Work Text:
I've been researching the Enneagram recently, and I've been using it to analyze Avery's personality traits. I hope these insights can be used as an interesting character analysis article and provide some assistance in writing the Mansion storyline.
I know you are not familiar with MBTI, and my understanding of MBTI is also limited. I feel that MBTI hasn't particularly excelled in describing Avery's personality traits. At this point, a friend of mine happened to introduce me to the Enneagram theory. After reading the description, I realized that the description of Type 3 (The Achiever) perfectly aligns with how Avery behaves. I have expanded on some of my thoughts and analyses about them based on this. Additionally, while reading the literature related to the Enneagram, some of the "Avery problems" that I couldn't figure out were also resolved.
What is the Enneagram?
The Enneagram is a model of human personality, which is a typology that divides humans into nine interconnected personality types. Each point on the nine-pointed star in the Enneagram represents a different personality type. There are various connections between the types. The Enneagram is not psychology.
Proper Nouns and Explanations
Personality Types:
1 (The Reformer): Perfectionist, Improver, Principle Defender, Ambassador of Order, Rightness Type.
2 (The Helper): Achiever for Others, Helper, Altruist, Ambassador of Love, Service Type.
3 (The Achiever): Performer, Practical Type, Doer.
4 (The Individualist): Romantic, Artistic Type, Individualist, Sensitive Type.
5 (The Investigator): Thinker, Intellectual Type.
6 (The Loyalist): Seeker of Security, Cautious Type, Loyal Skeptic.
7 (The Enthusiast): Creator of Possibilities, Active Type, Pleasure Seeker.
8 (The Challenger): Authoritative Type, Power Type, Commander.
9 (The Peacemaker): Harmonious Type, Easygoing Type.
Wings:
The personality types adjacent to a person's primary type are considered their wings. For example, a Type 3's wings could be Type 2 or Type 4, denoted as 3w2 or 3w4. While both are Type 3, they can be further classified as Type 3s leaning towards Type 2 or Type 3s leaning towards Type 4, and their worldview will differ accordingly. There are a total of 18 wing combinations.
Instinct Variants and Stacking:
Each personality type has three instinct variants. The variants are primarily divided by three basic biological desires: "Self-preservation" (SP), "Social" (SO), and "One-to-one/Intimate" (Sexual), abbreviated as SX.
Survival/SP: Maintaining existing safety and comfort. Material possessions, money.
Social/SO: Wanting to be liked, approved of, and feel safe in social settings, usually finding it harder to form intimate relationships. Gaining attention, honor, leadership.
Sexual/SX: Desiring continuous exhilarating experiences (often sexual, hence the name Sexual) but its essence is "selecting specific elements," and SX users focus intently on them (thus SX appears passionate and emotionally intense). Sex appeal, intimate relationships, charisma.
A person will have a dominant (dom) instinct variant, an auxiliary (aux) variant, and a blind variant.
Dom: The most instinctive response, a person's "orientation."
Aux: Assists the dom in achieving its goals, used as a means.
Blind: 1. Overuse or self-perceived proficiency: overexertion, misdirection. 2. Refusal to use: "I don't care," prioritized abandonment. 3. Repeating mistakes: failing to identify the problem.
The dom variant is the individual's primary focus, while the aux serves as a tool to achieve the dom's objectives. I believe Eden's and Kylar's instinct stacking can be used as an explanation. The former is SP/SX, while the latter is SX/SP. Eden uses controlling the PC (SX) to achieve their goal of staying away from the town (SP); Kylar uses self-sacrifice (SP) to achieve intimacy with the PC (SX). Both have SO as their blind variant, and because of their different stacks, their expressions are quite distinct.
Energy Classification:
Thinking Centre / Feeling Centre / Action Centre
Thinking Centre
Driven by thought, centered in the head.
5 (The Investigator): Loves knowledge.
6 (The Loyalist): Loves doubt.
7 (The Enthusiast): Loves pleasure.
Feeling Centre
Driven by emotion, centered in the heart.
2 (The Helper): Loves giving.
3 (The Achiever): Loves achieving.
4 (The Individualist): Loves uniqueness.
Action Centre
Driven by action experience, centered in the gut (also known as the body center).
8 (The Challenger): Loves power.
9 (The Peacemaker): Loves selflessness.
