Loyalist

A type Six personality has two potential expressions, which are known as Phobic, or Counter-Phobic. This is in response to how the Six deals with nervousness or anxiety, and how they present that energy to the rest of the world.

Generally, Sixes want to belong to a group, and struggle to find their place in the world. It is their overarching interest to find a social group they belong with. They are responsible and dedicated people.

Phobic Sixes deal with their fear by running from it. They are able to express their sources of fear, as well as vulnerabilities or potential weaknesses, and are able to ask for others to respect their fears. They are communicative of their line of thought, and are able to avoid being manipulated through their fears.

Counter-Phobic sizes are more likely to be rule-breakers. They try to keep up an external image of being tough, which is used to mask their internal feelings of uncertainty and nervousness. They are afraid of fear.

A Six is generally created through growing up in unsafe environments, or had a parent that was so overprotective that they were unable to develop good risk assessment skills. Thus, the Six feels like everyone outside of their circle is threatening.

Sixes are rational, and logical above all else. They are great planners and are constantly thinking of how to get themselves and their loved ones through the next catastrophe. As a result, this personality type is prone to the ‘survivalist’ mindset.

This personality type belongs to the ‘head-based’ triad along with type Fives and type Sevens in the Enneagram model. The core emotion of this triad is fear, and the Six deals with this fear by confronting it head on.

A healthy Six is considered loyal, honest, and above all else protective. They make great friends, or loved ones. However, an unhealthy Six may be prone to catastrophizing, which leads them to using their fear to make avoidant decisions, and can even create self-fulfilling prophecies.

Core values

• Sixes want to feel connected to those around them, and are very loyal to those who have earned themselves a spot in the inner circle. They long to feel secure in their social group.
• Sixes value feeling safe in their friend groups, and may seek validation from those around them of their importance to the group.
• The type Six values trust in their friends. They often spend their alone time making up elaborate scenarios, so they like to feel like they can rely on those around them.
• Initially, Sixes may find it difficult to be at peace within themselves. This can be built up over time, so they have the confidence to deal with new situations as they arise.