Subtypes
The subtypes in Attitudinal Psyche are patterns of surface-level behaviors that give each attitude in one’s type a specific “flavor”. These flavors point to a deeper strategy that is often accompanied by one’s ego defense strategy, also known as the core enneagram type. The subtypes are formed by recognizing which dichotomies are high-contrast versus low-contrast. Any dichotomy that sticks out independently as high-contrast compared to the other two will take on a subtype that shares that dichotomy (example: 1X-3 has a high-contrast others-negative dichotomy). Accentuated has high levels of all 3 dichotomies within that attitude, while Obscured has low levels of all 3, so these two subtypes are opposite flavors of the same attitude. If you are interested in booking a session or would like to submit a typing video to be analyzed to figure out your subtype – please visit the typing services page here.
Confident Subtypes
1X-1 “Accentuated” (High Contrast)
The 1-1 subtype is the easiest to identify because it is supremely confident and protective over its own understanding of the aspect held within. This is also the most common subtype for the confident attitude. This type believes that their greatest gift lies within their ability to come up with quick answers regarding the aspect and will refuse to mitigate its understanding to other parts of the personality. The tendency is for the 1-1 subtype to come up with precise monologues about their opinions. They can come off as rude, cruel, or snappy if one criticizes their confident aspect – but will not see themselves as being this way. Instead, they view their opinions as standalone and obvious, so the internal thoughts are, “Why would I need to explain, as what I said speaks for itself.” However, they are also aware of how they can be harmed and make sure they are constantly developing their skills within the aspect to avoid weakness.
1X-2 “Overlay”
The 1-2 subtype is the most openly fierce and fearless of the confident attitudes. They tend to overlay their confident aspect over top of their flexible aspect which creates a doubly strong energy that is quite visceral in nature – even if they have communicative aspects in those positions (Emotion & Logic). This subtype is attempting to hide all vulnerabilities by openly asserting what they believe while helping others come to the same conclusions that the 1-2 possesses themselves. Although they can come off flexible at first glance, the closer you become to this subtype, the easier it is to see just how one-sided they perceive information within the aspect. For this reason, the 1-2 subtype can tend to look like a seesaw. They will go from intense sharing of information, to cutting off anyone who disagrees with it and moving on. This subtype is most focused on the vulnerabilities that could incapacitate their first aspect, and they are highly aware of what that could be. This subtype seems to be quite rare.
1X-3 “Candid”
The 1-3 subtype is the most raw about their own weaknesses and vulnerabilities. They recognize how they could be destroyed by others and tend to openly reference and discuss it more than any of the other confident subtypes. They internalize and worry about what could stop them from bringing their best to a situation and do not mind sharing it with others. There is an inclination to dig at what the truth is regarding their own nature. The 1-3 subtype needs to figure out how they could be harmed so they can protect their greatest gift. However, though they themselves are willing to share and be candid about what they are experiencing, this does not mean they want you to tell them what to do or how to live. They will resist outside opinions and downplay them as they believe their own candid nature is far superior to anyone else’s. The 1-3 subtype wants to perfect confidence by developing strategies to avoid the vulnerability that exists within.
1X-4 “Standby”
The 1-4 subtype is the most results oriented of the confident attitudes. This type is taking their vulnerability and burying it until there is a point to bring it up or address it to gain a desired result. They prefer to blend into situations rather than immediately assert their opinion like the 1-1 (accentuated) or 1-2 subtype. They will put their gift of strength within the aspect on standby until it is needed. The aggression is highly understood by the person with this subtype and this is what differentiates it from the 4-1 subtype. However, this restraint can lead to situations where other people underestimate the power of those with this subtype, and in-turn, they feel shocked or surprised by the aggression that can come spilling out. This makes it more memorable for people, which is a defining feature of this type. The 1-4 subtype does not hesitate to share their opinions when prompted, they just prefer to keep a low profile as they believe this is the best way for them to honor their power within the first attitude.
1X-0 “Obscured” (Low Contrast)
The 1-0 subtype is the most difficult to recognize out of the confident attitudes. This type is mostly ambivalent or neutral about their greatest gift in the first attitude. They may have trouble seeing their own patterns of reaction and believe that they truly do not care about the aspect held within. The 1-0 subtype rarely sees themselves as “merged” or “becoming” the aspect and therefore refuses to admit to any sort of selfishness that they may have concerning their confidences. This type can fall asleep to what they bring to the world and how they experience their own ego, so there is a lot of refusing to take ownership or blame over things that they have a hand in causing. This subtype is the most likely to mistype as another core AP type.
