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Home > Explore the Enneagram > Instinctual Subtypes > Type 8: The Protector
Type 8: The Protector
As a Protector, you move quickly from urge or instinct into action against opposition or obstacles to your sense of truth or justice. Your big, assertive, lustful, excessive energy drives an unremitting belief in your own strength and power. Simultaneously, you avoid weakness and vulnerability. Your lust energy gets acted out through the three subtype behaviors.
Self-preservation: Satisfactory Survival
You need adequate amounts of provisions and environmental security to assure satisfactory survival for yourself, your intimates and groups. If you give a party, for example, you might serve at least twice the food and beverages that your guests can consume. You assert big control over your own survival needs and those you protect. You are generous with them. Your tendency toward excess shows up everywhere. You don’t hoard things, but you want to make sure that what you “need” is available so that you won’t be deprived or dependent. You have control of your creature comforts and environment. Your motto for satisfactory survival is “Be prepared.” Taking charge of your creature comforts and environment gives you the illusion that you are invulnerable and in control. At your worst, this drives you to become preoccupied with never-ending demands for security and to excessive control or domination over the physical environment and those in it.
Social: Friendship
In the social domain the robust assertive energy (lust) tests for and builds true friendships with people who share your values and sense of justice. You develop camaraderie after you’ve tested the limits and seen that others can match your stamina and be counted on honorably for directness and feedback. You join in activities, events and social causes that take precedence over your personal needs. You are true to the group and influence it according to your own sense of justice, giving your vital energy unhesitatingly. Leadership seems to fall upon you. Together you struggle for justice and wins, all of which overcome any sense of powerlessness. You are like brothers and sisters in arms sharing a mutual respect and common purpose. These affiliations even overcome your loner tendency. At your worst, your intense absorption in social friendships, in community building, and in worthy projects can, paradoxically, dominate your life.
One-to-One: Possession/Surrender
As a Protector, your passionate lust energy wants to possess your intimate relationships. You want to know everything about your special other – mind, body and soul. You want to protect him/her and be consulted in significant matters. You can be highly physical. You wouldn’t think of your control and impact as dominating – you’re simply taking charge and care for special others who depend upon you. Your vitality and verve infuse every molecule of your intimates. In business, this takes the form of commanding presence, relentless competition and the power to do battle as necessary. Struggles over control let you know whom you can count on. Possession and potency with others verifies your power, strength and efficacy. After you have tested your intimates’ fettle and commitment, you can move to the polar opposite in your all-or-nothing style of attending. You can surrender control, trusting that you won’t be betrayed. At your worst, your intense energetic focus can lead to dominating and controlling relationships with the “my way or the highway” approach to life – an outcome you actually deplore.
Instinctual subtype descriptions:
For each type: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
By subtype: Self-preservation, Social, Sexual
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