THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SUBTYPES
This will be a document for explaining the differences between subtypes in the enneagram. It
is still in progress as I plan to do every single subtype in the enneagram, which will account
for 351 comparisons (the math is right don’t worry). Please be patient while I finish all of
these, and if you want to help out then message me on my discord terribletheivan. You can
also message me there if you feel like I haven’t done a good job on a comparison and tell
me what to change, I’m always open for discussions. Again, stay patient… This is a long
term project that should be finished around July this year according to my estimates.
CONSERVATION 2 VS SEXUAL 2
Just as the social Two seduces through the intellect and the conservation from tenderness,
the sexual one does it from the carnal. He is invasive and if he wants something, he takes it,
just like the sexual E4 or E8.
E2 conservation fears becoming helpless and not being able to support his basic needs on
his own. So he anchors himself in his most infantile part, looking for dependence and
authorization from someone to protect him.
The sexual E2 is afraid of being alone, so he is passionate about giving. Like the
protagonist of How to Be a Jewish Mother, a delirious metaphor of her eagerness to give
herself to her children, but also of how to create deep-rooted feelings of debt and guilt.
The E2 conservation person experiences love in relationships where she feels pampered
and protected, and the sexual E2 goes to eroticism, but always to nourish the pride of being
not just any lover, but an exceptional, unique, eternal lover that can fill the existential void.
If the sexual E2 attracts with all his sexual energy, with every part of his person, the
conservation E2 seduces with apparent innocence, with his naivety, with his ignorance and
inexperience. You cannot not protect someone so tender and helpless, who awakens the
maternal and paternal instinct. He gives himself less permission to choose and gets involved
in relationships devoid of erotic love.
SOCIAL 2 VS SOCIAL 3:
Social E2 can be confused with social E3 and, although subtle, there are decisive
differences. The image of the Three is more chameleon-like; on the other hand, the Two
pretends to adapt, as a means to achieve their goals. The E3 is more refined and
sophisticated, and the E2 is more flamboyant, with a more personal style, which can be
somewhat eccentric.
Three is more in control of his emotions, especially in public, because it is more important
to him that his image be damaged. The Two, on the other hand, in his self-aggrandizement,
does not see the consequences of his vehemence and condescension. If there is a conflict,
the E3 will keep the forms so as not to lose his image. The E2, more counter-phobic,
becomes passionate believing that he will be able to convince the other and ignores the
other and ignores the signals that indicate that he/she is in danger of being excluded.
Both are competitive. Three seeks recognition that he is good and competes to be valued
for it. The Two "knows" he is the best and wants to be given his rightful place. The E3
experiences anxiety and self-doubt for fear of not succeeding. The E2, however, is confident
that he will succeed: His crazy idea is that he does not need to compete, when he has been
competing all his life, with his father, mother, or siblings, even from a place of superiority.
By a certain pompous attitude, the social E3 individual could resemble the E2, especially the
social one, when he is very extraverted. But it is not that he loves everyone, or that everyone
loves him, as the E2 thinks of himself. Moreover, the social E2 feels a security that leads him
to show himself splendid, and has no contact with lack, whereas the social E3 easily
contacts failure or insecurity if he does not feel the gaze and confirmation of the other. The
social E2 believes that he is special for himself, while the social E3 needs to be recognized
by others to feel that he is important.
SEXUAL 2 VS SEXUAL 3
In seduction sexual E3 is compared to E2, with the difference that the latter does not need to
transform itself to please and, while the seduction of sexual E3 is focused on the ideal
image, that of E2 is more driven by the pleasure of erotic and sexual contact. The sexual E3
individual sends erotic messages just to attract; he is not ready to give what he promises. He
wants to be desired but not to be touched, because he validates himself in the desire of the
other. He distinguishes sex from love, and in sex he is concerned with what the other likes
and craves, and with doing it well.
Also the sexual E2 expresses their anger freely, while sexual E3 suppresses it.
SEXUAL 2 VS SEXUAL 8
These two subtypes are constantly compared in each book that’s available online, but very
rarely is it explained why they differ and how they differ. Both are anti-intellectual, and
express their anger freely. The best way to find a difference between the two is the sexual
E2s emotional intensity versus the sexual E8s sensory intensity. The E2 is fueled by pride
when seducing, as they do it just to fill their pride, while the E8 seduces just to fill their
sensory desires and needs.
2 vs 8: Though the proud can be impulsive, arrogant and disdainful, type 2 is definitely
emotional while type 8 is active. Type 2 is predominantly seductive, type 8 more oriented to
power and explicit dominance.
