The term Tritype refers to a subcategory or subset of the Enneagram of Personality theory and was coined by Enneagram researcher and coach Katherine Chernick Fauvre[1] and developed further in association with David W. Fauvre. The word tritype was formed from Latin, with the prefix tri meaning three,[2] and the word type added referring to the Enneagram types. The theory was initially inspired by Oscar Ichazo's teachings on a similar theory that he referred to as the "tri-fix",[3][4] yet the term Tritype emerged in order to distinguish the Fauvres' research and resulting theory from both Ichazo’s original teachings, as well as from the teachings of Arica.
Tritype theory suggests that while individuals primarily utilize one of the main Enneagram types as their "core type", everyone actually employs three central Enneagram types - the one that is the most dominant within each center of intelligence (the Head (567), Heart (234) and Gut (891) centers respectively). According to Katherine Fauvre, individuals use their main Enneagram type along with two other types in a consistent and cascading order, to produce a kind of ego intersection among all three types. Therefore, while each type within the Tritype is employed separately, the combination of all three types coming together gives each Tritype a unique defense strategy (or way of defending against reality) and focus of attention. While the Tritype is used to explain the distinctive way in which each individual manages life using various combinations of ego strategies and coping mechanisms, yet Tritype (like the Enneagram) still remains a theory of motivation and not one of behavior.
The Fauvres frequently refer to the "high side" and "low side" of these Tritype interactions and distinguish each as having a separate purpose. The high side of the Tritype intersection is that it gives direction, focus and purpose to the individual ego. The low side of this Tritype intersection is that it creates a blind spot which 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.
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The head center or the "mental triad" consists of Enneagram types 5, 6, and 7.
The heart center or the "heart triad" consists of Enneagram types 2, 3, and 4.
The gut center or the "instinctive triad" consists of Enneagram types 8, 9, and 1.
Katherine Fauvre’s major body of work on the Enneagram and Tritype began in 1995. At that time, she had initiated her research study on Enneastyle: The Nine Languages of Enneagram Type, which examined the internal experience and self-image of the nine Enneagram types. This research began with the Enneastyle Questionnaire. Initially this questionnaire was sent to 400 participants that were already familiar with the Enneagram, so that Fauvre could examine whether or not individuals with the same Enneagram types described themselves using similar language and symbology. Although Fauvre suspected some questionnaire similarities among those with the same type, what she discovered was the likelihood that Enneagram type was possibly determinable by simply examining word choice in self-description categories. In order to test this hypothesis, Fauvre then gave the questionnaire to those unfamiliar with the Enneagram, and subsequently and successfully determined their Enneagram Types based on the language similarities that she had observed in the first set of questionnaires. Participants were followed for one year to verify the validity of Fauvre's original typings. In 2003, following Fauvre’s initial research, Katherine and David Fauvre, developed the Enneacards Enneagram test.[5]
Tritype theory was born of the results of the research gathered from Fauvre's initial explorations into instinctual subtype, self-image, language, spirituality and intimacy. After her analysis of the Enneastyle Questionnaire responses – in conjunction with the Enneacards Enneagram test from the her first research study on Enneastyle – Fauvre noticed that individuals with the same Enneagram types described themselves similarly. These individuals also used the same lexicon to communicate their internal states, self-image and motivation strategies. Once Fauvre became familiar with the communication styles and word usage of each type, she also began to notice another pattern emerging in her research. Fauvre states that each individual expresses himself or herself using the language combinations that are distinct for the three different types that come together to form the Tritype. Analysis revealed through the use of the Enneastyle Questionnaire, Enneacards test results (measuring one’s dominant personality type, and Tritype), and follow up interviews, that Enneagram Tritype is an integral part of Enneagram Theory, as the two supporting types are illustrated and evident in the questionnaires through participants’ language and self-conception descriptions.[5]
In 2004 David Fauvre commissioned the creation of an algorithm to code software that would detect the complex patterns of language use found in the Enneastyle Questionnaires. Since that time, both David and Katherine Fauvre have tested the Language Classifier to determine type and Tritype using a variety of forms of written communication. The Language Classifier has been used to statistically validate that the language responses in the Enneastyle Questionnaire to not only demonstrate that each Enneagram type speaks in its own lexicon, regardless of age, sex, education or culture, but also that individuals use the lexicon of all three dominant types in their Tritype and instinctual subtype.[6]
Katherine Fauvre has published her research in Enneastyle: The 9 Languages of Enneagram Type, The Enneagram Instinctual Subtypes, and in The 27 Tritypes Revealed: Discover Your Life Purpose and Blind Spot and, to date, over 16,000 people have taken the Fauvres' Enneastyle Questionnaire, Instinctual Subtypes Test, and the Enneacards Test.[6] In addition, Fauvre has written articles for the "Enneagram Monthly", including one that documents her experiences and understanding of a workshop she attended with Claudio Naranjo in 1996.[7]
Katherine Fauvre states that the Tritype may or may not consist of the types in the lines of connection, or next to the dominant type on the Enneagram, however the first number in the Tritype is always the dominant type, followed by the next preferred types in the other two non-dominant centers of intelligence.[4][8] Therefore, having a "Tritype" means having one dominant Enneagram type in each center of intelligence.[3]
For example: the 548 or "The Scholar" Tritype[9] leads with the dominant Type 5 (in the mental center) and then utilizes Type 4 (in the heart center) and Type 8 (in the gut center) in that order. A Type 5 may or may not have Type 4 in their Tritype, despite it being a possible wing for the Type 5. Tritype types are employed to support the dominant type.
