Are you loyal, responsible and foresighted about what could go wrong? Then you may be a type 6.
Type 6 at a glance
| Centre | Head (thought) |
| Basic fear | Being without support and security |
| Basic desire | Having security and support |
| Passion | Fear/anxiety |
| Fixation | Doubt |
| Wings | Type 5 and type 7 |
| Under stress | Type 3 |
| In security | Type 9 |
How to recognise type 6
- You think through what could go wrong in advance.
- You are loyal to people and groups you trust.
- You seek security and reliability.
- You can swing between doubt and determination.
- You are responsible and dependable.
Your strengths
Type 6 are loyal, responsible and courageous. They anticipate problems and stand by others.
Under pressure and in security
Under pressure, type 6 can become performance-driven and impatient (traits from type 3). In security they become more relaxed and trusting (traits from type 9).
Do you recognise yourself?
All nine types come in three subtypes. Your basic type stays the same, but the subtype colours the whole expression, and this is often where the last doubt is cleared away.
| Subtype | Hallmark | Often falls into |
|---|---|---|
| Self-preservation | Warm and alliance-building, security through relationships | Making yourself small to keep the peace |
| Social | Loyal and dutiful, an anchor within the system | External rules replacing your own judgement |
| One-to-one | Counterphobic: moves towards the fear, direct and challenging | Courage becoming armour over the doubt |
Where are you right now?
Riso-Hudson divides each type into nine levels of development, grouped into three ranges: levels 1-3 are the healthy ones, 4-6 the average and 7-9 the unhealthy. It is not a grade but a state, and you move between them — sometimes over the course of a single day.
| Range | How type 6 looks |
|---|---|
| In good form levels 1-3 | You find the authority inside yourself and can trust your own judgement without having it confirmed. Loyalty becomes a choice, and the courage is genuine rather than rigid. |
| In everyday life levels 4-6 | Your energy goes into anticipating what could go wrong. You test other people's intentions, seek reassurance and swing between leaning on something and pushing back against it. |
| Under pressure levels 7-9 | Suspicion takes over. You see hostility where there is none and respond with either submission or fierce resistance. Action comes before thought. |
Each of the nine levels is described in depth by Riso-Hudson. If you want to work with them in depth, we go through them on Enneagram Kurser's courses.
Not sure of your type?
Descriptions can point to several types, a test gives a reliable starting point.
Want to take the Enneagram further? Read the full description of type 6 on enneagram.dk, see our Enneagram courses for individuals and companies, or find a date on an open course.
Frequently asked questions about type 6
How do I know if I am a type 6?
Look at your motivation, not just your behaviour: type 6 is driven by having security and support. An Enneagram test like 360indicator gives a valid indication.
What is the core motivation of type 6?
Having security and support, and to avoid being without support and security.
What is type 6 confused with?
Type 6 is most often confused with type 1 and type 8. This is based on our own data: of the 633 users the test suggested type 6 for, 89.4% chose type 6, and the rest most often moved to those two types. A test and a conversation about core motivation help to tell them apart.
What are the wings of type 6?
Type 6 has wing 5 and wing 7, the two types on either side in the Enneagram circle. Most people lean towards one more than the other. A 6 with a 5 wing is more analytical and withdrawn. A 6 with a 7 wing is more outgoing, humorous and active. The wings explain why two people of the same type can seem very different.
How does type 6 react under stress and in security?
Under stress type 6 moves towards type 3 and starts to show some of that type's patterns. In security the movement goes towards type 9. This is not a change of type, but sides of yourself that become more visible depending on your state. It is precisely why you cannot read a person's type from behaviour alone.
How do you communicate best with a type 6?
Be clear and predictable. Talk openly about risks instead of playing them down, because a type 6 has already had the thought. Vagueness creates more unease than bad news.
How often do people choose a type other than type 6?
Among the users who were given type 6 in the full 360indicator profile and took a position on the result, 89.4 per cent confirmed the type. Those who chose differently most often went to type 1, type 8 or type 3. The figures are based on 6,330 completed profiles in 360indicator's own database and describe the people who have taken this test, not the population as a whole.
What do the levels of development mean for type 6?
Riso-Hudson divides each type into nine levels of development, grouped in three ranges: levels 1-3 are the healthy ones, 4-6 the average and 7-9 the unhealthy. It is not a grade but a state you move between. For type 6 it looks like this. In good form: You find the authority inside yourself and can trust your own judgement without having it confirmed. In everyday life: Your energy goes into anticipating what could go wrong. Under pressure: Suspicion takes over.