actions. These are the types going out of their way to help others, whilst simultaneously suppressing their own needs. (Although, they probably think they are getting what they need because they need to be needed.) Enneagram 2s are known for their generous, people-pleasing, and flattering nature, as they try to prompt others to reciprocate their affection.

Enneagram 2 descriptions read a lot like unhealthy high Extraverted Feeling (Fe), and specifically, proactive Fe. In other words, the ENFJs and the ESFJs (because of dominant Fe) would be the most obvious matches for Enneagram 2. However, the auxiliary Fe users (INFJs and ISFJs) could easily fit this type as well, although they may not feel as socially extraverted as descriptions makes 2s out to be. As introverts, IXFJ 2s would likely focus their attention on a narrower scope of people.

Of course, Enneagram 2 generally sounds like feelers, especially EF types, because they’re known for being outgoing and expressive on average. So, even though they lack Fe, EXFPs could make sense as Enneagram 2s. FPs can certainly be self-sacrificing people who desire love and validation. As Fi users though, it’d be more self-sourced. In other words, they’d be more aware of (and open about) their personal motivations than the FJs; and they would have certain consistent values they adhere to rather than overly adapting to others. IXFPs are probably the least likely of the feelers to be Enneagram 2, because they’re the most emotionally reserved and usually avoid letting others define their worth.

It seems unlikely that a thinker would end up being an Enneagram 2, but if it’s going to happen, the extraverts make the most sense. Logically speaking, EXTP 2s would have to be looping on Fe (due to whatever trauma happened in their life), causing Ti to be overridden and suppressed. EXTJ 2s should be rare, due to inferior feeling. However, if this combination happens to form, the EXTJ 2 would probably be insecure, struggling with self-esteem, and prone to gripping. They would use Te to fulfill people’s needs through acts of service, and inferior Fi would prompt them to seek validation for everything that they’re doing.

ISTJ 2s, INTJ 2s, INTP 2s, and ISTP 2s should be the rarest. Having high extraverted judging would make the IXTJs slightly more likely than the IXTPs due to lower identity (Fi), hence being more likely to suppress self for the group. However, the typical IXTJ is good at isolating their identity from others, and thus more likely to grow cold towards people, claiming that they don’t need anyone. Similarly, the typical IXTP (because of inferior Fe) is extremely averse to needing others and catering to people’s emotions, due to feeling disconnected from emotions in general.

Enneagram 3 and MBTI Combinations

Enneagram 3s define their worth through achievements. They desire admiration from others (which is different from desiring love like Enneagram 2s). They’re known for being ambitious, hyper-competitive, competent, self-assured, and image-conscious. Many are charming and even prone to people-pleasing as they strive to impress others and gain admiration. These types, like 2s, struggle with having a stable, self-derived sense of identity, because they adapt themselves to be successful in whatever environment they find themselves in.

Enneagram 3 descriptions align the closest with the descriptions of ESTJs and ENTJs. TJs, due to Te and low Fi, often define their identity and worth via external, verifiable achievements. The EXTJs, due to inferior Fi, are the most likely to lose track of their own personal sense of self-worth, resulting in an unstable, inconsistent identity due to an unhealthy need for external validation. The IXTJs can suffer from this too, since they are also high Te users. However, their tertiary Fi would be more insecure than what the typical IXTJ profile describes (due to whatever trauma in their life taught them that they were worthless without achievements).

The extraverts are the next most likely candidates. Many EXTPs relate to type 3, because tertiary Fe can make them image conscious, adaptable, and charming. TPs, because of Ti, are prone to defining themselves by what they do, because they analyze their identity in a detached way. Therefore, an EXTP can fall into the trap of feeling worthless if they’re unable to gain admiration from others while doing what they’re skilled at. (An EXTP 3 is likely to be mistaken for an EXTJ, because EXTP 3s will be more disciplined and ambitious.)

The EF types as 3s should be less likely (due to 3 sounding a lot more like a thinker), but not necessarily rare. An EXFJ 3 would seek worth and admiration through fulfilling a specific role or critical function within their chosen community. They would use their Fe to be charming, people-pleasing, and emotionally accommodating, but they’d probably be more analytical or strategic in their approach. They’d probably be better at separating themselves from emotions when necessary, and even dawning a critical, calculating persona (inferior Ti). On the other hand, an EXFP 3 would be fixated on tertiary Te, looking for external, concrete means to earn value and gain admiration. The EXFP 3 would probably have suppressed or insecure Fi, since they’d be looking to Te to define their worth.

