Instinct: Enneagram glossary definition
Short answer
In the Enneagram, an instinct is one of three basic survival drives said to direct where a person puts attention and energy: self-preservation (sp) toward safety and resources, social (so) toward belonging and position, and sexual or one-to-one (sx) toward intense connection. Everyone has all three, usually with one leading. The model is untested tradition.
Three drives under every type
Types describe a core motivation. Instincts describe a different layer: the arena of life where that motivation gets most of its attention. Two people of the same type can look strikingly different because one spends her energy securing the home and bank account, while the other spends his energy reading the room at every gathering. Tradition says the instincts are older and more animal than personality, which is why they are called instincts rather than traits.
| Instinct | Abbreviation | Focus | Typical worry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-preservation | sp | Body, health, home, money, comfort | Running out or being unprepared |
| Social | so | Groups, roles, belonging, reputation | Being excluded or losing standing |
| Sexual (one-to-one) | sx | Chemistry, intensity, a few deep bonds | Lacking a vital connection |
Where the concept comes from
How the term is used
"What is your instinct?" usually means "which one leads for you?" People write it before or after their type: sp 6, 6 sp, or so/sx 4 when they include a full stacking. Teachers also use instincts to explain mistyping, since a strong instinct can make a type look like a different number.
A short example
Three friends move to a new city. One spends the first week setting up the apartment, finding the cheapest grocery store and checking the bus routes. One joins a running club and a volunteer group before the boxes are unpacked. One ignores both and stays up until two in the morning talking with the one neighbor who turned out to be fascinating. Tradition reads them as sp, so and sx dominant.
Research status
Related terms: self-preservation instinct, social instinct, sexual instinct, instinctual stacking and subtype.
Frequently asked questions
Does everyone have all three instincts?
Yes, in tradition. The model says all three are present and needed for a full life. The question is which one tends to lead and which one tends to be neglected.
Is the sexual instinct about sex?
Not mainly. It refers to a drive toward intense one-to-one connection, chemistry and absorption in a person or passion. That is why many teachers call it the one-to-one or intimate instinct.
Can my dominant instinct change?
Tradition generally treats the dominant instinct as fairly stable, though life stages can bring another instinct forward for a while. This has not been studied.
Does the EnneaFox assessment measure instincts?
No. The assessment suggests a best-fit type and an exploratory wing. Instincts are covered as reading material only.
Sources
- Naranjo, C. (1994). Character and neurosis: An integrative view. Gateways/IDHHB.
- 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