The Enneagram loops
A theory within Enneagram is that all types are driven by balancing loops, often referred to as dynamics. The concept of loops reflects the idea that all nine types are characterized by a basic desire and a basic fear, and there are healthy and unhealthy ways to achieve – or at least attempt – satisfaction, based on the desires and fears of the type. When we feel satisfied, we end the loop, until we feel unsatisfied and start the loop over again.
The healthy loop drives us towards what we need to achieve satisfaction, while the unhealthy loop attempts to steer us away from our basic fear, whilst simultaneously removing us from what we need to find satisfaction. As a result, healthy loops are controlled by basic desire, while unhealthy loops are controlled by basic fear. However, even in a healthy state, we can look at the unhealthy loops to understand in what way we can conquer our fears.
Enneagram 1
Healthy loop: Desire to do the right thing → Need to be right → Seek truth → Do the right thing
In a healthy state, the desire to do the right thing induces 1s with a need to be right and seek truth so that they can do the right thing. When the right thing is done, balance is restored.
In an average state, 1s do not work hard enough to seek truth and do the right thing. Therefore, the need to be right increases, which motivates 1s to again seek truth, trying harder this time. Thus, balance can eventually be restored by doing the right thing.
Unhealthy loop: Fear of being condemned → Correct others → Do the right thing (less) → Fear of being condemned
In an unhealthy state, the fear of being condemned may cause 1s to correct and condemn others as a defense, which is often not the right thing to do, thus further increasing the basic fear of being condemned. The cycle continuous to build up.
Enneagram 2
Healthy loop: Desire to be loved → Need to be loved → Help others → Loved
In a healthy state, the desire to be loved induces 2s to need to be loved and help others so that they can receive love in return When they feel loved, balance is restored.
In an average state, 2s do not work hard to help others and be loved. Therefore, the need to be loved increases, which motivates 2s to again help others, trying harder this time. Thus, balance can eventually be restored when they feel loved.
Unhealthy loop: Fear of being unloved → resent and manipulate others → Loved (less) → Fear of being unloved
In an unhealthy state, the fear of being unloved may cause 2s to resent and manipulate others into loving them as a defense, which often causes people to love them less, thus further increasing the basic fear of being unloved. The cycle continuous to build up.
Enneagram 3
Healthy loop: Desire to be admired → Need to be admired → Self-improvement → Admired
In a healthy state, the desire to be admired induces 3s with a need to be admired and to work hard to improve themselves, which often causes others to admire them. When they are admired, balance is restored.
In an average state, 3s do not work hard to improve themselves and be admired. Therefore, the need to be admired increases, which motivates 3s to again self-improve, trying harder this time. Thus, balance can eventually be restored when they receive admiration.
Unhealthy loop: Fear of being rejected → Compete → Admired (less) → Fear of being rejected
In an unhealthy state, the fear of being rejected causes 3s to be competitive and hostile towards other people as a defense, which often causes people to admire them less, thus further increasing the basic fear of being rejected. The cycle continuous to build up.
Enneagram 4
Healthy loop: Desire to understand self → Need for self-understanding → Examine self → Understand self
In a healthy state, the desire to understand themselves induces 4s with a need for self-understanding and to work hard to examine themselves, which often causes them to understand themselves better. When they understand themselves, balance is restored.
In an average state, 4s do not work hard to examine the self and to achieve self-understanding. Therefore, the need to understand themselves increases, which motivates 4s to again examine themselves, trying harder this time. Thus, balance can eventually be restored when they understand themselves better.
Unhealthy loop: Fear of being defective → Indulge in fantasy → Understand self (less) → Fear of being defective
In an unhealthy state, the fear of being defective causes 4s to ignore their true self, and indulge in wild fantasies about who they are as a defense, which often causes 4s to understand themselves less, thus further increasing the basic fear of being defective. The cycle continuous to build up.
Enneagram 5
Healthy loop: Desire to understand the world →  Need to understand the world →  Observe →  Analyze →  Understand the world
In a healthy state, the desire to understand the world induces 5s with a need to understand the world and to work hard to observe and analyze the word, which often causes them to understand the world better. When they understand the world, balance is restored.
