What Are the Enneagram Instincts?
Understanding Self-Preservation, Social, and Sexual Drives for Coaches and Curious Minds
When most people discover the Enneagram, they start with the nine types.
But underneath those nine types lies a more primal force—the instinctual drives.
These instinctual energies shape how you move through the world, what you pay attention to, and how you relate to survival itself.
If you’ve ever wondered why two people with the same type can look completely different, or why some patterns feel more like reflexes than choices, the instincts may hold the answer.
Let’s break them down.
What Are Instincts in the Enneagram?
Instincts are body-based impulses—deep, gut-level reactions wired for survival.
They come from the belly center and operate faster than thoughts or feelings.
Thoughts move at the speed of X
Emotions move at 10x
Instincts fire at 100x
That’s why instinctual reactions often happen before you even realize it.
They’re unconscious, automatic, and foundational to how we navigate life.
In the Enneagram, we all have three core instincts:
Self-Preservation (SP)
Social (SO)
Sexual (SX)
While we all have all three instincts, one is usually dominant, one is secondary, and one is repressed, meaning we don’t use it as much (if at all) compared to the other two.
The Three Instincts at a Glance
🧷 Self-Preservation (SP)
The Self-Preservation instinct is concerned with physical safety, comfort, and resource management.
It’s the part of you that checks if the doors are locked, keeps a mental tally of your bank account, and notices when you’re hungry or tired.
Key Focus: Your own well-being
SP Dominants often seek structure, stability, and routine.
SP Repressed may forget to eat, miss appointments, or take unnecessary risks without noticing.
🤝 Social (SO)
The Social instinct tracks your relationship to the group.
It’s about inclusion, status, and understanding how you fit into the broader community or network.
Key Focus: Belonging and contribution
SO Dominants are tuned into group norms, roles, and values.
SO Repressed might resist collaboration, distrust group systems, or feel like an outsider.
🔥 Sexual (SX)
Also sometimes called “one-to-one,” the Sexual instinct is about intensity, chemistry, and energetic merging with another person.
This instinct is focused on passion, vitality, and deep connection.
Key Focus: Merging and intensity
SX Dominants often seek strong interpersonal bonds and emotional resonance.
SX Repressed may avoid closeness, struggle with vulnerability, or feel they lack magnetism.
The Instinctual Sequence: How the Three Instincts Show Up in You
Most people have a clear instinctual “sequence”:
Dominant: Where your energy goes first. This instinct is usually over-expressed.
Secondary: May function in a balanced way or swing between extremes.
Repressed: Often invisible to you. This instinct is underdeveloped or avoided.
For example:
A person with an instinctual sequence of SP/SO/SX might focus on personal safety first, then group participation, but neglect close one-to-one relationships.
A person with an instinctual sequence of SX/SP/SO might dive into intense relationships but struggle to manage daily routines or plan for the future.
Understanding your sequence helps explain behaviors that don’t always align with your core type.
Behavioral Signs of Each Instinct
Here’s a quick overview of how each instinct can show up when dominant or repressed:
Self-Preservation
Traits when the Self-Preservation instinct is Dominant:
Routine-oriented
Cautious
Self-reliant
Aware of bodily needs
Traits when the Self-Preservation instinct is Repressed:
Disorganized
Risk-prone
Neglectful of health or basic needs
Social
Traits when the Social instinct is Dominant:
Group-aware
Collaborative
Image-conscious
Community-driven
Traits when the Social instinct is Repressed:
Skeptical of systems
Distrustful of groups
Lone-wolf energy
Sexual
Traits when the Sexual instinct is Dominant:
Intense
Passionate
Risk-taking
Emotionally attuned
Traits when the Sexual instinct is Repressed:
Avoidant of intimacy
Low energy in close relationships
Less expressive
Why Enneagram Coaches Need to Understand Instincts
As a coach, focusing solely on type is easy, but instincts give you an energetic read on a client’s orientation to the world.
Here’s how to bring instinct awareness into your sessions:
1. Watch for Gut-Level Reactions
Instincts are fast. Notice where your client seems to orient automatically.
Do they talk a lot about energy, health routines, or financial planning? That’s likely an SP cue.
Do they light up when discussing relationships or feeling “seen”? That could signal SX dominance.
2. Listen for What’s Missing
What don’t they talk about? If someone never mentions their body, rarely discusses friends, or avoids conversations about intimacy, that’s a clue toward their repressed instinct.
3. Map Instinctual Imbalances
Clients often misidentify their type because they don’t recognize how instinctual distortions color their behaviors.
For example, a Social 9 might look like a 2, or a Sexual 6 might resemble an 8.
Helping a client identify their dominant instinct first can make the type clarification process much more accurate.
4. Use the Instincts to Deepen Growth Work
If a client is stuck, look to the instinct they repress. Growth often comes from integrating the part they’re unconsciously pushing away. A coach who knows this can help bring that instinct gently into awareness and practice.
Final Thoughts
Instincts aren’t just “add-ons” to your Enneagram type; they’re the raw survival energy underneath your entire personality structure. They shape how you show up, what you prioritize, and what you avoid.
Whether you’re on your own growth journey or guiding others, learning to work with instincts gives you a deeper, more embodied approach to the Enneagram, and that’s where real transformation begins.
Want a clear breakdown of each instinct and how it shows up in your clients?
Grab my free Subtypes Cheat Sheet to help you identify dominant and repressed instincts quickly—plus coaching tips for working with each one.
