Is Enneagram present from birth?

[Elfboy]

I ask because I was definitely not 7w8-ish at all as a child (for those of you who think I am a 3, I was even less 3 than 7). Up until about 7th grade, I was a cuddly little 9w1 child and I know several people who's personalities have done a complete 180 from age 10-20

 

[Lady_X]

it would seem so for me a bit...i was a happy giggly affectionate baby and child.

 

[Speed Gavroche]

Types and subtypes are formed during early childhood, wich means the basic proposition through the child perceive the world and in wich realm he is specialised; and the problematics, instinctual drives and confrontation with dilemas rise through the entire life.

 

[Elfboy]

Types and subtypes are formed during early childhood, wich means the basic proposition through the child perceive the world and in wich realm he is specialised; and the problematics, instinctual drives and confrontation with dilemas rise through the entire life.

that makes sense. I would think most very young children (say 2-4) would be much like Self Preservation 9s

 

[Speed Gavroche]

that makes sense. I would think most very young children (say 2-4) would be much like Self Preservation 9s

7s often look 9 as child because they are positive and daydreaming childs who just play, are innocent, and mentally quick, they are also confronted with fear, and like to go toward people. If they are of the Sp subtype, they can look like self-pres 9.

 

[Elfboy]

7s often look 9 as child because they are positive and daydreaming childs who just play, are innocent, and mentally quick, they are also confronted with fear, and like to go toward people. If they are of the Sp subtype, they can look like self-pres 9.

that was definitely me as a kid.
PS: what do type 6 children look like? I can't imagine there's much consistency.

Edit: this is definite evidence for 7 as opposed to 3. type 3 children definitely do not look like 9s.

 

[Glycerine]

http://www.netplaces.com/enneagram/the-enneatypes-at-home/the-six-child.htm. This was interesting.

 

[Elfboy]

http://www.netplaces.com/enneagram/the-enneatypes-at-home/the-six-child.htm. This was interesting.

the descriptions of the types as parents made me think "dear God, unhealthy people make HORRIBLE parents"

 

[CuriousFeeling]

Not sure, but I remember being quite a sensitive child.

 

[brainheart]

My daughter has been a six since she was in the womb, I am not kidding.

Similarly, I was a total 4w5 kid, crying over dead baby birds and writing songs about them, playing dead (imagining my funeral), not relating to most kids at all, in my own little tragic world.

 

[sleuthiness]

9 out of 10 kids riding their tricycle backwards are enneagram fives.

 

[VagrantFarce]

9 out of 10 kids riding their tricycle backwards are enneagram fives.

Only 'coz it's the right way to do it, dammit.

 

[mujigay]

Oh dear lord, I was always, always the 1w9 hellbent on changing the world and achieving perfection.

I remember teacher reports from elementary saying things like "gets unreasonably frustrated when does not meet own very high standards".

And I remember a fourth grade teacher I had calling me an "old soul." Of course, she could have just meant that I was practically anal retentive.

 

[animenagai]

I don't know if it's from birth, but I know that I've had a very strong sense of self since a very, very young age. I remember being in kindergarten, wondering what superhero should be my favorite. I had my preferences, but some of those were popular ones. I couldn't just be ordinary, could I?

 

[highlander]

Types and subtypes are formed during early childhood, wich means the basic proposition through the child perceive the world and in wich realm he is specialised; and the problematics, instinctual drives and confrontation with dilemas rise through the entire life.

There is no agreed upon answer for this. Personally, I think we're born with certain tendencies and that environment influences which one becomes dominant and the associated wing (or tritype - if you believe in that).

 

[Speed Gavroche]

There is no agreed upon answer for this. Personally, I think we're born with certain tendencies and that environment influences which one becomes dominant and the associated wing (or tritype - if you believe in that).

Yes, I think we are born with certain tendancies too. But is really formed in early childhood developments I think. I mean, 1 year old babies probably don't have enneatypes. I thnk it really arises between 3 and 5, when the child become able to perceive the world through a basic proposition and interpret his environment.

 

[SilkRoad]

I think I've probably been a 6 since I was a child - though I may have been more 4 or 5-ish as a teenager, but I think 4 particularly holds a lot of teenage preoccupations.

But I think MBTI type is more to do with innate/inborn personality, and Enneagram is more about nurture.

 

[David468]

Yes, type is present from birth

It was first believed type and instinct was from family environment. However, no pattern has ever been found. Further, having done this for 20+ years and having typed babies (yes they have micro movements, a temperament, and a personality from the get go, ask any mother) it strongly appears that Type and Instinct are genetic and present at birth.
David
Enneagram.net

 

[Elfboy]

It was first believed type and instinct was from family environment. However, no pattern has ever been found. Further, having done this for 20+ years and having typed babies (yes they have micro movements, a temperament, and a personality from the get go, ask any mother) it strongly appears that Type and Instinct are genetic and present at birth.
David
Enneagram.net

David as in David Favre? pleased to meet you