I Have An Access Code
The 3 Instincts

The Three Instincts...
explain why people of one Enneagram type are different

In Enneagram theory, the three instincts are fundamental survival drives that shape how each of the nine personality types expresses itself in the world. While all three instincts exist in everyone, one is usually dominant and influences behavior, priorities, and attention.

When each of the three dominant instincts combines with the core passion or motivation of each Enneagram type, they create three distinct subtypes per type. This blending of instinct and type-specific drive or “passion of the type” shapes a more detailed and specific expression of personality, adding depth and nuance to how each type shows up in the world. Each subtype reflects a unique variation of the main Enneagram type, influenced by where energy and attention are focused due to the instinctual orientation.

Three Instincts hero

An Example of Passion + Instinct

TYPE NINE’S PASSION – is referred to as “sloth”- which isn’t physical laziness but a tendency to “fall asleep” to their own priorities, desires and sense of self. Nines often “fall asleep” to their own inner world, merging with the agendas and preferences of others. This adaptive strategy helps them feel safe and connected, but can lead to self-forgetting, passivity, and difficulty asserting themselves or pursuing personal goals. Nine’s seek inner and outer peace and avoid conflict or anything that might disturb their sense of harmony.

Self Preservation Nine – This subtype “falls asleep” to their priorities by creating a cocoon of comfort—through food, routine, or familiar environments.

Sexual Type Nine – This subtype merges deeply with a partner or close connection, losing themselves in the relationship to maintain harmony and “fall asleep”.

Social Type Nine – are often very busy meeting the groups needs but “fall asleep” to themselves by merging with group expectations or collective values.

Self Preservation icon

The Self Preservation Instinct

focuses on physical safety, comfort, health, and securing resources

The Sexual Instinct

emphasizes intensity, attraction, and deep connection with specific individuals.

Social Instinct icon

The Social Instinct

centers on belonging, group dynamics, status, and navigating relationships within a community.

Self Preservation Instinct

The self-preservation instinct focuses on survival, shaping behavior around safety, comfort, and material security. It directs energy toward having enough resources, avoiding danger, and maintaining stability and well-being. Those with a dominant self-pres instinct prioritize physical needs like food, shelter, health, and routine. This instinct drives efforts to create a secure, structured environment that supports longevity, reduces physical risk, and ensures personal comfort in the face of life’s uncertainties.

For example, people with a dominant self-preservation instinct may get nervous and take snacks if they travel or do something where the food provision is outside their control.

Beyond these basic needs, the self-preservation instinct also focuses on whatever brings a sense of security and physical well being for a person’s specific Enneagram type — shaped by how it combines with the core passion of their type.

"The self-preservation instinct is the instinct in all of us to stay alive and healthy."

Sexual or One-to-One Instinct

The Sexual instinct, also known as the One-to-One instinct, shapes behavior around the quality, intensity, and depth of connections with specific individuals. It focuses on attraction, bonding, and emotional or energetic chemistry, often driving people to seek intimacy, passion, and transformation through close relationships.

This instinct channels energy into forming powerful one-to-one bonds — whether romantic, emotional, or intellectual — and prioritizes connection over comfort or group belonging.

Individuals with a dominant Sexual instinct are often attuned to interpersonal dynamics, desirous of intensity, and willing to take risks to pursue meaningful connection. Their sense of well-being is rooted in relational depth.

This instinct plays out differently depending on one’s core Enneagram type, influencing how connection, desire, and intimacy are experienced and expressed.

"Individuals with a dominant sexual instinct focus on one-to-one relationships to meet their security needs"

Social Instinct

The Social instinct shapes behavior around belonging, recognition, and relationships within groups. It directs attention to how individuals relate to their community, family, or peer networks, driving the need to “get along with the herd.” Social-dominant individuals are attuned to roles, shared values, and their standing within the group — whether through connection, influence, or contribution.

People with a dominant Social instinct seek meaning and security through interaction, collaboration, and participation, often prioritizing group harmony, being informed, and fulfilling social responsibilities.

Their sense of identity and safety is closely linked to their place and recognition within the collective.