Flexible Subtypes
2X-1 “Follow-me”
The 2-1 subtype is the most leaderlike of the flexible subtypes. They are prone to stating their opinions flat out regarding the aspect held within. There is little holding back with this subtype as they are attempting to use their fearless aspect to lead by example. They seem to want to create higher levels of standards that others can observe and adopt for themselves. The 2-1 subtype is still a process-oriented attitude at its core, so they are not trying to conclude the aspect like a true confident attitude would. However, they genuinely want others to follow their lead and overcome fears and obstacles by being as fearless as they present themselves to be. The follow-me subtype is looking for opportunities to express itself and become a bastion of hope for those who are less confident. This subtype is not as argumentative as the 2-3 subtype, but more unrelenting, blunt, and willing to impart its knowledge endlessly in a confident manner. This type reports a strong need to guide others to discover their best selves in the aspect, and this is their greatest gift.
2X-2 “Accentuated” (High Contrast)
The 2-2 subtype is the most obvious to identify out of all the flexible subtypes. They tend to have a huge range of information and opinions towards the aspect. There is a constant need to move forward with this subtype so they can explore every piece of information that is illuminated in their own mind. They focus on a balance of information between themselves and others. For this reason, they are always testing their opinions with others, desiring to have consistent dialogue. This subtype rarely ever gets tired of sharing information or expressing their opinion about the aspect. They may come off as overly talkative and unconcerned about getting a desired result as exploration is the focus. The 2-2 subtype can undergo the most intense pressure placed on it without budging. The reason for this, is because they continue to be curious about the “why” behind every construct, even if it means putting themselves in precarious situations. They have the most patience for others who are destructive and skeptical.
2X-3 “Elaborate”
The 2-3 subtype is the most argumentative of the flexible subtypes. This type desires feedback no matter what the situation is and will purposely pry at people to get them to respond. They offer up many options to problems and will even explore the negatives. This subtype can get lost in feeling as if they must solve issues. They worry about how dead ends could cut them off from exploring things deeper, so to counter this they will dedicate themselves to uncovering hidden obstacles. They are not fearful of the aspect itself, but rather fearful of how outside influences (especially of their own insecure aspect) can limit them from imparting their greatest gift to others. They wish to deeply elaborate on the “why” behind every construct much like the 2-2 subtype, but there is a specific skepticism that is generally not present with the 2-2s. The 2-3 subtypes want to explore every closet, attic, basement, and crawl space of the aspect held within. They can come off as being insecure, but the defining difference between them and the insecure attitude is their positive reaction to obstacles.
2X-4 “Secondhand”
The 2-4 subtype is all about hoarding information. This subtype is shy, hidden, supportive, and deceptively fearless. The 2-4 subtype recognizes the gift they have for others but holds closely to it to use it for when the situation calls for it. They see themselves as a secondhand source of information that can be explored by others when necessary. For this reason, they often downplay their power, choosing to be modest instead. This subtype seems to be the rarest subtype of all 16. There is an awareness of appropriateness that no other subtype has, or at least not to the same degree of the 2-4s. They wish to support people in the most ideal way and if that means they must hold onto information for another time, they will do so. They tend to have an awareness of time and how it affects the perception of the aspect held within the flexible attitude. The nature of this subtype to bury information can make them mistype as the 4th attitude, but like all flexible subtypes, they do not back down from fearlessly discussing the aspect if fully engaged in it. They are genuinely self-positive, though it does not appear this way at first.
2X-0 “Obscured” (Low Contrast)
The 2-0 subtype can be seen as the most blunt, no-nonsense, lax, chill, and untalkative of the bunch. However, this does not necessarily mean that they are shy because they often simply do not wish to waste time. This type can tend to think that all information regarding the 2nd aspect is obvious so there’s no need to over-process it. The positives to this subtype is they are well attuned to useless banter and extra information, but the negatives are that they can fall into hibernation and cutting themselves off from others. This type tends to be very doubting of both the positives and negatives in situations. Eternal neutrality is often the resounding theme in their lives.
Insecure Subtypes
3X-1 “Façade”
Those with the 3-1 subtype are the most bold and aggressive out of all the third attitude subtypes. This subtype tends to mitigate to their confident aspect to create a façade of assuredness that enables them to avoid the insecurity and possible anxiety that may arise from engaging in their third aspect on its own. They will often refuse to back down or engage in processing information unless their defenses have been pierced by whoever it is that they are communicating with. One must break past the façade to entertain the information that the insecure attitude does truly wish to process (and needs it). The 3-1 subtype uses their reactive and sensitive nature to draw up fortitude in protecting what they think could harm them, even if the affront is slight or negligible.
3X-2 “Intrepid”
The 3-2 subtype tends to want to communicate with others in an objective way. This is the most likely insecure subtype to share what they experience of the aspect held within in an open and honest way. They commonly self-deprecate or make fun of their own insecurities and report doing this to ease the pain that suppressing fears can inflict on their psyche. They usually mistype when solely focusing on behavior, because they see themselves processing out information in relation to that aspect. As they dig deeper into their own perception, they will usually uncover the insecurities and type correctly. There is a tendency to be careful yet determined in communicating the information to others as they employ courage but are still dodging negative responses. This is where the name “Intrepid” comes in, because it is a courageous journey they are embarking upon. They may be undeterred from gathering experience within the third aspect but can sometimes deny how negatively it impacts them until it’s too late and they implode.