His aggressiveness is expressed in the form of impulsion in the action. Raising his voice,
buying the other with affection or whatever he lacks, making a scene and, similarly to the E8,
the end justifies the means and the intensity of the action leads to emotional disconnection,
which is sometimes confused with the lusty character. This whole mechanism hides the
difficulty in tolerating frustration, limits, and the word “no” as an insurmountable barrier; a
border that, in its exaggerated dimensions, feels like humiliation.
The sexual E2 is also mostly aggressive only when their needs aren’t met, while the sexual
E8 is naturally aggressive.
SEXUAL 2 VS SEXUAL 4
Sexual E2 is the most emotional. Sexual E4, also a specialist in dramatic and intense
emotional manifestations, has, however, a more intellectual component, because to exercise
competence he needs argumentation. In Sexual Two, the undisputable argument is his
emotion: things are a certain way “Because I feel that way”. This is his assertiveness, based
more on his feelings than on the cognitive and which, in his uninhibited drive, gives him a
false sense of security and the arrogance of achieving everything.
There is also the fact that the main difference between E2 and E4 is that E2 is inherently
proud and has a sense of superiority when comparing themselves to others, and E4 is
inherently shameful and has a sense of inferiority when comparing themselves to others.
They are both aggressive types, but that’s all that makes them similar.
CONSERVATION 2 VS SEXUAL 3
An E2 and E3 can always be differentiated in the way their self value is shown. E2s are very
prideful and already feel like they have the right to things, while having a very select few
individuals who they actually feel the need to receive praise from. E3s, on the other hand,
feel the need to prove their qualities to everyone, because they constantly feel like they are
unworthy of love, so they attempt to prove themselves again and again just to receive that
praise from people. And in the case of E3, they need everyone’s praise and compliments. It
can be said that E3 is in the middle of E2 and E4; E2 having that feeling of pride and feeling
worthy of all the love in the world, and E4 feeling constant shame and as if they don’t have
the right to wish to be loved.
SP2 and SX3 aren’t similar in most regards, and I don’t see a way to confuse them, so that’s
why I just explained the main differences between the core types, and not the 2 subtypes.
SOCIAL 2 VS SOCIAL 7
The greatest differences between these two types is the way they approach to “seduce”
another, and why they do it. While the social E2 approaches with an emotional
understanding of the other and emotionally manipulates them, the social E7 approaches with
a more intellectual and verbal manipulation, the two types visibly contrasting each other in
this manner. And the reason why the social E2 “seduces” is to fuel their own pride to give
them the feeling of importance, while the social E7 “seduces” to have people be in debt to
them in order for them to be able to indulge in their own gluttony which they instinctively
deem as bad.
SOCIAL 3 VS SOCIAL 7
Unlike the social E3, the social E7 is more aware of his fraudulence, of his intimate self so
different from what he appears to the other. The social Three totally identifies with his image,
while the social Seven knows something about his fraud, with the consequent invasion of
guilt.
SOCIAL 3 VS CONSERVATION 7
The conservation E7 is a rebel against authority due to their greedy needs. He believes that
authority is the enemy of his greedy desires, and therefore rebels against it. The social E3
doesn’t question authority much, even if he disagrees with it, because if he does, then his
image could be ruined, as he would never risk being hated for his opinions.
(Also SP7 is only EN types, while SO3 is only ET types)
SOCIAL 3 VS CONSERVATION 1
Conservation E1, before all, is still ennea-type 1, and that means they are constantly aware
of their flaws and try to fix themselves and others. Conservation E1 transforms that anger
into a fear-like state where he constantly worries about the state of something, fixing what
needs no fixing.
Social E3 is unaware of the fraudulent image they present themselves with. They will comply
with norms just to not be disliked, which goes against E1s rageful need for fixing what they
deem to be wrong. Social E3 will go along with events even if they believe them to be
immoral, while every subtype of E1 will express their anger towards those events and want
to change them.
CONSERVATION 3 VS CONSERVATION 1
To see the difference between these two types, we need to realize the main aspect of E1,
which is that they see themselves as imperfect and constantly improve upon themselves,
especially when talking about conservation E1. That completely goes against conservation
E3, as it’s only goal is to be there for others and to appear less vain, but even that supposed
goodness is fake, without being there for others they have no sense of self, so they
constantly try to help others to not look at their own selves.
The vanity of E3 conservation lies in doing and in the results it produces. Your motto might
be that there is no problem without a solution. The doing is constant, the agenda never ends.
