The nine social instinctual subtypes

Type 1: Inadaptability/inflexibility

In the social domain, you channel your desire for rightness and its associated
tension and anger into correct positions. You make the system better or right
according to your absolute standards. You become a social reformer so to speak.
Where these are concerned, you become inadaptable or inflexible, and screen out
evidence contrary to your fervent position. You not only find what is wrong with
other groups, causes and convictions, but you also see what is wrong about your
own group. There is one right way and you must support it. While you may become
comfortable temporarily with a secure social role and clear set of rules, you
later resent and then become driven to correct “deviance” from the correct
standards. At your worst, you can become possessed by righteous anger and
dominated by black-white thinking characterized by an inability to see differing
viewpoints.

Type 2: Ambition

Your pride manifests itself in the social arenaby giving to those in position or
power, thus assuring prominence, even indispensability in the special group,
family or organization. You manifest your ambition and desire for distinction
indirectly through your indispensability and attachment to visible social
accomplishments and linking people and groups together. You gain stature and a
positive public image through your alliances and alignment with mentors,
authorities and leaders. You gain prominence through helper roles in visible
social groups, work or causes. Or you become the hub of the family. In all these
settings you look after the group’s well-being, which bolsters your feeling
lovable and hence worthy. At your worst, however, you can disparage and/or simply
reject others’ inputs and contributions, believing that only you know what is
really needed.

Type 3: Prestige

If you are oriented toward the social subtype, called prestige, then your run of
active, striving energy is linked to your need for recognition. You must receive
public honors, titles, influential connections, and/or appreciation for what you
accomplish, and look good in the process. You have to be a “somebody” in the eyes
of others or you’re a “nobody” inside yourself. You manifest your energy of deceit
by projecting the appropriate persona, and taking on the appropriate thoughts and
feelings for the group situation. You gain social status to assure acceptance and
love. Therefore, your drive for success and recognition can become quite political
to assure productivity. Whether very genuine or self-serving, it is directed
toward winning social approval and achieving power in social institutions, such as
the government, businesses or community groups. At your worst, your drive for
recognition can be ruthless, accompanied by outright dishonesty without being
aware of your own deceit.

Type 4: Shame/counter-shame

In the social domain you easily can feel shame for not measuring up or being a
“misfit.” You feel that your protective cover is removed and that your
deficiencies or shortcomings will be exposed publicly. You mitigate your envy
through shame. You want to hide your defects and deficiencies, keep your fatal
flaws from being detected and avoid disgrace. Your shame also helps you feel or
keep a connection to others: “They’ll notice me and my deficiencies, and I’ll
matter.” This makes you feel special in the eyes of others. Shame also motivates
you to do better – create an elegant image, produce pride of elitism, look unique
and special, in short to develop counter-shame and a sense of honor for your
integrity and what you do for the group. You may become an emotional truth-teller
in the group. At your worst, shame can lead to retraction into self-absorption,
depression or despair.

Type 5: Totems

We all need to belong. As an Observer with avarice for knowledge, time and energy,
this is no easy matter. Your avarice manifests through cleaving to totems, the
representation of things that a group shares, but is one step removed from
ordinary involvement. Needing a knowledge-based role that buffers you from direct
access, you are attracted to groups that share special knowledge, such as a field
of study or systems, or a shared intellectual pursuit. You have avarice for and
affiliate with people or groups who influence culture, events and seek greater
knowledge through the power of the mind. You align in the mental domain with
leaders, movements and systems where knowledge is valued and shared, such as
history and philosophy groups, scientific and technical endeavors, sports
expertise, and literary or art interests. Here you feel needed, comfortable and a
part of things. You attempt to obtain sufficiency through knowledge that befits
the group. At your worst, you use totems, whatever they might be, as a substitute
for heartfelt human contact, paradoxically isolating yourself from others.

Type 6: Duty

In the social domain, you assuage your fear through your loyal duty to a group or
cause. You feel safe bonded together with others in a common cause where you
understand the needs and assure the code of behavior. You align with people you
trust through mutual obligations and sacrifice: “United we stand, divided we
fall.” You find power and hence safety in the group’s authority. Knowing the rules
and creating clear agreements with friends and colleagues are vital for overcoming
your fear. As a Loyal Skeptic, your tendency to project negative power onto the
world makes underdog causes particularly appealing. You align with the needy, the
oppressed and the persecuted. You work for the cause. The call to duty mobilizes
you rather not personal gain, which would expose you. But at your worst, you give
away your own authority and power.

Type 7: Sacrifice

In the social area you must reign in your gluttony for stimulating experiences or
interesting ideas, plans and projects. To function in the group you must sacrifice
some of your own desires for the higher social cause. You can postpone your own
gratification and accept limitations willingly for the sake of group ideals or
worthy endeavors with which you identify and enjoy, and through promoting a better
society. You participate with others who mirror your philosophy and interests.
Often the hardest part of adhering to the norms and requirements of the group is
dealing with authority. You don’t want to be told what to do or waste time in
routine tasks. In this instance, sacrifice acquires a martyr flavoring. You accept
suffering for the sake of the larger cause, while imagining an idealized future
that equalizes authority. You feel good about the sacrifices you make for family
and valued choices. At your worst, you overbook yourself with too many social
interests and activities, making it difficult to commit.

Type 8: Friendship

In the social domain the robust assertive energy (lust) tests for and builds true
friendships with people who share your values and sense of justice. You develop
camaraderie after you’ve tested the limits and seen that others can match your
stamina and be counted on honorably for directness and feedback. You join in
activities, events and social causes that take precedence over your personal
needs. You are true to the group and influence it according to your own sense of
justice, giving your vital energy unhesitatingly. Leadership seems to fall upon
you. Together you struggle for justice and wins, all of which overcome any sense
of powerlessness. You are like brothers and sisters in arms sharing a mutual
respect and common purpose. These affiliations even overcome your loner tendency.
At your worst, your intense absorption in social friendships, in community
building, and in worthy projects can, paradoxically, dominate your life.

Type 9: Participation

In the social domain you join with a group and channel your sloth or inertia into
comforting group and social activities. Through participation, you feel included
and loved. You can totally forget your own agenda as you fill up with social
interaction and activities. In leadership you can be quite selfless. You dispense
and disperse your energy into timetables, procedures, roles and goals. You promote
the welfare of the group or community through your selfless participation and
ability to mediate. You can find a comfortable niche and sense of belonging.
Moreover, participation and defined activities keep you from experiencing the
inertia or sloth toward yourself. At your worst, you can get swallowed up in the
minutia of group activities, and become preoccupied with fitting in. You don’t
speak up when you know a better way, because it’s easier to go along to get along.