MBTI and Enneagram Speculations, Part 3: The Head Triad

In conclusion to my speculation series on Myers-Briggs (often called MBTI) and Enneagram combinations, I give you part 3, the head triad, which I saved for last considering how controversial types 5 and 6 tend to be. If you haven’t read the previous articles, I invite you to check out MBTI and Enneagram Speculations, Part 1: The Gut Triad and MBTI and Enneagram Speculations, Part 2: The Heart Triad. If you have read the previous articles, feel free to skip the introductory sections of this one, since it’ll be basically the same.

Disclaimer

I’m not an expert on Enneagram. I’ve just researched it enough to feel like I have a reasonable understanding how various people interpret the types, and what defines them at their core. Bear in mind, I’m not claiming absolute certainty, since my understanding of the system is still evolving. However, my goal is to share my speculations on different MBTI and Enneagram combinations, based on my understanding of the cognitive functions.

Enneagram Basics

Enneagram is a system that defines 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 behavior that we do to an excessive or unhealthy degree. I think a lot of people fail to understand the implications of that.

MBTI and Enneagram Combinations: The Head Triad

Trauma is ultimately what determines someone’s Enneagram type. Yet, certain MBTI and Enneagram combinations are extremely common, while others are quite rare. I believe this has to do with one’s MBTI type having an innate style of cognitive reasoning that predisposes them to certain Enneagram coping mechanisms. Therefore, most traumas will push someone into a natural or common combination; but given the right set of extreme circumstances, someone can be pushed into an unnatural, or rare combination. Therefore, in theory, any MBTI and Enneagram combination is possible, although certain combinations will always be rare.

Enneagram 5 and MBTI Combinations

This is one of the exclusive types, that has become so extreme that some descriptions literally liken it to autism. In my opinion, Enneagram 5 is overly associated with intelligence, because it focuses too heavily on knowledge. In addition, it has become the embodiment of general head triad traits, to the detriment of types 6 and 7. So, I’m going to relay what I believe is the core of the 5, discarding all the excess that people having buried it under.

Enneagram 5 is tied to the sin of avarice, because these types hoard their intangible resources in an attempt to ensure that the world cannot overwhelm them. They fear being helpless, useless, and incompetent, so they’re going to actively ensure that this is never the case. The result is someone who is hyper-independent, minimizes their needs, withholds their intangible resources (time, knowledge, emotions), and avoids scenarios in which they’ll be perceived as incompetent. They become detached, isolated, observers, out of a fear to interact with the external world. These are the types that may have something valuable to share, but won’t, because they don’t want to over-extend themselves or because they don’t think they’re capable enough (or knowledgeable enough) yet.

From a Myers-Briggs standpoint, Enneagram 5 is most often going to be introverts, due to the fear to engage the world. These types default to living in their heads. In addition, the tendency to minimizes needs, which includes emotional needs, further exasperating the isolation and detachment, makes these types oftentimes thinkers. However, the fear to engage the world physically highlights the intuition function. So, the most common MBTI types associated with Enneagram 5 will the INTJ, the INTP, and any introverted type that’s prone to looping between their thinking and intuition function. In other words, the ISTP (Ti-Ni) and the INFJ (Ni-Ti). The ISTJ and the ISFJ seems much less likely, since they are sensing dominants.

Similarly, the ESTP 5s and ESFPs 5 should be extremely rare, as both extraverts and sensing dominants. To be possible, they would have to be trapped in a grip state. However, the ENTP and ENFP is plausible, because some unhealthy Ne dominants cut themselves off from the world, to explore possibilities (the internet today enables this). Robert Downey Jr’s Sherlock Homes is an excellent example of an ENTP 5. Of course, the ENTP 5 should be more common than the ENFP 5. Typically, Te leads one to enforce something upon the world, whereas Ti causes someone to fixate on their subjective ideas.