INTP and ISTP 3s should be fairly rare, due to inferior extraverted judging. As inferior Fe users, these types can usually only make minor adjustments to their external image, because their internal sense of self comes first. (Bear in mind, most IXTPs don’t see themselves as identity-first, because their identity is based around logical rules/principles, rather than classic identity metrics). However, an IXTP is more likely to be a 3 than an INFP or ISFP, because IXFPs are the least adaptable when it comes to their image. As dominant Fi users, IXFPs are identity-first in every sense of the word, which means it should take an extreme scenario for them to suppress their own sense of self and self-worth in favor of what is externally valued (i.e. allowing others to define who they are).

Enneagram 4 and MBTI Combinations

Enneagram 4s fear having no identity or significance, which causes them to fixate on differentiating themselves from others. They desire a unique identity for themselves, one that is distinct from everyone around them. In the process, they over-indulge their emotions, feelings, and sense of individuality. Inevitably, this hyper-fixation on themselves and their personal distinctions isolates them from others, making them feel either defective, superior/elite, or alone. They struggle to find their place in the world. They’re known for being self-aware, reserved, melancholic, creative, emotionally turbulent, and emotionally honest.

Enneagram 4 descriptions align the closest with dominant Fi found in the ISFPs and INFPs. INFPs and ISFPs are identity-driven first and foremost, as mentioned in earlier sections. Inferior Te in the IXFPs can make them struggle to incorporate themselves into the world around them. They won’t know how to be effective in the real world without betraying their values or some aspect of their identity. EXFPs also have high Fi, so type 4 is plausible. However, an EXFP should be externally focused first and foremost. So, the EXFPs trauma would have had to force them to withdraw their focus from the objective world and fixate on their Fi, doubling down on their differences.

INFJs often type as 4s. Here’s my struggle with that. Fe innately seeks to belong to a community. FJs don’t naturally want to differentiate themselves from others, because their identity is often defined by a community/group/family or the value the FJ provides to it. They want to merge with others, and share in the collective emotional environment. The standard FJ won’t allow “identity” or individuality to get in the way of that need. So, if an INFJ is actually a 4, they’d have to be looping (Ni-Ti), and out of touch with their Fe. (Perhaps because their trauma has to do with being excluded or isolated against their will and best efforts.) The same can be said for an ISFJ. On the other hand, because EXFJs lack Fi and have Fe as their dominant drive, it seems extremely unlikely that they’ll be 4s, in my opinion.

For a TJ to be a 4, they’d have to be fixated on Fi. So, for an ISTJ or INTJ, that’d mean a loop. Since the IXTJs are already internally focused, as introverts, the idea of them being 4s seems reasonable. Of course, an IXTJ 4 would struggle more with effectiveness than a TJ should, due to whatever trauma prompted them to become a 4. With all that in mind, an EXTJ 4 seems pretty unlikely, due to inferior Fi devaluing individual identity and dominant Te prioritizing effectiveness in the real world. An EXTJ 4 would have to be prone to gripping on their inferior Fi.

The last group of personalities to talk about here is the TPs. There are some general high identity struggles found in Enneagram 4 that could be relatable to the TPs, especially the IXTPs. For instance, IXTPs might feel isolated from others, and over-indulge what makes them uniquely them. However, the contradiction between type 4 and being an IXTP is that IXTPs usually feel disconnected from emotion, including theirs. IXTPs don’t like to indulge their emotions. Therefore, an IXTP 4 would have to be prone to gripping or depression, causing them to be unusually emotionally-focused. EXTP 4 honestly seems like an even more unlikely combination than IXTP 4, because in spite of the higher feeling function, EXTPs are externally focused, causing them to fixate less on their internal world and adapt more to others.

In Conclusion…

I use terms like “probable”, “likely”, “unlikely”, etcetera because I do legitimately think any combination could happen due to an extreme enough circumstance. However, I also think that someone who has a rare combination will seem even more unhealthy or volatile as a person than a more common combination, because of the contradiction between their default cognitive priority and their coping mechanism. (For instance, type 4 dampens an EXTJ’s usual effectiveness.) Common MBTI and Enneagram combinations appear to cause someone to double-down on a strength they already have, which does result in an imbalanced person, but not necessarily an obviously unhealthy one.

Anyways, that’s all I have on this subject. I’ll try to get the final installment of this series out shortly. Let me know in the comments if you any thoughts!