The underlying thought is that if the agenda ends, «I don't exist». He is a person constantly
busy with something. He is not capable of stopping, of being alone without something that
occupies his mind, really his hands.
There is then no contact with oneself: "My being is doing." That is a source of suffering,
because he does not want to be recognized by himself... only that in reality there is no self.
SOCIAL 4 VS CONSERVATION 6
He is never the first to take the step, he is too afraid of rejection, but indirectly he does
everything to receive attention and physical contact from the other. To achieve this, he tends
to make himself "small" in the eyes of others. Thus, he sells a functional image of himself
that arouses tenderness in order to obtain protection. In these respects you can be confused
with the conservative character E6, although the difference between one and the other lies in
the strong invasion of emotions and the motivation for the recognition of the group.
In contrast to the strong passion of the sexual E2, or the dramatic love addiction of the E4,
the need for warmth in the self-preservation E6 is related to feeling part of a family, a homey
environment that counteracts the persistent sensation of coldness and abandonment from
childhood.
The difference between them is the reasoning behind their need for warmth. The social E4
needs it to fill themselves with love as they didn’t have any in their childhood, while the
conservation E6 does it to protect themselves by being “a part of something”.
CONSERVATION E4 VS CONSERVATION E6
The conservation E4 is a more rigid character than the warm E6. Conservation E4 does also
find warmth in groups but the E6 does so to be protected. The E4 would endure more than
ask for protection from anyone as they feel as if they do not deserve to be protected and
believe they should protect themselves.
SEXUAL E4 VS SEXUAL E6
The aggressiveness of the sexual E4 and E6 is different in the reasoning behind it. The E6 is
aggressive because they are afraid, so in their mind “offense is the greatest defense”, but
the E4 is aggressive because of their envy, because they feel inferior and will fight for what
they want.
There is also the fact that the E4s aggression is due to their emotionality, while E6 is a more
logical type that discards their emotions.
SOCIAL E4 VS CONSERVATION E4
The compensated lack of conservation E4 is accompanied by an intolerance towards the
feeling of weakness and a great personal effort not to feel need, which contrasts with the
lack of modesty of the social E4 in showing itself weak and needy.
In the other subtypes, this management of envy is diametrically opposite. In E4 conservation
(tenacious) this reactive expression is completely contained, even exaggerating the position
of control against instinct and viscerality. In the social E4 (shame) there is no daring to
express anger and hatred, not because they do not feel it, but because the person believes
that one is not going to be able to express those emotions and retroflects them, hating
himself and looking for other channels of expression, from the secret and hidden.
The social type 4 is the one that tends to behave, metaphorically speaking, in a childish way;
It could also be said that the sexual E4 has a certain tendency to behave like an adolescent,
making transgression his flag, and that the conservation E4 behaves like an old man.
CONSERVATION E4 VS CONSERVATION E3
To differentiate these two subtypes you have to look at the core of their respective
enneagram. The best way to see how they differ is to look at the way they present
themselves. E3 feels shame in their true selves so they become vain and fake an image in
order to be loved, while E4 doesn’t do anything to be loved because they feel as if they don’t
deserve that love.
Also there is the fact that E3 is an extraverted type, while E4 is introverted.
CONSERVATION E4 VS CONSERVATION E1
Although it is not difficult to confuse the search for perfection of an E4 conservation with that
of an E1, the E4 conservation accompanies this attitude with effort and dissatisfaction: the
search to be perfect or to do things perfectly is the consequence of a feeling of inferiority and
an attempt to compensate for the experience of being insufficient.
SOCIAL E4 VS SEXUAL E5
While depression in envy manifests as overt grief, the avaricious often have trouble in crying
or contacting their pain, so that their depression manifests, rather, as apathy and a sense of
emptiness. It may be said that enneatype V is a "dry" depression contrary to the "wet"
depression of ennea-type IV: just as avarice is resigned, envy is passionate. In this is
reflected a sharply differentiated feature: dry avarice is apathetic, wet envy, most intense; if
the one is a desert, the other is a marsh.
While ennea-type V involves an internal atmosphere of quietness, ennea-type IV involves an
atmosphere of turmoil and turbulence. The most characteristic aspect of ennea-type IV
character besides envious motivation may be seen in the tendency to self-victimization and
frustration.
We have to realize that even though the sexual E5 is the most in touch with their emotions, it
is still an E5.