Lastly, EXTJ 5s and the EXFJ 5s should be as rare as ESXP 5s, if not more so. To be possible, the EXFJ would definitely have to involve gripping, and the EXTJ would probably have to be extremely insecure. After all, the EXTJ’s primary drive is to prove their competence through achievements and recognition. Therefore, their approach to life more like what you see from a 3 or an 8, rather than a withdrawn 5, who’s ensuring competence by withholding what would make them look competent. Meanwhile, the EXFJs are driven by a desire for community, or connection. The isolated and detached nature of the 5 is a stark contradiction to this desire. Either way, people with these combinations should be blatantly unhealthy.

The only types that I’ve failed to address are the INFPs and the ISFPs. As feeling dominants, I struggle to see these types as 5s. However, Fi dominants are often very private with their emotions, because Fi focuses inward rather than outward like Fe. Perhaps a Fi dominant could be a 5 if their trauma has led them to believe that their emotions are an obstacle, provoking them to minimize their emotional needs and indulge them as little as possible.

Enneagram 6 and MBTI Combinations

Enneagram 6 is a controversial type, similar to Enneagram 9. The optimistic normie is shoved into a type 9 box, while the pessimistic normie is shoved into a type 6 box. People argue frequently about what it actually means to be a 6. Part of the problem is that this type is described in a way that is underwhelming and unimpressive. So, as with Enneagram 5, I’m going to share what I believe is the core of type 6, and how that translates into various Myers-Briggs types.

Enneagram 6 is right in the center of the fear triad, but be careful that you don’t solely attribute fear to type 6. Types 5 and 7 are fear types as well. Enneagram 6s desire stability and security, which, to a certain degree, is a basic human need. However, the key to Enneagram is paying attention to how a type is coping with their core fear. Enneagram 6 are not drowning in anxiety. Rather, they are seeking security or stability in a proactive way. These types are cautious, thinking about everything, questioning everything, looking for problems, and/or accounting for everything. They want a stable external structure or people group to rely on, but they have to ensure it’s stable before they’ll rely on it. (I’m calling this out, because sometime these types are described as if they can’t think for themselves.) The type 6s need for stability, often leads them to be reliable and loyal individuals as well.

Type 6 most clearly links to SJs, which means ESFJ, ISFJ, ESTJ, and ISTJ. This is because high Si has an innate focus on security, while low Ne is used to account for all possible scenarios. These types naturally desire a consistent, stable lifestyle in line with their fully-formed expectations. And of course, the high extraverted judging function makes them focus on an external structure (Te) or external people group (Fe). They will anchor themselves to their chosen support system, and be loyal and supportive to it in return. Many type 6 descriptions seem written with SJs in mind.

Overall, Enneagram 6 seems closely related to judging types, because of the tendency to be cautious and overthink everything. Therefore, the NJs could easily be 6s. However, I would think extraverted NJs would be less likely because of tertiary Se. The ENXJs can be quite impulsive when confident. Similarly, the dominant Se users seem unlikely, unless they lack confidence and/or are prone to gripping. ESXPs usually excel at not overthinking everything, and as dominant extraverted perceivers, they should have a fairly good tolerance for instability. ISXPs are more likely to be 6s than ESXPs, because their focus is internal and introverts are generally less adaptable. Ti-Ni could lead to them to question, suspect, and doubt everything around them. (Any TP 6 would likely not be the apathetic type, in spite of that being often associated with dominant Ti.)

The NPs are an interesting case. They have Ne, which does run scenarios, but healthy NPs will run scenarios, realistic or fantastic, for fun rather than as a life necessity. Healthy Ne is optimistic and adaptable. However, many NPs do identify as 6s, which would make sense if they’re prone to anxiety. The fearful NP would act more cautiously, and start running paranoid scenarios, similar to the way an SJ would, although some of the scenarios may be more wild and fantastical. These types would probably question/doubt everything, and even be argumentative (especially if an NTP), due to a need to find what is true and reliable. Many types 6s, but especially the thinker variants, will support their support group and/or identify a stable support group by being hyper-critical of it, seeking the flaws and weak points.

