Anyhow, at least based on my understanding of it.
So, now... how does this fit in with the enneagram?
Well, in the enneagram we have three triads: Instinctive, Feeling and Thinking
In each of the three triads we have perceived something about ourselves, and have developed a desire to obtain something that we lack, that will allow us to feel superior (because we always want what's best for us).
It sprouts from feeling that our substance lacks something that we feel we should or are suppose to have. This makes part of the mechanics. (A need to keep our psychological integrity)
So here are some short descriptions for each triad;
Instinctive Triad - Desire to get rid of stress; Desire for relief
This is an id-based triad that focuses mainly on the id. They have understood that they feel stress, and seek to get rid of it. Their main desire therefore becomes a desire to rid themselves of their stress, and automatically also becomes a desire to find and seek relief. They feel that they lack relief, and is the theme this triad is mainly focused around.
Theme of the triad: Stress/Relief; Lacking the ideal id.
Feeling Triad - Desire for substance; Desire to get rid of emptiness
In the case of the feeling triad, an ego-based triad, the person feels a lack for substance. In other words, that their substance lacks substance. Their main desire therefore becomes a desire for substance, and anything that they feel will give them substance. Naturally, they desire to get rid of emptiness, which could also be stated as fearing emptiness as well as fearing the loss of substance itself.
Theme of the Triad: Substance/Emptiness; Lacking the ideal ego.
Thinking Triad - Desire for good discernment/security; Desire to rid themselves of insecurity
In the case of the thinking triad, the superego-based triad, they feel that they lack judgment, and a well developed perception in this world. Naturally, this insecurity also leads them to believe that "anything" could happen, since they are unable to establish "what is" and "what isn't". This often leads them to feel insecure, thus they seek security.
Theme of the triad: Security/Insecurity; Lacking the ideal superego.
Those are three short descriptions that describe the three triads. Of course, these three descriptions describe the problems we encounter, and what we desire. It doesn't really say much about how we resolve it.
Our desire to resolve it is what ends up making us dependent people. It ends up in three more triads: Compliant, Assertive and Withdrawn. Since the problems from the previous triads result from the fear that we lack something, it only goes to show you how important we feel our substance is to us. In the end, we end up relying on one of our three senses again (senses being: id, ego and superego; since you can say that our id is our immediate sense of satisfaction, our ego our sense of existence and the superego our sense of perception).
Here are descriptions I made for each triad.
The Compliant Triad - Dependence on "Reality"
First off on our list of what I like to call "dependency" triads is the compliant triad; another superego-based triad, but this time dependent on the superego. What this means is that they feel that they have to rely on what their perception of "reality" is in order to resolve the problem set upon by the former triad, and find what they are lacking. For this reason, they feel a need to be in accordance with "reality" and "what is" or else they'll feel that they are going to lose their chances of getting what they lack. They end up being strong and stable, and try to will things into being, needing them to be in order, the way they should be. Of course, they will also avoid contradicting reality, and therefore follow what they believe is life's natural course. The interesting thing about the superego though is that when we make a wrong decision, we usually end up getting negative consequences. This understanding of reality, that bad choices lead to negative consequences, is what makes the compliant triad feel that if they make a wrong choice they should get the negative consequence they should get. If they didn't, then a contradiction to reality has just occurred, thus injuring and hurting their perception of reality. Basically, they are reliant on understanding what reality is and what it isn't. Any contradiction to their perception would mean that they don't truly understand, and since they're so reliant on understanding what reality is and isn't, then they tend to break apart and lose security. (To comply with reality)
Theme: Right/Wrong
Withdrawn/Sensitive Triad - Dependence on Experiences/Life
This is the id-dependent triad. It relies on the id, and therefore ones reactions to life. Due to the fact that the id isn't really that stable, this triad ends up "wandering" a lot, constantly reacting to what is experienced. Basically put, since it's reliant on its id, its reliant on its experiences, and they end up needing to live first before they can react. In other words, this triad allows themselves to bombard themselves with many sensations/experiences in order to resolve their problem. As stated, the problem with this would be that this makes them immobile. Needing to keep still in order to allow life to hit them so they can react, rather than moving along without relying on life. The basic fear of this triad therefore becomes a fear of being desensitized. They want to *feel* life. They try hard to feel life too.
Theme: Alive/Desensitized
Assertive Triad - Dependence on Substance/Presence
The Assertive triad relies on the ego, or their substance. Whenever we feel we lack substance, we feel inferior and smaller than we really are. For this reason, the assertive triad relies on the fact that they have substance, presence, and a sense of superiority. This was the missing thing that I just realized today. The way to describe the Assertive Triad. It is indeed a theme of superiority/inferiority, and a desire to be on top. When they feel that they are fading, that they lack substance, they feel that their desire won't be accomplished. Thus, they need to continuously assert their presence, and somehow "shine". To be above.
Theme: Superiority/Inferiority
Now with those triads... when you cross them... you create 9 types:
Type 1 - Who resolve their stress through conforming to reality. Relieving their stress through their will.
Type 2 - Who resolve their emptiness through conforming to reality. Seeking recognition/Recognizing themselves for their own personal will.
Type 3 - Who resolve their emptiness through superiority. Seeking recognition/Recognizing themselves for their superiority.
Type 4 - Who resolve their emptiness through sensitivity to life and their own personal experiences. Seeking recognition/Recognizing themselves for their own sensitivity and their own personal experiences.
Type 5 - Who resolve their insecurity through their own sensitivity to life and personal experiences. Establishing security based on their experiences.
Type 6 - Who resolve their insecurity through conforming to reality. Establishing security based on their will.
Type 7 - Who resolve their insecurity through superiority. Establishing security based on their own superiority.
Type 8 - Who resolve their stress through superiority. Relieving stress by being superior.
Type 9 - Who resolve their stress through their sensitivity to life and personal experiences. Relieving stress through their experiences.