Coping Mechanisms

[Robot]

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[suoko]

We likely use our the most dominant functions to cope with anything.

[Robot]

The Enneagram describes how, through our inherited nature and childhood experiences, each of us develops certain coping strategies to help us survive in the world. These coping mechanisms shape our particular personality type so that each Enneagram type sees the world through a very different filter.

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[Robot]

Each of us came into the world as pure essence, although that essence was still underdeveloped. Each of us also had a mother and a father (or other caretakers) who already had their personalities very much in place. Because they had to protect themselves from experiencing their own developmental gaps and losses, it was not possible for them to fully support the unfolding of the aspects of our spirit no matter how much they loved us. In short, to the degree that they could not be with the fullness of their own essence, they could not recognize or help develop the fullness of our essence. From this perspective we can also see that these blockages go back many generations.

Our parents unintentionally sent messages to us as children to hide ourselves. We gradually came to believe that one or more parts of us were not safe to have or display to the world. No matter how well intentioned our parents were, to some degree, we all succumbed to the process of hiding and covering over our essential nature. Out of the need to make unconscious adjustments to our caregivers came the need to form a personality. We began to feel that “What I am is not acceptable to I need to be different. Maybe I need to be happier, or quieter, or less energetic.” The costs of these necessary survival adjustments are great, although perhaps the greatest cost is that we gradually become terrified to be seen as we are. We have spent most of our lives not allowing ourselves to be seen, not seeing other people, and most destructively, not wanting to see ourselves.

Further, the painful events of early childhood create a particular way of interpreting our experiences so that later life events reinforce our beliefs about our self and the world. For instance, a child who has been physically abused will tend to view the world as threatening and will have problems getting close to people.

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[Phaedrus]

Temperament and personality, socionic and Enneagram type, is all inborn. That means of course that most Ennegram practitioners and theorists -- including Riso and Hudson -- are brainwashed (and brainwashing) idiots. That simple fact should always be kept in mind when one reads Enneagram articles and type descriptions.

[Elro]

Phaedrus and Phaedrus, Phaedrus and Phaedrus Phaedrus, is all Phaedrus. That means of course that most Phaedruses and Phadruses -- including Phaedrus and Phaedrus -- are brainwashed (and brainwashing) idiots. That simple fact should always be kept in mind when one reads Phaedrus articles and Phaedrus descriptions.

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