SEXUAL E4 VS SEXUAL E8
One difference between the type of intensity of the sexual E4 and the E8 is that in the E8 the
search for intensity is more about the visceral and the concrete, and is less related to
fantasy: "This has to be mine and it will be." ». The sexual E4 is impregnated with emotions
to the point of feeling possessed by an emotion, while the E8 seeks sensory intensity. The
E8 takes what it wants and the sexual E4 is satisfied with imagining that it comes to it out of
its own merit. If you saw it, you wouldn't know what to do with it and perhaps you could only
reject it: there is no internal reference to deserving what is good, therefore it is difficult for
you to recognize and value it.
Revenge is also characteristic of the E8, who also represses his tender and weak part, is
aggressive, independent and dominant with the desire to control others, but differs from the
sexual Four with his inner experience of darkness, sadness, self-boycott and feeling of pain
and self-pity despite the appearance, moved from lack.
SOCIAL E4 VS CONSERVATION E5
There are very little similarities between these two types. The social E4 outwardly expresses
their shame and emotions while the conservation E5 keeps them inside and rarely ever
expressing them.
I cannot see any more similarities honestly, they are almost polar opposites.
CONSERVATION E4 VS SEXUAL E4
The conservation E4 and sexual E4 express their envy in almost opposite ways. While the
conservation subtype seeks to minimize his needs and bear all the shame and envy he has
without making a sound, the sexual subtype freely expresses his envy through anger and
hatred that comes from feeling inferior to the other.
CONSERVATION E5 VS CONSERVATION E9
Between conservation E5 and E9 the biggest difference would be the boundaries they set.
The conservation 5 (and E5 in general) places importance on boundaries, while the E9 is
more likely to “let people walk over them”. There is not much else to say since it’s not a
detailed difference but it is the main one.
SOCIAL E5 VS SOCIAL E7
To differentiate the social E5 and social E7 we need to understand the relationship between
these two types and their needs and desires. The E5 moves away from their desires while
the E7 moves towards them, almost as if it was captivated by them. The reason why the
social E7 might not seem as gluttonous is because it recognizes its own gluttony as a bad
thing and therefore attempts to act virtuous, but that itself is an act in order to mask the fact
that they are still just as gluttonous. The social E5 would never do this as it inherently
doesn’t act on its own desires.
SEXUAL E5 VS SEXUAL E7
It is common for people of this subtype to do something artistic. They also act motivated by
the irrational idea that "I can only be loved if I do something special." If you have any kind of
charm. We find here one of the most ingrained crazy ideas in his psyche: confusing love with
enchantment. Dynamics very similar to that of the sexual E7, with the difference that this one
invests a lot of energy to convince how special it is, while the five idealizes that other that
one day will discover him as a special being; meanwhile he saves his energy and is
paralyzed.
SOCIAL E5 VS SOCIAL E1
There really isn’t much similar between these two types. The key difference between E1 and
E5 is that the E1 critiques the world around it while the E5 critiques itself.
It might be said that the avaricious is internally perfectionistic rather than critical of the outer
world, but most importantly the difference between the two ennea-types lies in the contrast
between the active extroversion of the former and the introversion of the latter, (the
introversion of a thinking type that avoids action).
Also ennea-type I is demanding while ennea-type V seeks to minimize his own needs and
claims, and is prone to be pushed around in virtue of a compulsive obedience.
SEXUAL E5 VS CONSERVATION E6
Very different from the schizoid E5, who is a true loner, this character’s timid nature is more
like a type of stepping aside out of fear of annoying someone or out of insecurity, but truly
years for closeness and satisfies their need for emotional support with a few close
relationships.
While both the sexual E5 and conservation E6 long for a bond, the underlying reasoning is
different. The sexual E5 is mistrustful and seeks some sort of ideal of trust, unwavering. But
that is with one more person (it can be more but it is usually one), while the conservation E6
seeks a “family”. It seeks that bond to protect itself from the world it's afraid of. It becomes
warm to make people want to protect it, while the sexual E5 (along with the other subtypes)
appears a lot colder.
CONSERVATION E6 VS SOCIAL E9
They (ennea-type 6) have not built the ability to establish clear boundaries and they move
with extreme ambivalence between their desire to satisfy their own needs and fear of losing
the relationship with the other. Due to this fear, while the E9 has given up on maintaining the
difference between the self and the other —therefore solving the conflict—, the E6, invaded
by the threat constituted by the other, withdraws to protect the self, inhibiting any kind of
decision and, therefore, any action, whether it be at an interpersonal level with an external
other, or at an intrapsychic level with a self understood as the essential set of emotions and
needs of the other.
