Wings and Arrows

Arrows - Stress and Security

The behavior of each of the types changes in predictable fashion when placed in stressful situations or when the circumstances are more relaxed and secure. The following examples of how the types behave when they go to the stress point and security point on the Enneagram are taken from The Wisdom of The Enneagram, by Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson.¹

Stress Point Behavior
Type 1:	Methodical Ones suddenly become moody and irrational at Four.
Type 2:	Needy Twos suddenly become aggressive and dominating at Eight.
Type 3:	Driven Threes suddenly become disengaged and apathetic at Nine.
Type 4:	Aloof fours suddenly become overinvolved and clinging at Two.
Type 5:	Detached Fives suddenly become hyperactive and scattered at Seven.
Type 6:	Dutiful Sixes suddenly become competitive and arrogant at Three.
Type 7:	Scattered Sevens suddenly become perfectionistic and critical at One.
Type 8:	Self-confident Eights suddenly become secretive and fearful at Five.
Type 9:	Complacent Nines suddenly become anxious and worried at Six.


Security Point Behavior
Type 1:	Angry, critical Ones become more spontaneous and joyful like healthy Sevens.
Type 2:	Prideful, self-deceptive Twos become more self-nurturing and emotionally aware, like healthy Fours.
Type 3:	Vain, deceitful Threes become more cooperative and committed to others, like healthy Sixes.
Type 4:	Envious, emotionally turbulent Fours become more objective and principled, like healthy Ones.
Type 5:	Avaricious, detached Fives become more self-confident and decisive, like healthy Eights.
Type 6:	Fearful, pessimistic Sixes become more relaxed and optimistic, like healthy Sevens.
Type 7:	Gluttonous, scattered Sevens become more focused and profound, like healthy Fives.
Type 8:	Lustful, controlling Eights become more open-hearted and caring, like healthy Twos.
Type 9:	Slothful, self-neglecting Nines become more self-developing and energetic, like healthy Threes.