Enneagram Triads and Harmonic Groups Flashcards
6 cards from real Enneagram Test practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Enneagram Triads and Harmonic Groups flashcards as text
What is the primary coping mechanism of the Positive Outlook Harmonic types (2, 7, 9) that can become problematic?
Answer: Reframing or denying difficulties to maintain a positive self-image and avoid pain
Positive Outlook types cope by putting a positive spin on difficulties, which becomes problematic when they deny genuine pain, avoid conflict, or bypass necessary grief and anger.
The 'Gut Triad' is another name for the Body Center types. Which three types form this group?
Answer: 8, 9, 1
Types 8, 9, and 1 form the Gut/Body/Instinctive Triad, united by gut-level instinctual responses and the underlying core emotion of anger.
What do all three Harmonic Groups (Positive Outlook, Competency, Reactive) ultimately represent?
Answer: The three primary coping strategies people use when they encounter difficulty, conflict, or frustration
The Harmonic Groups classify the three fundamental coping strategies that emerge when types face difficulty — reframing positively, solving competently, or reacting emotionally.
Which Enneagram theorist is particularly associated with the Hornevian groups (Assertive, Compliant, Withdrawn)?
Answer: Karen Horney (adapted by Riso/Hudson)
The Hornevian groupings were adapted from the psychoanalytic work of Karen Horney, who identified three social movements — toward, against, and away from others — and applied to Enneagram types by Riso and Hudson.
In the Enneagram, what do the 'Lines' or 'Arrows' connecting types on the diagram represent?
Answer: The dynamic movement of energy in stress (disintegration) and growth (integration) directions
The arrows or lines connecting non-adjacent types on the Enneagram diagram represent the directions of disintegration (stress) and integration (growth) for each type.
The Enneagram symbol includes a triangle connecting which three types?
Answer: 3, 6, 9
The inner triangle of the Enneagram symbol connects types 3, 6, and 9 — the center types of the three triads — forming a geometric element within the nine-pointed figure.
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