What Helps us Survive
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We are all biologically hardwired with three specific "Instincts" within us that are necessary for our survival - both as individuals and as a species. These three instincts are probably the least conscious aspect of our personality, yet they have a profound influence on us. The instincts also help us understand why individuals of the same type can look very different from one another.

The three Instincts defined by the Enneagram are:

Self-Preservation - focusing attention on individuality and independence, safety and security, adequate resources, maintaining well-being, avoiding danger, and survival.

One-to-One - (sometimes referred to as the "sexual" instinct) focusing attention on intimacy, creativity, passion, intensity, the quality of individual relationships, interpersonal attraction, and sexual connections.

Social - focusing attention on social relationships and community, forming and sustaining social bonds, and belonging to and recognition in social groups.

One of these instincts will be dominant for each of us, and the area of life that we will normally attend to first. Another instinct will be second and support our dominant instinct, and one will be third and the least developed and often avoided (and often a "blind spot"). The cake-like layers of these three instincts (first on top, second in the middle, third on the bottom) creates what is known as our "instinctual stacking".

The unique combination of type, subtype and instincts provide a well rounded and accurate insight into our character. Understanding them brings a sense of relief, acceptance and knowing of who we are and how we can grow and move forward.