Ponies and the Enneagram of Personality
Oct 7, 2013 6:45:58 GMT -8
Post by Al1701 on Oct 7, 2013 6:45:58 GMT -8
The Enneagram of Personality is basically the idea that personalities fall into nine categories. It then goes on to suggest how these are modified by the adjacent personalities as well as stress and security points.
I figured I was start using it to round out my portrayal of the ponies.
Ones - the Reformers, Critics, and Perfectionists
Ones tend to easily resentful. The health of their personality (the happy median being optimum and the extremes being unhealthy) is based on their quickness to anger. Their temptation is to be hypercritical of others even to the point of being hypocritical when comparing themselves to others. Their basic fear is being overly flawed and their holy cause is perfection.
Ones also have elements of nines (peacemakers) and twos (helpers). When under stress, ones display elements of fours (individualists). When relaxed, ones display elements of sevens (enthusiasts).
Twos - the Helpers, Givers, and Caretakers
Twos tend to seek flattery. The health of their personality is based on their sense of pride. Their temptations are to deny themselves in order to help other and manipulate others. Their basic rear is being unloved and their holy cause is freedom and personal will.
Twos also have elements of ones (reformers) and threes (achievers). When under stress, twos display elements of eights (challengers). When relaxed, twos display elements of fours (individualists).
Threes - the Achievers, Performers, and Succeeders
Threes tend to be vain. The health of their personality is based on their truthfulness. Their temptations are to push themselves to be the best at all costs. Their basic fear is to be worthless and their holy cause is hope.
Threes also have elements of two (helpers) and fours (individualists). When under stress, three display elements of nines (peacemakers). When relaxed, threes display elements of sixes (loyalists).
Fours - the Individualists, Romantics, and Arts
Fours tend to melancholy and prone to fantasizing. The health of their personality is based on their emotional balance. They're tempted to be carried away by their imagination in search of identity. Their basic fear is having no identity and their holy cause is origin.
Fours also have elements of threes (achievers) and fives (investigators). When under stress, fours display elements of twos (helpers). When relaxed, fours display elements of ones (reformers).
Fives - the Investigators, Thinkers, and Observers
Fives tend to be stingy. The health of their personality is based on their capacity for greed. Their temptation is to withdraw from the world in favor of studying concepts. Their basic fear is being incapable and their holy cause if omniscience (the knowledge of everything).
Fives also have elements of fours (individualists) and sixes (loyalists). When under stress, fives will display elements of sevens (enthusiasts). When relaxed, five will display elements of eights (challengers).
Sixes - the Loyalists, Devil's Advocates, and Defenders
Sixes tend to worry. The health of their personality is based on their courage. They're tempted to be indecisive, doubt, and look for reassurance from others. Their basic fear being without support or guidance and their holy cause is faith.
Sixes also have elements of fives (investigators) and sevens (enthusiasts). When under stress, sixes tend to display elements of threes (achievers). When relaxed, sixes tend to display elements of nines (peacemakers).
Sevens - the Enthusiasts, Adventurers, and Sensationalists
Sevens tend to plan and have anticipation. The health of their personality is based on their capacity for gluttony. They're tempted to believe fulfillment is elsewhere. Their basic fear is not being content and their holy cause is wisdom.
Sevens also have elements of sixes (loyalists) and eights (challengers). When under stress, sevens tend to display elements of ones (perfectionists). When relaxed, sevens tend to display elements of fives (investigators).
Eights - the Challengers, Leaders, and Protectors
Eights tend to objectify situations. The health of their personality is based on their forcefulness. They're tempted to think they're completely self-sufficient. Their basic fear is being harmed or controlled and their holy cause is truth.
Eights also have elements of sevens (enthusiasts) and nines (peacemakers). When under stress, eights tend to display elements of fives (investigators). When relaxes, eights tend to display elements of two (helpers).
Nines - Peacemakers, Mediators, and Preservationists
Nines tend to daydream. The health of their personality is based on how involved they are. They're tempted to avoid conflicts or asserting themselves. Their basic fear is loss or separation and their holy cause is love.
Nines also have elements of eights (challengers) and ones (perfectionists). When under stress, nines tend to display elements of sixes (loyalists). When relaxes, nines tend to display elements of threes (achievers).
Let's take a look at how these apply to the FiM ponies first.