In an average state, 5s do not work hard to observe and analyze the world and to achieve understanding. Therefore, the need to understand the world increases, which motivates 5s to again observe and analyze the world, trying harder this time. Thus, balance can eventually be restored when they understand the world better.
Unhealthy loop: Fear of being overwhelmed by the world →  Detached from world/others →  Understand the word (less) →  Fear of being overwhelmed by the world
In an unhealthy state, the fear of being overwhelmed by the world causes 5s to withdraw and detach themselves form the world and others as a defense, which often causes 5s to understand the world less, thus further increasing the basic fear of being overwhelmed by the world. The cycle continuous to build up.
Enneagram 6
Healthy loop: Desire to be secure →  Need for security →  Loyalty →  Security
In a healthy state, the desire to be secure induces the 6s with a need for security and to be loyal to others, especially their authority figure, which often causes them to find security. When they feel secure, balance is restored.
In an average state, 6s do not work hard to be loyal to other people, and they start to feel insecure around others. Therefore, the need for security increases, which motivates 6s to try to be loyal to people, trying harder this time. Thus, balance can eventually be restored when they find security.
Unhealthy loop: Fear of being abandoned →  Distrust others →  (Less) security →  Fear of being abandoned
In an unhealthy state, the fear of being abandoned causes 6s to be suspicious and distrustful of others as a defense, which often causes 6s to feel less security, thus further increasing the basic fear of being abandoned. The cycle continuous to build up.
Enneagram 7
Healthy loop: Desire to be happy →  Need for happiness →  Explore and appreciate the world →  Happiness
In a healthy state, the desire to be happy induces 7s with a need for happiness and to explore and appreciate the world, which often causes them to find happiness. When they feel happy, balance is restored.
In an average state, 7s do not work hard to explore and appreciate the world, and they become restless and unhappy. Therefore, the need for happiness increases, which often motivates 7s to explore and appreciate the world, trying harder this time. Thus, balance can eventually be restored when they achieve happiness.
Unhealthy loops: Fear of being deprived →  Numbly seeks sensations →  (Less) happiness →  Fear of being deprived
In an unhealthy state, the fear of being deprived causes 7s to numbly seek new sensations and adventures without really appreciating them as a defense, which often causes 7s to feel less happy, thus further increasing the fear of being deprived. The cycle continuous to build up.
Enneagram 8
Healthy loop: Desire to be independent →  Need to be self-reliant →  Strength →  Independence
In a healthy state, the desire to be independent induces 8s with a need to be self-reliant and to become strong and capable of defending others, which often causes them to be independent. When they feel independent and self-reliant, balance is restored.
In an average state, 8s do not work hard to be strong, and they will become more dependent on others. Therefore, the need to be self-reliant increases, which often motivates 8s to become stronger, trying harder this time. Thus, balance can eventually be resorted when they achieve independence.
Unhealthy loop: Fear of submitting to others → Controlling → (Less) independence → Fear of submitting to others
In an unhealthy state, the fear of submitting to others causes 8s to lash out and control people around them as a defense, which often causes 8s to be dependent on the people they are controlling, thus further increasing the fear of submitting to others. The cycle continuous to build up.
Enneagram 9
Healthy loop: Desire to find union and peace → Need to find union → Accepting → Union
In a healthy state, the desire to find union and peace induces 9s with a need to find union and to genuinely open up to others and accept them as they are, which often causes 9s to find union. When they have found union, balance is restored.
In an average state, 9s do not work hard to accept others and open themselves up, which weakens the union. Therefore, the need to find union increases, which often motivates 9s to be more accepting and open, trying harder this time. Thus, balance can eventually be restored when union is found.
Unhealthy loop: Fear of separation → Illusion of union → Accommodating à (Less) union → Fear of separation
In an unhealthy state, the fear of separation causes 9s to delude themselves in an illusion of union, and blindly accommodating others or the world as a defense, which often causes 9s to find less true union, thus further increasing the fear of separation. The cycle continuous to build up.
Source: www.9types.com
