Fixation: Enneagram glossary definition
Short answer
In the Enneagram, a fixation is the habitual thinking pattern of a type, the mental groove that justifies and feeds its passion. The nine fixations are commonly named resentment (1), flattery (2), vanity (3), melancholy (4), stinginess (5), cowardice (6), planning (7), vengeance (8) and indolence (9). Fixations are tradition and have not been tested.
Where attention gets stuck
If the passion is the feeling that keeps repeating, the fixation is the story the mind tells to keep it going. A One feels anger (passion) and thinks, "This should have been done properly; someone always cuts corners" (fixation of resentment). A Seven craves the next experience (passion) and keeps mentally drafting itineraries and options (fixation of planning). The word implies a mind that keeps coming back to the same place, like a tongue returning to a sore tooth.
| Type | Fixation | Typical inner script |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Resentment | Things are wrong and I have to hold them to standard |
| 2 | Flattery | If I make them feel good, they will want me |
| 3 | Vanity | I am what I accomplish and how it looks |
| 4 | Melancholy | What is missing is what matters most |
| 5 | Stinginess | I must conserve what little I have |
| 6 | Cowardice | What if this goes wrong, and whom can I trust? |
| 7 | Planning | What is next, and how do I keep options open? |
| 8 | Vengeance | If I do not hit back, I will be controlled |
| 9 | Indolence | It does not really matter what I want |
Origins
How the term is used
"Ego fixation" is sometimes used for the type itself, especially in older or more contemplative circles: "My fixation is Six." Teachers also use the fixation as a noticing practice. When a Nine catches herself thinking "whatever, it is fine," she can ask whether that is peace or the fixation talking.
An example
A Two hears a coworker is having a rough week. Before he has decided anything, his mind is already composing a warm message, imagining how grateful she will be, and wondering whether she will come to him next time. Noticing that chain of thoughts, rather than the kind act itself, is what working with the fixation looks like.
Research
Related terms: ego fixation, passion, holy idea and core motivation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a fixation and an ego fixation?
They are usually the same thing. "Ego fixation" is the fuller phrase used by early teachers, and some people also use it as a synonym for type.
Are the fixation names insults?
They can sound harsh, but they describe habitual thought patterns, not character judgments. Teachers use them to help people notice, not to label.
How is a fixation different from a passion?
The passion is the emotional habit. The fixation is the mental habit that rationalizes and reinforces it. They are described as working together.
Sources
- Arica Institute, Inc. v. Palmer, 970 F.2d 1067 (2d Cir. 1992). Link
- Hook, J. N., Hall, T. W., Davis, D. E., Van Tongeren, D. R., & Conner, M. (2021). The Enneagram: A systematic review of the literature and directions for future research. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 77(4), 865-883. doi:10.1002/jclp.23097