1 (The Reformer): Loves standards.
Tritype:
Everyone possesses characteristics of each of the nine Enneagram types to some degree. By identifying the highest-scoring or most similar type within the Thinking Centre, Feeling Centre, and Action Centre, one can determine their Tritype. Different Tritypes exhibit unique features, and even among those with the same Tritype, the dominant type influences their personality differently. For example, if someone scores highest in the Thinking Centre as a 1, in the Feeling Centre as a 4, and in the Action Centre as a 7, their Tritype could be listed as 4-7-1 or 7-4-1 depending on which type scores highest. Although both Tritypes contain the numbers 1, 4, and 7, their personalities and characteristics will be distinct.
---------------------------------------------------------
I'm glad I can finally get to the point! There's an app called Pdb where a group of typology enthusiasts discuss the personalities of fictional characters using various models, including but not limited to MBTI, Enneagram, Attitudinal Psyche, and more. Given the multitude of types, today I want to focus on the Enneagram.
According to the Pdb poll results, Avery is seen as either a 3w4 or 3w2 (the votes are tied), with a so/sx-386 stack.
I believe Avery exhibits different wings with different individuals. Sometimes they are a 3w2, and other times they are a 3w4. However, I think they lean more towards 3w4. Their stack would be so/sp-387. I will discuss this from the perspectives of wings, stack, and Tritype.
Introduction to Type 3:
Energetic and always highly motivated, Type 3s have a strong desire to win and enjoy taking on challenges, often linking their self-worth to their achievements. They pursue their goals wholeheartedly, believing "nothing is impossible." They are well-suited to leadership roles and guiding others.
Basic Fear: Failure, lack of achievement, being unaccomplished.
Corresponding Desire: Vanity.
Basic Desire: To feel valuable and accepted; to pursue results and be first.
Main Characteristics: Strong competitiveness, pursuit of success, frequent comparison with others, measuring their self-worth by their achievements, focusing on image (chameleon-like), workaholism, fear of expressing inner feelings; desire to gain everyone's approval. Ambitious, outcome-oriented, aiming to stand out and be admired, becoming the center of attention.
Primary Traits: Confidence, energetic, humorous, assured, smooth in social interactions, proactive, diligent.
Lifestyle: Loves to talk about their achievements, avoids failure, excels in setting goals, acts quickly.
Narcissism and Showboating: Type 3s tend to view themselves as successful and important, leading to narcissism and self-inflation. They prefer to present their best side, and in extreme cases, may lie to maintain their image. Often, their actual abilities may not match their claims, as their expressions can be exaggerated.
Fear of Intimacy: Type 3s fear intimate relationships. When a relationship deepens, they might avoid it due to the fear of their true self being seen. Thus, forming intimate or close friendships is challenging for Type 3s, as they fear being truly seen and find it difficult to open up and engage honestly with others.
Wings
3w2 - The Star
3w2s are known as "The Stars," and their social interactions are purposeful. They enjoy being the center of attention and are eager to showcase themselves. They know how to impress others, making their performances an essential skill to draw people's attention and become the focal point.
3w2 is a blend of success and relationships. While striving for success, they also want to bring those around them along for the ride. They do not wish to walk the path to success alone and care about the people around them, encouraging everyone to succeed together. They are incredibly charismatic individuals.
I believe Avery exhibits their 3w2 traits in social situations. They love performing, being in the spotlight, and being flattered. However, in the workplace, Avery's behavior is less generous than that of a typical 3w2. They prefer to succeed alone.
3w4 - The Expert
3w4s, known as "The Experts," find "meaning" crucial in their actions, feelings, and relationships.
3w4s seek success, but they also link "self-worth" with "success," caring about the value of their achievements. Hence, those with this combination tie what they do to their self-worth, making expertise the only way to fulfill their value.
They usually present themselves as calm and capable, earning admiration as professional talents. However, beneath the successful exterior lies a hint of self-contempt, making them appear mysterious and hard to understand in the eyes of others.
Avery displays 3w4 traits in their career.
In terms of career, Avery seems more like a 4w3. I previously asked two questions:
Does Avery want their accomplishments to be "reproducible"?
By themselves, but not others.
If the answer is affirmative, it would indicate 3w4 traits.
Does Avery want their accomplishments to be extraordinary and unique?