Fauvre states that research shows that the other types in the Tritype are employed for use when the dominant patterns and defenses are no longer effective. The Tritype is therefore usually only engaged when the defenses of both wings and all the lines of connection have been exhausted.
Another example: a person could be the 927 or "The Peacemaker" Tritype,[9] and after utilizing the dominant Type 9 strategies the person may move to their lines of connection (Type 3 and Type 7) as well as to their possible wings (Type 1 and Type 8). However, if these connections are not effective for the person, they may move to Type 2 and become more helpful, effusive and relational, and then move subsequently to Type 7 to utilize positive reframing, escapism or future planning in order to achieve desirable results.
Another 9 may have the 935 Tritype or "The Thinker" Tritype,[9] and this Tritype will present very differently than another 9 Tritype. The 935 will utilize the Type 9 strategy as dominant, but after exhausting wings and lines of connection, will move to Type 3 and become more expedient, professional or image focused, and then to Type 5 and become more cerebral, remote and concealed. This Tritype combination will seem significantly different than the 927.
Fauvre also states that aside from the employment of the other types in the Tritype, an archetype (see below) is created that illustrates why types of the same type, instinctual stacking, and wing can present differently.[10]
Fauvre states there are two main ways to work with 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. The other is comparing the similarities between people with the same Tritype, across different core Enneagram types. Either way, one is referencing the Tritype archetype.[10]
For example: Type 1 has nine different possible combinations (125, 126, 127, 135, 136, 137, 145, 146, 147). Through observation of how these different combinations of the Type 1 conceptualize and navigate the social world, distinctions will be noticed depending upon the types in the Tritype. The other method is to recognize the archetype of each Tritype combination. Fauvre posits that each of the 27 Tritype combinations illustrate a particular and individual archetype. These archetypes were observed out of the recognition of the similar core triggers, core fears, life purposes, blind spots and “growing edges” that seemed to personify how each Tritype navigated the world.[10]
For example: the 468 (486, 684, 648, 864, 846) has been deemed “The Truth Teller” by Fauvre.[9] Most research participants who identified this as their Tritype combination reported similar archetypal patterns that, according to Fauvre, warranted this title, such as the desire to track inconsistencies and call off hidden agendas and ulterior motives. According to Fauvre, each of the 27 Tritypes have a corresponding archetype that gives a "snapshot" into the archetypal life path of that particular Tritype combination.
The Tritype theory has been presented at the International Enneagram Association's annual conference in recent years. In July 2011 at the IEA conference, Katherine Fauvre presented on the Tritype archetypes she has observed as well as how they relate to the instinctual subtypes.[11]
| Tritype | Archetype |
|---|---|
| 125, 251, 512 | The Mentor |
| 126, 261, 612 | The Supporter |
| 127, 271, 712 | The Teacher |
| 135, 351, 513 | The Technical Expert |
| 136, 361, 613 | The Taskmaster |
| 137, 371, 713 | The Systems Builder |
| 145, 451, 514 | The Researcher |
| 146, 416, 614 | The Philosopher |
| 147, 417, 714 | The Visionary |
| 258, 582, 825 | The Strategist |
| 259, 592, 925 | The Problem Solver |
| 268, 682, 826 | The Rescuer |
| 269, 692, 926 | The Good Samaritan |
| 278, 782, 827 | The Free Spirit |
| 279, 792, 927 | The Peacemaker |
| 358, 583, 835 | The Solution Master |
| 359, 593, 935 | The Thinker |
| 368, 683, 836 | The Justice Fighter |
| 369, 639, 936 | The Mediator |
| 378, 738, 837 | The Mover and Shaker |
| 379, 739, 937 | The Ambassador |
| 458, 548, 845 | The Scholar |
| 459, 549, 945 | The Contemplative |
| 468, 648, 846 | The Truth Teller |
| 469, 649, 946 | The Seeker |
| 478, 748, 847 | The Messenger |
| 479, 749, 947 | The Gentle Spirit |
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