The biggest difference between these two subtypes is that the E6 wants to belong to a group
in order to feel protected, while the E9 wants to belong to a group to feel loved.
SOCIAL E6 VS E1
These types may seem similar in their rule enforcement and following a strict moral code,
the reasoning behind these two is very different. The reason why the social E6 does this is
due to fear, while the E1 feels like it has to be virtuous. The E6 adapts the rules of another
party while the E1 always has their own rules by which they judge everyone, even people in
power.
CONSERVATION E7 VS SEXUAL E8
While both have lustful needs and desires, the E8 is much more concrete and impulsive with
how it satisfies its lust. The E7 lives in a world of dreams and plans, while the E8 lives in the
“here and now”. There aren’t many similarities between these two types apart from the fact
that they both have a sort of insatiable hunger, so distinguishing between them should be
quite easy.
CONSERVATION E7 VS CONSERVATION E8
As mentioned in the last comparison, they are only similar in their desires, but with
conservation E8 they’re just more subdued, they are still a sensory motor type, which
contradicts E7s intuitive nature.
SOCIAL E7 VS SEXUAL E7
To separate these two types we should look at their manifestation of gluttony. The sexual
subtype will indulge in it on a whim, like a dreamer, without caring much for consequences
because he is practically unaware of his own gluttony. He seems oblivious to service (unlike
the social subtype), despite its good intentions. The social subtype, however, is almost hyper
aware of it, feeling shame in having such gluttonous desires, so in order to subdue them he
doesn’t act on them, rather trying his best to become a character of service, a virtuous
person. Despite that, the reason he does so is to have someone indebted to him, which
gives him a reason to indulge in his gluttony. He appears to want something for the greater
good, and even though he might want that something, his inner desire is more important to
him.
SOCIAL E8 VS CONSERVATION E8
SO8s are more cheerful / outgoing, advocates for others, higher sense of justice, meanwhile
the SP8 is more cold and withdrawn from others, rigid, only focused on obtaining it's own
desires and satisfactions, moves like a lion, meanwhile the former you'll find moving more in
a flock / leading other people.
SO8s are basically robin hoods, meanwhile SP8s are like the ones who would use others for
their own satisfactions and desires
SP8s are more tyrannical and focused on self-interest, keeping others at a distance,
meanwhile SO8s are more friendly and on the look-out for the common good.
CONSERVATION E8 VS CONSERVATION E9
I believe these two types share almost nothing in common. The aggressive E8 which
displays its anger the freest, and the passive E9 which, despite feeling anger, doesn’t
express it almost at all.
The only similarity is that they are gut triad types, but their expression of anger is completely
different, almost opposite from each other.
The E8 doesn’t tolerate being “walked over”, while the E9 endures it.
SOCIAL E8 VS SEXUAL E8
In relation to the other subtypes, the sexual one is more emotional, while the conservation
one is pure action and the social one is the only intellectual eight.
The most visible difference between these two is that the sexual E8 is the most
anti-intellectual, and the most impulsive E8. It acts according to its emotions, without
restraint. The social E8 is the intellectual subtype and the less antisocial one of them all.
The sexual E8 is also the most pleasure seeking one, the one that indulges in its lust the
most freely out of the other two.
SOCIAL E9 VS SEXUAL E9
The Social E9 is generous to everyone; he does for others. Sexual E9 also does but for the
partner, for the friend, for the family, not for a large and indiscriminate group. He chooses to
do only for people very dear to him; he only sees his feeling in one-to-one relationships,
opposed to the Social, who prefers group relationships.
The Social E9 seeks the good of being in the group and is used for the benefit of it all,
especially of those whom he perceives in greatest difficulty. The sexual E9, on the other
hand, doesn’t feel very good in the group because he cannot handle several people at once.
Conservation has a limit in his relationship with the group; is more transgressive and
provocative, can afford to criticize the other more openly, and join the conflict. Of the three
subtypes, the Social one is the one that seems the happiest. Apparently, the more satisfied,
the less outwardly null. He is much more talkative than the sexual one, who is frequently in
an inaccessible silence.
SOCIAL E1 VS SEXUAL E1
Both types wish to reform others to their own perfect standards, which even they themselves
struggle to reach, however the sexual E1 does it in a much more aggressive and demanding
way. It’s as if the restraint the E1 has towards their anger is almost lost.
The social type, however, is not aggressive, but rather cold. They set the rules for others and
demand them to be followed. Their expression of anger looks more like frustration than
aggression.
Add headings (Format > Paragraph styles) and they will appear in your table of contents.