Twilight Sparkle
Twilight Sparkle is definitely a five. Her initial reclusive lifestyle and preference to studying are classic five behavior and her dearest cause is obtaining knowledge. What broke her in The Return of Harmony was her inability to bring her friends together to defeat Discord. When the chips were down, Twilight was the one with the plan and when relaxed she figured she didn't anypony else.
However, during season 2 with Faust's power over the show waning, Twilight Sparkle suddenly started acting more like a six. She was more driven by what she thought others thought of her. She was more easily worried and displayed strong three traits under stress. Perhaps she was always supposed to be a six with a strong five wing since Faust had said she was obsessed with grades, but it really didn't show until Lesson Zero and disappeared after The Crystal Empire as Twilight reverted to a five again.
Applejack
Applejack is an eight. Her dearest cause is honest obviously, and she wants to believe she's self-sufficient. She also gladly helps others when she has the time. Her fear is losing her farm and therefore her autonomy.
Rainbow Dash
Rainbow Dash is an obvious three. She's as vain as a peacock with a mane rivaling those birds. She wants to be the best in their worst way and the ideas she doesn't have value haunts her worst nightmares. Like most threes, she's a bit contrary when it comes to handling stress. When taken out of their element, she tends to simply remove herself from the situation as much as possible. When she is in something that should be relaxing, her desire to have value makes her worry.
Rarity
Rarity is a one. She is a perfectionist and has some occasional anger issues with the less than perfect ponies around her. She can be hypocritical at times when pointing out the flaws of other ponies. She also must always look fabulous. Yet she is very much in touch with her two wing as she is always willing to help spread the fabulosity. When under stress, she gets in touch with her artistic side and when relaxed she dreams of moving up the social ladder.
Fluttershy
Fluttershy is a two for obvious reasons. She is the quintessential helper on the humility side of the scale. She will gladly sacrifice of her self to others. She also can't stand the thought of not being loved. She can also be manipulative when she wants to be as Discord found out the hard way. When under stress, Fluttershy can be as forceful as they come yet still fears being harmed. When relaxed she indulges her most creative side which apparently involves sewing.
Pinkie Pie
Pinkie Pie is a nine without question. The fear of loss is what haunts her the most. She tends to avoid conflicts and varies wildly on the sloth-action scale. Under stress she can being a worrier and in need of reassurance.
See how this works? I'll work on canon portrayal of the G1 ponies next and my portrayal of them.
I figured I was start using it to round out my portrayal of the ponies.
The nine types.
Ones - the Reformers, Critics, and Perfectionists
Ones tend to easily resentful. The health of their personality (the happy median being optimum and the extremes being unhealthy) is based on their quickness to anger. Their temptation is to be hypercritical of others even to the point of being hypocritical when comparing themselves to others. Their basic fear is being overly flawed and their holy cause is perfection.
Ones also have elements of nines (peacemakers) and twos (helpers). When under stress, ones display elements of fours (individualists). When relaxed, ones display elements of sevens (enthusiasts).
Twos - the Helpers, Givers, and Caretakers
Twos tend to seek flattery. The health of their personality is based on their sense of pride. Their temptations are to deny themselves in order to help other and manipulate others. Their basic rear is being unloved and their holy cause is freedom and personal will.
Twos also have elements of ones (reformers) and threes (achievers). When under stress, twos display elements of eights (challengers). When relaxed, twos display elements of fours (individualists).
Threes - the Achievers, Performers, and Succeeders
Threes tend to be vain. The health of their personality is based on their truthfulness. Their temptations are to push themselves to be the best at all costs. Their basic fear is to be worthless and their holy cause is hope.
Threes also have elements of two (helpers) and fours (individualists). When under stress, three display elements of nines (peacemakers). When relaxed, threes display elements of sixes (loyalists).
Fours - the Individualists, Romantics, and Arts
Fours tend to melancholy and prone to fantasizing. The health of their personality is based on their emotional balance. They're tempted to be carried away by their imagination in search of identity. Their basic fear is having no identity and their holy cause is origin.
Fours also have elements of threes (achievers) and fives (investigators). When under stress, fours display elements of twos (helpers). When relaxed, fours display elements of ones (reformers).
Fives - the Investigators, Thinkers, and Observers
Fives tend to be stingy. The health of their personality is based on their capacity for greed. Their temptation is to withdraw from the world in favor of studying concepts. Their basic fear is being incapable and their holy cause if omniscience (the knowledge of everything).