This instinct also concerns power dynamics and relative status, which can manifest differently depending on one’s core Enneagram type.

"​The Social Instinct refers to the innate drive to find security through connection, and engagement within social groups."

iea Sponsor Image
Enneagram Compass logo

At Enneagram Compass, we help people unlock their full potential through the power of the Enneagram.

Enneagram Test
Support
Contact Us

Do you have questions or need support?

We’re here to help. 

Facebook Icon LinkedIn Icon

© 2025 Enneagram Compass Ltd.
All Rights Reserved.

Empowering Self-Awareness & Growth Worldwide

About the Enneagram

Enneagram Compass logo
What is the Enneagram?

Learn about how the Enneagram can help you better understand yourself and others.

3 Centers icon
Introduction to the 3 Centers

Discover the Head, Heart, and Body Centers and how they shape your core responses to the world.

Nine Types icon
Introduction to Nine Types

An overview of the nine Enneagram types and the unique traits that define each one.

3 Instincts icon
The 3 Instincts

Explore the three key instincts—Self-preservation, Social, and Sexual—and their influence on you.

27 SubTypes icon
Introduction to the 27 SubTypes

Explore the Enneagram’s 27 subtypes and how they refine the nine core types.​

Publications icon
Publications

Access books, articles, and resources from leading Enneagram experts to deepen your understanding.

Test For Clients

Test To Take Now

Admin Console

I Have An Access Code

Privacy Policy

We are fully compliant with the General Data Protection Regulation. Our servers are located within the EU so no data is sent outside the EU jurisdiction. Every individual has rights as to how their personal data is handled, and we recognize the need to treat all such data in an appropriate and lawful manner, according to the classification of such data. Personal data, including sensitive data, are subject to certain legal safeguards with the provisions under the GDPR and we fully comply with these legal guidelines.
 

All data (personal and otherwise) that we collect as a result of use of our Questionnaire based assessments is handled in accordance with the Privacy Policy outlined below and we can reassure you that we will not share that information for any use whatsoever other than to provide the service for which we have been contracted. This statement explains how we use the personal information that you give us. Please do not send us any personal data about anyone else without their permission.

 
Future Research and Direct Marketing Communications
 

We would like to be able to contact you in future with details of research projects we may be conducing; or in relation to further products and services that we think you may be interested in. We will only send you further emails in regards to our future research projects or marketing communications if you directly consent to us doing so- there is a specific question that asks for your consent. We will always contact you by email or other electronic means. We will treat your personal details with the utmost care and will never sell them to other companies for marketing purposes

We use MailChimp to send our email newsletters. By signing up to receive our email communications, you agree to the transfer of data to MailChimp and Active Campaign.

Updating Your Data, Erasure, and Requesting a Copy of Your Records
 

If you would like to:

  • Update your details
  • Withdraw your consent/opt out of marketing communications
  • Request erasure of the data we hold on you
  • Request a copy of the data records we hold on you (we will endeavour to fulfil the request within twenty four hours but no more than 14 days)

Please contact info@enneagramprofiling.com and we will respond within 48 hours.

Cookies

This site uses cookies – small text files that are placed on your machine to help the site provide a better user experience. In general, cookies are used to enable a client to return to the same place within a questionnaire should they be interrupted and have to discontinue the session.

Cookies can also be used to store information for things like shopping carts, and provide anonymised tracking data to third party applications like Google Analytics. As a rule, cookies will make your browsing experience better. We will send you a link to continue the questionnaire so cookies are not essential for you to enjoy our services. It may be that you may prefer to disable cookies on this site and on others. The most effective way to do this is to disable cookies in your browser. We suggest consulting the Help section of your browser or taking a look at the About Cookies website which offers guidance for all modern browsers

Data Security

At Enneagram Compass we demand the highest levels of data security. Our server provider has achieved ISO 27001 certification. We use Transport Layer Security (TLS) encryption (also known as HTTPS) for all transmitted data. Surveys can be protected with passwords and HTTP referrer checking. Our services are hosted by trusted data centres that are independently audited using the industry standard SSAE-16 method. The servers are protected by high-end firewall systems, and scans are performed regularly to ensure that any vulnerabilities are quickly found and patched.

