If you ever read anything about Enneagram Type Six, you know that Sixes are walking contradictions. First, we have two subtypes: the phobic one and the counterphobic one.
Both are overly concerned with their safety, but they choose to deal with their concerns very differently. The first one deals with it by avoiding danger, while the second one challenges the fear by putting themselves in uncomfortable situations.
Then we have a dependent (reliant) Six and a self-reliant Six. A dependent Six wants someone to decide for them and keep them safe.
A self-reliant Six, however, doesn’t believe that it’s safe to trust others to make decisions regarding their security and wellbeing (for the most part), hence they want to make their own decisions.
To make things even more complicated, a Six may switch between these two opposite approaches depending on the situation. However, the theme of preoccupation with security and watching out for potential problems and troubleshooting them is present in all cases.
Considering the ambivalent nature of this type, developing an Enneagram test Type 6 is quite challenging as some of the statements may seem to contradict each other. Not one Six would check all the boxes below, but if you score anywhere above 70 percent, chances are you are a Six or have a very highly developed Six-Wing (you could be 7w6 or 5w6 in this case). You can refer to the Type Six profile for more information.
I scan my environment for danger.
Uncertainty makes me very uncomfortable.
I hate to admit it, but I need constant reassurance in my personal relationships.
I am definitely a very responsible person.
Making changes in my life feels difficult and uncomfortable.
I am watchful and suspicious by nature.
I wish there were someone I could lean on.
Sometimes I feel like a coward and a hero at the same time.
I am a little anxious even when everything is fine.
I am quite concerned about money matters because money helps me feel secure.
Others can definitely rely on me.
Even some of the closest people in my life might one day turn against me.
At times, I get stuck overanalyzing things.
I always remember that people can be two-faced.
I keep my promises.
I need a stable and secure job; being an entrepreneur isn’t my cup of tea.
I use my good looks to affect others; being able to do that helps me feel less anxious.
I probably missed many opportunities in life just because I wasn’t sure how things could work out.
I always think of worst-case scenarios.
I “feel the fear and do it anyway”.
I am quite friendly.
I am very protective.
I tend to choose the same things over and over again because I know they worked well for me in the past.
I don’t want to get into trouble with authority.
When planning a trip, I consider different scenarios, including what to do if our money gets stolen, if we lose our documents, miss the airplane, etc.
I am a future-oriented type.
Being friendly is my way to disarm potential enemies.
You will be very safe with me.
I often wonder whether something was said just to be polite.
I don’t trust easily.
I must admit I have passive-aggressive tendencies.
I am very helpful.
I make up problems in my mind and then solve them before they even become a reality.
I am either extremely confident or extremely insecure.
I always stay alert because the world is a dangerous place.
I force myself to face the things I fear.
I always make sure that the bills are paid.
My way of dealing with danger is to understand the threat and its possible impact on my life, then to prepare for it as much as possible.
Sometimes I act boldly or even aggressively just to show everyone that I am not afraid and can’t be pushed around while the reality is different.
I am a people-pleaser.
I often have mixed feelings and contradictory inclinations. For example, I can be very calm and obedient for a while, and then I would decide to be more aggressive and rebellious. I switch back and forth between these states.
Gathering information helps me keep myself safe.
I own safety gear, just in case.
I feel inferior to others.
I look at the negative possibilities before allowing myself to consider the positive ones.
I can’t rest until all my tasks are accomplished.
My constant “what ifs” are quite tiring.
I build alliances.
I take safety standards very seriously.
I am not one of those people who don’t care what others think of them.
I try to guess or predict other people’s feelings and thoughts about me.
I like stability.
I always worry about my car getting stolen.
Despite my obsession with security, I could put myself in a dangerous situation for the sake of saving someone (a person or an animal).
I make sarcastic comments.
Following rules gives me a sense of clarity, stability, and safety.
As a child, I was taught that it was not OK to show my fear, so I learned to hide it and challenge it by putting myself in uncomfortable situations.
As a child, I was taught that I shouldn’t be too strong and independent, so I learned to rely primarily on others, seek their support and advice, and avoid anything dangerous.
I love to plan everything in detail.
I actively work on forming friendships and strengthening them.
I want my partner to make me feel secure and protected.
I am somewhat indecisive.
I like things to be clear and precise.
Imagining the worst helps me prepare for it and potentially ward it off in advance.
Sometimes I force myself to make fast decisions only to stop ruminating about my options and possible outcomes.
I often second-guess my decisions.
I am a fantastic researcher.
Sometimes I feel embarrassed by too much attention.
I get quite anxious at times.
I question the real motives behind other people’s actions.
I have a good sense of humor.
To do my job properly, I need clear guidelines.
I am a loyal person.
When trying to support a friend in distress, I look for practical ways to solve their problem rather than just listening to them venting for hours.
I have an organized mind.
I need to know where I stand.
I tend to overcompensate for my “flaws” by putting a lot of effort into everything I do for others.
I am a hard worker.
I am prepared for all kinds of disasters.
I look for potential problems before it’s too late.
I prepare for the future.
I am an ambivert.
Sometimes I fear getting too attached to someone or something because it would make me very vulnerable.
I tend to overcommit myself.
I am probably more of a pessimist than an optimist.
I am very sensitive to criticism.
I often feel strong emotions, but I do my best to hide them.
I am never completely at ease.
I am a good strategist.
Focusing on worst-case scenarios prevents me from taking action.
I tend to overprepare for everything.
I rely on myself because I can’t rely on other people in my life.
I often feel that other people judge me, which makes me feel uncomfortable.
I am a realist.
To keep enemies away, I want to appear strong, perhaps even a little intimidating.
I often blame others for making me feel bad.
I ask the hard questions.
I listen to what people say and try to understand what they REALLY mean.
I support others and hope that one day they will support me.
Sometimes I am relieved to hear bad news because I can deal with some problems better than with uncertainty.
Enneagram Type Six
6w7
6w5
7w6
5w6
People-Pleaser Quiz
Four Temperaments
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