Draft:Tritype

Enneagram figure, grouped by Instinctual Triads, also known as Centers of Intelligence.

The term Tritype (formed from Latin, [tri meaning three] and type referring to the Enneagram Types) is an advanced theory that expands on Oscar Ichazo's Enneagram of Personality. The Tritype term was created by Katherine Chernick Fauvre, an accredited with distinction Enneagram author, teacher, researcher, and transformational coach based on her 1994-1995 qualitative research conducted on the "internal experience" and "personal image"Self-image of the nine Enneagram personality types.

The research findings revealed that participants identified with the "core fears", "defense strategies," and "idealized image" of three, and not just one Enneagram Type.

Tritype Theory

Trigram: Interconnections of Enneagram Types by Tritype.

Tritype theory suggests that while individuals primarily utilize one of the main Enneagram Types as their ‘core type,’ everyone employs three Enneagram Types - the one that is the most dominant within each Center of Intelligence: the Head (5,6,7), Heart (2,3,4) and Gut (8,9,1) centers respectively).

According to Katherine Chernick Fauvre, individuals use their primary Enneagram Type along with two other types in a consistent, cascading, and repetitive hierarchical stacking order to produce a kind of ego intersection among all three types. Therefore, while each Enneagram Type within the Tritype is employed separately, combining all three Enneagram Types gives each Tritype a unique defense strategy (or way of defending against reality) and a specific focus of attention, in other words, an ego type unto itself or "Tritype Archetype" with its own worldview.

It is further proposed that combining the three Enneagram Types, one within each center modifies the characteristics of each Enneagram Type by amplifying some qualities they share in common and minimizing other qualities. The high side and low side interaction between these types further distinguishes each type as having a separate purpose. The high side of the Tritype intersection is that it gives the individual ego direction, focus, and purpose. The low side of the Tritype intersection is that it creates a blind spot that can narrow a person's ability to accurately self-assess and may even prevent a person from achieving a higher level of self-awareness by keeping them stuck in habitual and self-defeating patterns.

Like the Enneagram of Personality, Tritype remains a theory of motivation and not one of behavior.

Tritype itself, is the overarching theory that includes, 3Types, Trigram (symbol), and TriCenter (symbol).

Tritype Archetypes

Like the 27 Enneagram Subtypes introduced by Claudio Naranjo in 1971, there are according to Katherine Chernick Fauvre, 27 Tritype Archetypes.

By combining one Enneagram Type from each Center of Intelligence, 27 permutations are possible. Within each Tritype Archetype, there are six permutations. The following role names were the consolidated agreement of that particular archetype's combinations.

