the enneagram is about a false core. but, apart from possibly the soul, it's the most false core you have, meaning the deepest pain in your ass. or, in THE ass. it's real but elusive. for the most part of your live, it hides in your subject. the subject is by definition that which sees objects, not that which is seen. cognitive type isn't so much about any kind of core, but it's a lot about destiny, about the coordinates of your life, because it is a major factor in the creation of the subjective reality you live in and it is to a lesser degree a big factor of your orientation inside of this subjective reality. and experientially, shit doesn't get more real than your subjective reality. that said, MBTI theory sucks, the popular enneagram description suck at least as much, or possibly worse.