In order to comply with GDPR we understand that data collected from the participant’s PC in Europe cannot be transferred to a server in another jurisdiction such as the US. So that we do not breach EU data protection law our server is located in Ireland. The data we collect in Europe is therefore stored and processed in Europe and is not moved to another jurisdictional area.

Disclosure – Sharing Your Data

We will not disclose your personal information to third parties except:

  • as necessary to fulfil your order(s) for our goods and services and to validate your payment details;
  • to suppliers that process data on our behalf;
  • to your coach or enneagram consultant who purchased a test on your behalf where we believe, in good faith, that it is necessary to comply with the law or to protect the safety of Enneagram Profiling, our customers or their clients, or the public.

We may use and disclose aggregated and anonymised information for marketing, product development, strategic or research purposes. In such data, no individual customer will be identifiable.

Credit Card Payments

For those using the site to purchase access to our services Stripe and PayPal are used to collect personal information related to credit card processing including . Full Name, Email Address, Billing Address, Credit Card number.

Stripe’s services in Europe are provided by a Stripe affiliate—Stripe Payments Europe Limited (“Stripe Payments Europe”)—an entity located in Ireland. In providing Stripe Services, Stripe Payments Europe transfers personal data to Stripe, Inc. in the US. To ensure the adequate protection of personal data, we have certified to the EU-U.S. and Swiss-U.S. Privacy Shield.

PayPal are still to provide their understanding of whether they are fully GDPR compliant. Their privacy policy can be read here https://www.paypal.com/uk/webapps/mpp/ua/privacy-prev . PayPal argue that they are compliant with various financial regulation laws but we suggest not using PayPal if this is something you are concerned about.

Sending Result Reports to a Third Party

Where an individual takes one of our instruments under the direction of one of our professional customers, (such as a consultant, a coach, a line manager, an Enneagram teacher etc.) and Enneagram Compass performs a service hosting, administering and scoring that instrument for the customer, then we will send the individual’s results to that customer in order that they may provide appropriate feedback, or similar service, to the individual who took the instrument. By taking the questionnaire you are giving permission for that Third Party to receive a copy of your report. In completing the questionnaire you are agreeing for the report to be sent to such a third party. We at Enneagram Profiling assume that the data will be used for the sole purpose of aiding your understanding of the Report, and in order for you to derive maximum benefit from the process. However, we do not accept any responsibility whatsoever for the actions of our third-party customers who have ordered the questionnaire and results report on your behalf. Enneagram Profiling is therefore not responsible for the use, storage or distribution of such data, or the consequences thereof that may arise as a result of the use of the report.

Retention Period – Anonymisation

Personal data shall be kept for no longer than is necessary for the purposes for which it is being processed. Questionnaire responses will be identifiable with name and email address but will be anonymised twenty four months after the completion of the questionnaire. This time period allows for the client to complete further questionnaires and benefit from the information contained in their previous responses. All other personal data is destroyed once the report has been sent. All personal data and questionnaire responses will be deleted within 48 hours of Enneagram Profiling receiving a request from a client to do so.

Research

We use data collected through completion of our psychometric questionnaires for research purposes in order to produce statistics of the type described in our technical product manuals, eg psychometric norms and validity data. You may be asked, as part of the testing process, to give your consent to the use of your personal data for research purposes, and to answer additional research questions. If you decline from doing so, certain data is not collected or used for research purposes. If you do consent, the personal data collected may include sensitive personal data where you have submitted such but this will only be used for research purposes. In such instances your data will be stored in an identifiable form beyond the normal twenty four month period so that your future responses can be compared with those you have already offered. An example might be a validity study where your responses on one questionnaire are compared with those of another that you have taken three years previously.

Links to Other Sites

This policy applies only to information collected by CP Enneagram and Enneagram Profiling. Links within our sites to those of other organisations are not covered by this policy.

Changes to This Policy

This privacy policy was last updated in April 2022. CPS Enneagram Compass, CP Enneagram Academy, and Enneagram Profiling reserve the right to modify or update the policy from time to time.