27 Tritype Archetypes

Tritype	Archetype	Permutations	Archetype Description
125	Mentor	125, 152, 251, 215, 512, 521	The 125 Tritype is diligent, caring, and knowledgeable. They value practical systems to measure results and care deeply about others. Despite a tendency to be particular, they always focus on improvement. They readily offer their time and energy when they think something is needed
126	Supporter	126, 162, 261, 216, 612, 621	The 126 Tritype is diligent, caring, and inquisitive. They prioritize ethics, support, and responsibility and are most comfortable following protocols. They seek to assist others and enjoy being recognized for their extra efforts. They enjoy being the power behind the throne.
127	Teacher	127, 172, 271, 217, 712, 721	The 127 Tritype is diligent, caring, innovative, and want to be ethical, empathetic, and inspired. Outgoing, goal-oriented, fun-loving, curious, and able to make tedious tasks enjoyable. They are stern at times but are lighthearted and enjoy teaching others.
135	Technical Expert	135, 153, 351, 315, 513, 531	The 135 Tritype is diligent, focused, and knowledgeable. They seek efficiency and wisdom, are highly rational, and enjoy finding ways to break down complex material. They excel at managing exacting details and seeing interconnections from an unbiased perspective and thus can at times seem unemotional.
136	Taskmaster	136, 163, 361, 316, 613, 631	The 136 Tritype is diligent, ambitious, and responsible. They focus on achievement and strive to be ethical and efficient. Highly dutiful and industrious, they feel obligated to create a successful image as dictated by society. They prefer a tried-and-true approach to everything they do and focus on finding certainty.
137	Systems Builder	137, 173, 371, 317, 713, 731	The 137 Tritype is diligent, ambitious, and innovative. They strive to be ethical, efficient, and upbeat and are self-motivated to achieve their goals positively and effectively. They are focused on success, constantly seeking ways to measure it and prioritize building a solid foundation for their endeavors.
145	Researcher	145, 154, 451, 415, 514, 541	The 145 Tritype is diligent, intuitive, and highly intellectual. They prioritize ethics, originality, and wisdom. They are motivated by research, seeking expert opinions to avoid ignorance. They enjoy deep study of topics that capture their interest.
146	Philosopher	146, 164, 461, 416, 614, 641	The 146 Tritype is diligent, intuitive, and inquisitive individuals who care deeply about helping others improve their lives. They have strong emotions and rely on their feelings and intuitions to make decisions. They strive to be ethical, original, and look for the best philosophy to guide their worldview.
147	Visionary	147, 174, 471, 417, 714, 741	The 147 Tritype is diligent, intuitive, and innovative. They are ethical, expressive, and positive, with a passion for making a difference in the world. They seek perfection and strive to improve standards that enhance lives. Their ideal utopia is where everyone contributes and lives by the same high standards.
258	Strategist	258, 285, 582, 528, 825, 852	The 258 Tritype is caring, knowledgeable, and protective. They are empathetic, intellectual 'people' persons who are both introverted and extroverted. They can be direct and easily move towards others but may 'over' give or pull away to recharge. This can be confusing to others.
259	Problem Solver	259, 295, 592, 529, 925, 952	The 259 Tritype is caring, gentle, and reserved. They prioritize harmony and aim to be helpful, wise, and peaceful. They seek companionship and avoid feelings of loneliness by focusing on the needs and concerns of others and can struggle with inaction when overwhelmed.
268	Rescuer	268, 286, 682, 628, 826, 862	The 268 Tritype is caring, protective, supportive, and are attracted to just and noble causes yet remain in charge of their world. They are great in emergencies and always want to help and shield others from harm. They want to know what the rules are in order to feel safe and to know when they can break them.
296	Good Samaritan	269, 296, 692, 629, 926, 962	The 269 Tritype is, friendly, and inquisitive. They enjoy engaging with people and take pride in being helpful, peaceful, generous, and getting along with others. Though they dislike conflict and can be too indirect, they are not as passive as they believe.
278	Free Spirit	278, 287, 782, 728, 827, 872	The 278 Tritype is caring, innovative, protective, and want to be helpful, outgoing, and nurturing to those in their circle and want the same nurture in return. They are also their muse, free-spirited, and enjoy creating a positive, action-packed environment around them.
279	Peacemaker	279, 297, 792, 729, 927, 972	The 279 Tritype is caring, innovative, and accepting. They're kind, optimistic, and focused on easy and comfortable relating. They use the sense of humor to smooth out difficulties and hate any form of conflict or strife. Their need for okay-ness can at times be seen as insensitive.
358	Solution Master	358, 385, 583, 538, 835, 853	The 358 Tritype is ambitious, knowledgeable, and tough-minded. They excel at finding practical solutions and prevailing against adversity. Winning is important to them, often coming up with functional and original solutions. Emotions are neglected in favor of logic.
359	Thinker	359, 395, 593, 539, 935, 953	The 359 Tritype is ambitious, knowledgeable, and accepting. They seek efficiency, wisdom, and peace. Intellectual and clever, they find amenable ways to manage difficult situations. They are private and often shy but can fit in well, being ambitious but still seeking subtle admiration.
368	Justice Fighter	368, 386, 683, 638, 836, 863	The 368 Tritype is ambitious, inquisitive, and protective. They're good readers of people and situations and can identify unjust authority. They are accomplished, loyal, and straightforward but may struggle with being too direct and outspoken.
369	Mediator	369, 396, 693, 639, 936, 963	The 369 Tritype is ambitious, curious, accepting, and seek balance, peace, harmony, and well-being. They are the everyman or woman; the good neighbor, friend, and coworker, the most adaptable to varying circumstances in order to feel connected with others. They are often perceived as nice.
378	Mover Shaker	378, 387, 738, 783, 837, 873	The 378 Tritype is ambitious, innovative, and protective. They are efficient, happy, and straightforward. A dynamic go-getter, they see the big picture and have the will to make it happen. Obstacles are seen as competitive challenges. They achieve whatever vision they have due to their “can do” personality.
379	Ambassador	379, 397, 739, 793, 937, 973	The 379 Tritype is ambitious, innovative, and accepting. Even if shy, they're outgoing and easygoing but strive for success and personal importance. They have great ambitions but approach them in an understated manner. They seek relationship with others, so, are friendly welcoming, diplomatic, and kind in their approach.
458	Scholar	458, 485, 548, 584, 845, 854	The 458 Tritype is intuitive, knowledgeable, and protective. They study what makes people tick, form strong opinions, and focus on interconnections others miss. They are interested in great works and ideals that stand the test of time.
459	Contemplative	459, 495, 549, 594, 945, 954	The 459 Tritype is intuitive, knowledgeable, and accepting. They value originality, wisdom, and peace. They are self-aware and reflective but also shy, reserved, and self-conscious. They need quiet time to process their emotions and thoughts.
468	Truth Teller	468, 486, 648, 684, 846, 864	The 468 Tritype is intuitive, inquisitive, and protective. They track subtle inconsistencies and are highly sensitive, calling off hidden agendas, deception, and ulterior motives. They may sometimes be overly emotionally intense but are fiercely loving and supportive.
469	Seeker	469, 496, 649, 694, 946, 964	The 469 Tritype is intuitive, inquisitive, accepting, and want to be original, certain, and peaceful. They are sensitive, struggle with self-doubt and uncertainty, and need multiple sources of confirmation. They seek understanding and are always in search of life's mysteries.
478	Messenger	478, 487, 748, 784, 847, 874	The 478 Tritype is intuitive, innovative, and protective. They are unconventional, passionate, self-possessed masters of solutions who are emotionally vulnerable. They see people and situations from diverse points of view and always need a creative edge to keep the momentum going.
479	Gentle Spirit	479, 497, 749, 794, 947, 974	The 479 Tritype is intuitive, innovative, and accepting. They value originality, positivity, and peace. They are tenderhearted, lyrical, and idealistic and are attracted to the healing arts. They are highly receptive and have their own distinct point of view.