Aye.
This is characteristic of 4w3, as they reject mediocrity and value personal uniqueness.
I believe Avery's instinct variant should be SO-Dom. While they may seem like a 3w2, they are actually influenced by SO, placing great importance on their work and achievements. From a professional standpoint, Avery appears more like a 3w4.
Distinguishing Between 3w4 and 4w3:
3s are more concerned with their achievements, while 4s care more about their identity.
Does Avery care who they are? (A philosophical question: who am I)
They care more about who they might become.
(Type 4)
Or does Avery just want to be popular and not care who they are?
They care about being popular more too, aye.
(Type 3)
Tritype
In Avery's Thinking Centre/Feeling Centre/Action Centre dynamics, I believe they are 7-3-8, rearranged based on the dominance of types to 3-8-7.
3 (The Achiever): Achievement, practicality.
8 (The Challenger): Power, authority, command.
7 (The Enthusiast): Pleasure, active, possibilities.
Some others suggest Avery might be a 6 in the Thinking Centre instead of 7, but a Thinking Centre 6 seems too compliant and passive for Avery. Type 6 tends to follow authority, is conservative, and passive, not fitting Avery's profile as a leader.
3-8-7: Confident, self-motivated, quick and efficient. Responds immediately to any challenge, resists being controlled.
3-8-6: Success-oriented and outstanding explorer. Reacts swiftly, leveraging opportunities while fighting for justice.
Regarding the Avery problems:
I used to be quite fixated on asking you what exactly fills Avery's void. Your response was that it's complicated. I've been pondering this for a long time, but today, while reading a book, I found the answer — Type Three individuals find value simply in their existence. They need to do things they want to do, not just things that bring achievements afterward. So, you see, it's understandable why this is so complex to answer, because Avery themselves doesn't know what they truly need. They find it difficult to stop chasing and explore their own inner selves. Trying to abandon applause and discover what's suppressed in their heart? That's the way Type Threes become whole.
In summary, what I mean is, Avery can't be fulfilled without settling down, but if Avery settles down, they wouldn't be like Avery anymore. This paradox fascinates me, and I'm surprised that this simple answer took me so long to realize — ever since that first month of my excessive infatuation with them, I've known their inner self was lacking something. But how to fill it, I've never quite known.
Vrelnir:
Thank you for sharing with me your Enneagram Avery analysis, as well as the detailed explanation of Enneagram theory. I'm not well versed in psychology by any means. I've read Nietzsche, whose concept of human behaviour being the product of a spectrum of drives, at once in conflict in one another and unified, has similarities to this. He liked the idea of personality archetypes, and was interested in the interplay between the individual and the social fabric they are woven into.
I created Avery before reading Nietzsche though. Forgive me for the "it's complicated" answers, I know they're not very enlightening! Describing my characters feels like I'm describing people real, authentic, and alien to me. So it's unsurprising that it can be difficult for me to articulate just what motivates them, Avery perhaps moreso than most, as I'm not altogether sure what motivates myself!
Having said that, I think your analysis is very good way to explain Avery's behaviour. Avery would indeed be transformed were they to acquire what they need. Perhaps this is could be said to be what separates the villainous characters in DoL from the "good" characters, like the PC. The good characters are whole, even when humble, or horribly traumatised, while the villains seem to be shattered, with important aspects cast out, buried, or otherwise ignored.
I'm not surprised that 3w2 and 3w4 are the two most popular types for Avery by poll. However, I agree they lean more towards 3w4, albeit this is based on my limited understanding of Enneagram Types. They certainly exhibit themselves differently with different individuals though, and I can see the 3w2. However, 3w2 to me implies an altruistic streak, which Avery does not possess. Not in a typical way at least. Regardless, Avery is surely under the Type 3 umbrella. I think Avery's wings are clipped.
As for Tritypes, the disagreement about whether Type 6 or 7 fits their Thinking Centre better is interesting to me. Some less-dominant aspects of Avery's personality are yet to be explored, but will come up when their interactions with Remy are included. That's not to say they'll ever be docile, but they are willing to be more passive and compliant, at least temporarily, for the sake of greater power and prestige. I'd say Type 7 is a better fit, but a Type 7 leaning towards Type 6.
Thanks again for taking the time to write this up.