Fives also have elements of fours (individualists) and sixes (loyalists). When under stress, fives will display elements of sevens (enthusiasts). When relaxed, five will display elements of eights (challengers).
Sixes - the Loyalists, Devil's Advocates, and Defenders
Sixes tend to worry. The health of their personality is based on their courage. They're tempted to be indecisive, doubt, and look for reassurance from others. Their basic fear being without support or guidance and their holy cause is faith.
Sixes also have elements of fives (investigators) and sevens (enthusiasts). When under stress, sixes tend to display elements of threes (achievers). When relaxed, sixes tend to display elements of nines (peacemakers).
Sevens - the Enthusiasts, Adventurers, and Sensationalists
Sevens tend to plan and have anticipation. The health of their personality is based on their capacity for gluttony. They're tempted to believe fulfillment is elsewhere. Their basic fear is not being content and their holy cause is wisdom.
Sevens also have elements of sixes (loyalists) and eights (challengers). When under stress, sevens tend to display elements of ones (perfectionists). When relaxed, sevens tend to display elements of fives (investigators).
Eights - the Challengers, Leaders, and Protectors
Eights tend to objectify situations. The health of their personality is based on their forcefulness. They're tempted to think they're completely self-sufficient. Their basic fear is being harmed or controlled and their holy cause is truth.
Eights also have elements of sevens (enthusiasts) and nines (peacemakers). When under stress, eights tend to display elements of fives (investigators). When relaxes, eights tend to display elements of two (helpers).
Nines - Peacemakers, Mediators, and Preservationists
Nines tend to daydream. The health of their personality is based on how involved they are. They're tempted to avoid conflicts or asserting themselves. Their basic fear is loss or separation and their holy cause is love.
Nines also have elements of eights (challengers) and ones (perfectionists). When under stress, nines tend to display elements of sixes (loyalists). When relaxes, nines tend to display elements of threes (achievers).
Let's take a look at how these apply to the FiM ponies first.
Twilight Sparkle
Twilight Sparkle is definitely a five. Her initial reclusive lifestyle and preference to studying are classic five behavior and her dearest cause is obtaining knowledge. What broke her in The Return of Harmony was her inability to bring her friends together to defeat Discord. When the chips were down, Twilight was the one with the plan and when relaxed she figured she didn't anypony else.
However, during season 2 with Faust's power over the show waning, Twilight Sparkle suddenly started acting more like a six. She was more driven by what she thought others thought of her. She was more easily worried and displayed strong three traits under stress. Perhaps she was always supposed to be a six with a strong five wing since Faust had said she was obsessed with grades, but it really didn't show until Lesson Zero and disappeared after The Crystal Empire as Twilight reverted to a five again.
Applejack
Applejack is an eight. Her dearest cause is honest obviously, and she wants to believe she's self-sufficient. She also gladly helps others when she has the time. Her fear is losing her farm and therefore her autonomy.
Rainbow Dash
Rainbow Dash is an obvious three. She's as vain as a peacock with a mane rivaling those birds. She wants to be the best in their worst way and the ideas she doesn't have value haunts her worst nightmares. Like most threes, she's a bit contrary when it comes to handling stress. When taken out of their element, she tends to simply remove herself from the situation as much as possible. When she is in something that should be relaxing, her desire to have value makes her worry.
Rarity
Rarity is a one. She is a perfectionist and has some occasional anger issues with the less than perfect ponies around her. She can be hypocritical at times when pointing out the flaws of other ponies. She also must always look fabulous. Yet she is very much in touch with her two wing as she is always willing to help spread the fabulosity. When under stress, she gets in touch with her artistic side and when relaxed she dreams of moving up the social ladder.
Fluttershy
Fluttershy is a two for obvious reasons. She is the quintessential helper on the humility side of the scale. She will gladly sacrifice of her self to others. She also can't stand the thought of not being loved. She can also be manipulative when she wants to be as Discord found out the hard way. When under stress, Fluttershy can be as forceful as they come yet still fears being harmed. When relaxed she indulges her most creative side which apparently involves sewing.
Pinkie Pie
Pinkie Pie is a nine without question. The fear of loss is what haunts her the most. She tends to avoid conflicts and varies wildly on the sloth-action scale. Under stress she can being a worrier and in need of reassurance.
See how this works? I'll work on canon portrayal of the G1 ponies next and my portrayal of them.