How to find one's Tritype

According to Katherine Chernick Fauvre, there are two main ways to work with the Tritype material. The first is to study the differences within type by looking at the Tritype relationship to those sharing the same dominant Enneagram type, e.g., Type 1 has nine different possible combinations (125, 126, 127, 135, 136, 137, 145, 146, 147). The other is to compare the similarities between people with the same Tritype across different core Enneagram types, i.e. the Tritype Archetypal permutations, e.g., for the Mentor archetype, 125, 152, 251, 215, 512, 521.

Experiencing both positive and negative aspects is common for all types in Tritype, just like your primary Enneagram type.

Example 478 Tritype

478 Tritype: Core Fears

If someone with a Tritype of 874 finds that being assertive like an 8 is not working, they may attempt to adopt a more upbeat or optimistic attitude like a 7, and if that still doesn't work, they may look for purpose and significance like a 4, all of which happens in a fraction of second. The 8's fear of losing control is the driving force behind this process. If the 8 still feels powerless and unable to control their circumstances, then the 874 may feel overwhelmed and unfocused like a 7, and deeply dissatisfied like a 4. Therefore, this person has employed the strategies of three types from the three Enneagram Centers (Head, Heart and Gut), in the order of 874.

Research

Tritype theory was born of the results of the qualitative research gathered from Katherine Chernick Fauvre's initial explorations into instinctual subtype, core fears, self-image, language, spirituality, and intimacy, and pair bonding from 1994-1998.[1] After her analysis of the Enneastyle Questionnaire responses from her first research study on Enneastyle – then later in conjunction with the Enneacards Enneagram Test co-created with David Fauvre – she consistently noticed that individuals with the same Enneagram types described themselves similarly. These individuals also used the same or similar lexicon to communicate their internal states, self-image, and motivation strategies.

Katherine Chernick Fauvre’s initial qualitative research included 400 study participants familiar with the Enneagram covering all nine Enneagram types and all three instinctual types: self-preserving, social, and sexual (one-to-one).[2] It showed that each type, subtype, and Tritype has its preferred language or lexicon, even if English was a second language. Further research studies expanded to include a blind study of participants unfamiliar with the Enneagram and involved follow up typing interviews for a year to verify the validity of the original findings.

Testing instruments

To date, the test consists of ten testing instruments: one sentence completion (#1) test, seven hierarchical ranking tests (#2-8), and two interview approaches (#9-10).

1. Enneagram Questionnaire (open-ended answers)
2. Enneacards: Enneagram Type (ranking)
3. Enneacards: Instinctual Subtype (ranking)
4. Enneatypes (paragraphs) at a Glance(ranking)
5. Instinctual Type and Instinctual Subtype Chart Test (numerical data collection)
6. Instinctual Subtypes Test "6" (multiple choice)
7. Enneagram Statements Test (ranking)
8. Enneagram Type Sorter - Idealized Images and Core Fears (ranking)
9. In-Person In-Depth Inquiry Interview with Katherine Chernick Fauvre (validate and clarify online test results), and
10. In-Person follow-up interview where patterns were shared amongst non-related people .