Enneagram 7 and MBTI Combinations

Enneagram 7 is a bit more straightforward. These types fear deprivation and pain, but they cope with this via excessive stimulation or activity. Enneagram 7s know what they want, and boldly pursue it. If they’re not busy doing things, they’re keeping their mind busy planning things that they will do. (If their mind is busy, they can suppress and avoid any pesky negative thoughts.) Enneagram 7s are optimistic, spontaneous, excitable, and even idealistic, because they avoid considering the negatives. However, they can also suffer from severe FOMO (fear of missing out). In an effort to avoid missing out, they may overcommit their time and energy, stretching themselves too thin. They often fall prey to being scattered and undisciplined.

The clearest link to Enneagram 7 is the dominant extraverted perceivers, or the EXXPs. Many Enneagram 7 profiles read specifically like an ESFP or an ENFP. The ESFP 7s will constantly pursue experiences or physical activity, while the ENFP will seek out novelty, such as dabbling in a variety of different hobbies. Their Fi will contribute the idealism, overwhelming optimism, and the strong preferences. Of course, many ESTPs and ENTPs relate to being 7s as well. These types will be similar to the EXFPs, but probably a bit more grounded and bit more practical, because the high thinking function will restrain the idealism a bit.

Since dominant extraverted perceivers are the most likely, the logic then follows that the next would be either the perceivers or the extraverts. Considering that Enneagram 7s are typically seeking outside stimulation, extraverts do seem like the most likely candidates. A focus on the external world is what defines an extravert. Ergo, the ESTJ, ESFJ, ENTJ, and ENFJ would be up next. Any one of these types as a 7 would be tapped into their tertiary perceiving functions, and probably prone to looping as a result. Although, an EXTJ is probably slightly less likely than an EXFJ to identify as a 7. An EXTJ, as thinking dominants and specifically Te dominants, would be less prone to the unyielding optimism and to over-allocating their time.

Next, we have the IXXPs, which would be the ISTP, ISFP, INTP, and INFP. Many argue that introverted 7s are not possible. I‘m not sure that’s true, although an introverted 7 would keep themselves busier than the typical introvert. An IXXP 7 would likely lean more heavily on the mental component of the 7, enjoying the planning aspect of their future adventures. They’d probably either constantly start new projects at home, or take the lone wanderer approach, being constantly out and about. An IXXP 7 would have to be confident in their extraverted perceiving function, causing them to display all the stereotypical perceiver tendencies. These types will likely be out of touch with their tertiary function.

I do struggle a little bit with the idea of an IXXP 7, because at what point is the Ne or Se so pronounced that it might as well be dominant? I’m not sure. Perhaps an IXTP 7 is prone to gripping under stress, because the inferior Fe might push them towards people and an extraverted grip state would exaggerate any other extraverted function in their stack. With that in mind, an IXFP 7 seems a bit less likely, because Te is less compatible with type 7. Plus, Fi dominants usually don’t completely avoid their emotions, including the negative ones.

Lastly, we come to the IXXJs, which would be the INTJ, ISTJ, INFJ, and ISFJ. These combinations should be incredibly rare. Since type 7 fixates on the extraverted perceiving function, an IXXJ would have to be prone to gripping for it to make even the slightest bit of sense. The type 7 profiles starkly contradict what a dominant introverted perceiver should value, which is caution and careful planning before taking action. IXXJs are the least impulsive of all the Myers-Briggs types. They often dislike spontaneity, and may even be prone to getting overwhelmed by too much activity/external stimulation.

In Conclusion…

Well, this got extremely long, and I was actually kind of restraining myself. Hopefully it all makes sense. I welcome any feedback or insights you might have. Perhaps, as I learn more about Enneagram, I’ll start putting out articles focused on individual Myers-Briggs types, describing how each Enneagram type would realistically skew their cognitive function manifestation. I see other articles online do this, but the descriptions are usually far too general and not catered to the Myers-Briggs type in any significant way. Anyways, let me know what you think!