Enneagram and Lexicon

Katherine Fauvre's "Enneastyle" 1994-1995 study revealed that the personal lexicon of research participants strongly indicates the dominant personality style, the instinctual subtype, and the individual's Tritype, regardless if English was the second language.

In 2004, David Fauvre commissioned a software algorithm to detect the complex patterns of language use found in the Enneastyle Questionnaires. The Language Classifier statistically validates that the language responses in the Enneastyle Questionnaire. According to Katherine Chernick Fauvre the findings not only demonstrate that each Enneagram Type speaks in its own lexicon, regardless of age, sex, race, education or culture, but also that individuals use the lexicon of all three dominant types in their Tritype and instinctual subtype.

Enneagram in Pair Bonding

Katherine Fauvre's research in 1998 on the "Enneagram Instinctual Types, Pair Bonding, and Intimacy"[3] focused on pair bonding and how the instinctual types create, develop, and maintain intimate bonds. The conclusion was that individuals utilize supporting instinctual subtypes in a predictable order based on their stacking hierarchy to search for and bond with intimate partners.

Of interest, when those very same instinctual subtype drivers are threatened, challenged or unmet, Tritype although always present is more evident when the defense strategies are triggered.

Mistyping and Mistrityping

According to Katherine Chernick Fauvre, accurately Typing and 'Trityping' occurs only when test-subjects focus on their idealized images, core fears, and defense strategies.

Most personality typologies are based on one’s behaviors. The Enneagram, however, is a personality typology based on the motivations that precede the behaviors. So the Enneagram reveals not “what” we do, but rather “why” we do it. What are the idealized images we have of ourselves? What do we do when we sense there is a threat to our image? Why do we do it?

When faced with the possibility of chaos, or a future threat, and a sense of doom, what do we do and why? Which defense strategy do we use when our image is diminished or negated and our core fears are inflamed? How do we react and defend our reality? Why? What is the deeper more hidden concern that we are protecting?

The natural tendency is identify with an Enneagram type and/or a Tritype archetype which is a good starting point. However, to determine one’s Tritype and core type, one needs to exclude behaviors, identifications, associations, and instead focus on "why you do what you do." To achieve this, proponents of the Tritype suggests "we need to observe what is beneath the behaviors; in essence, the core fears of the Enneagram types in the Tritype".

Tritype vs Trifix

Katherine Chernick Fauvre's 1994-1995 Tritype research found that individuals had the idealized images, core fears, and used the defense strategies of three types, not just one. The participants used the "full defense strategy" of the three Types in their Tritype including the "mental fixations" (mental preoccupations), the "emotional passions" (emotional reactivity), and the "visceral convictions" (physical sensations) of each Type.

On the other hand, Oscar Ichazo's "Trifix" is based on only the “fixations” (mental preoccupations) of the three types in the Trifix. These three types, are one from each Instinctual Triad (Center of Intelligence). In 1996, Katherine Fauvre met a teacher from Arica School who referenced Oscar Ichazo's teachings in a workshop. According to Katherine Chernick Fauvre, what was of note, was that the teacher mentioned that Oscar Ichazo had added the concept of "Trifix", a similar theory to Tritype to his Arica students in 1996. This validated Katherine Chernick Fauvre's findings that individuals use all three centers.

Furthermore, nothing was published on Trifix until January 1997 in the Enneagram Monthly interview with Oscar Ichazo titled "Setting the Record Straight", and nothing further was made available until 2019 when Oscar Ichazo published The Nine Constituents. In it are five general paragraphs without any reference to a head, heart, or gut type.

Because Ichazo added "Trifix" in 1996, it was therefore not part of the original dissemination in 1970 of the Enneagram of Personality, nor was it a part of Claudio Naranjo's Enneagram teachings in his Seekers After Truth groups (SAT Institute) from 1971-1972.

It was in 1997 that Katherine Chernick Fauvre discovered Oscar Ichazo's Integral Philosophy of Trialectics.

Bibliography

Enneastyle: The 9 Languages of the Enneagram Types - 1995, (2012, 2017 revision), ISBN 978-1-930054-01-1

Instinctual Subtypes: Self-Preserving, Social, and Sexual - 1995, ISBN 978-1-930054-00-4

The 27 Tritypes Revealed: Discover Your Life Purpose and Blind Spot - 2010, ISBN 978-1-930054-18-9