3X-3 “Accentuated” (High Contrast)
The 3-3 subtype is the easiest to identify as a true Insecure attitude as they generally do not hold back in negatively transmitting what makes them feel insecure. They will criticize and imagine others’ experiences next to their own to differentiate how they are in comparison. They question anyone else’s authority over the aspect and prefer to create their own experiences and intricate opinions that no one can criticize. This subtype tends to be the most openly sensitive to outside attacks (as all are sensitive under the surface), whether perceived or real. This means that the 3-A subject will behave in a variety of ways, making them difficult to pin down as their third attitude is constantly shifting and reacting – as is par for the course for this position. They tend to immediately react to information related to the aspect held within, even if their response is totally disproportionate to what was said or declared.
3X-4 “Trivial”
The 3-4 subtype tends to downplay their own insecurities and fears. They will often attempt to manage their anxiety with step-by-step instructions of how to “fix” their issues within the aspect and they do this on their own time more so than the other subtypes. They tend to escape direct challenges towards their opinion of the aspect or use mocking sarcasm and underhanded jabs to get back at the culprit before disconnecting. There may be more of a dormant phase present through their lives, with quick interweaving reactive phases. The 3-4 subtype frequently trivializes any attack made against them. What is usually unseen to the observer, is that the attack is bothering this subtype immensely and by trivializing it immediately, they have actually reacted but in a more concealed way.
3X-0 “Obscured” (Low Contrast)
The 3-0 subtype tends to be the most careless about defending itself. This type wants to ignore all insecurities that crop up in their awareness by neutralizing the problem and moving on. They may refuse to process sensitivities by acting as if nothing bothers them. “It’s fine” is a common phrase they incorporate into their dealings with the 3rd aspect. The 3-0 subtype has a difficult time realizing what the core issue is within themselves because they purposely obscure the feelings of dread as soon as they arise. This type is prone to outbursts after long periods of time suppressing their true frustrations and irritations surrounding the 3rd aspect.
Unbothered Subtypes
4X-1 “Self-sufficient”
The 4-1 subtype is the most flippant of the unbothered subtypes. When they do engage in the aspect, they tend to be bold, to-the-point, and quick to express their opinion. Unlike the other three subtypes, the self-sufficient subtype is willing to criticize others. However, this does not mean they hold onto negative judgments, as changing their minds is done with relative ease. The 4-1 subtype moves on even quicker than the accentuated subtype. They can get into trouble when they follow their natural tendency to downplay the importance of the fourth aspect while mitigating all opinions to how they manage their first aspect. For this reason, the 4-1 subtype can look shut off from others, preferring to be entirely self-sufficient. The growth path for this type is to recognize the power of exploring the realm of their fourth aspect while truly looking to others for guidance beyond what is needed in the exact moment. This subtype has an urgency about it that is reminiscent of the first attitude, yet it lacks the certainty, confidence, and true emboldened nature that the first attitude displays.
4X-2 “Venture”
The 4-2 subtype is the most open-minded and curious of the unbothered subtypes. They tend to get lost in options when engaging in the aspect. The 4-2’s barometer for dealing with discussion and processing of the aspect held within is extremely high. This may come off as confusing for others, as the 4-2 subtype can abruptly shut off communication once they feel that they have received enough information to decide. They are truly searching for results in the aspect, but they do so by venturing through the information and opinions at hand. This gives them a friendly, honest, and genuine aura. The 4-2 subtype is looking for ideal opinions but cannot quite grasp them. Much like a bulk shopper, they are trying things out to get the best deal that will last them long enough to place any concern on the back burner. This is what separates the 4-2 subtype from being a true process-oriented attitude, as once they find the answer, they are more than willing to move on. It stops becoming a journey once they can again separate themselves and find distinct answers. This does not mean that they distrust outside sources, but rather, they utilize them when needed.
4X-3 “Repellent”
The 4-3 subtype is the most prone to disgust of all the unbothered subtypes. This subtype tends to resist the aspect by processing what is worth spending their mental energy on. They tend to imagine all ideas and how they could be a roadblock to focusing on what they truly desire to focus on. Once they have fully understood the options, they repel what is unwanted, and reel in the strategies that save them time. They may go on monologuing tangents or explanations of how they see things as useless or annoying within the aspect, but they also have no issue with ignoring the aspect until a later time. There is a true lack of anxiety that we see present in the insecure attitudes, as the 4-3 subtype is only using this skeptical nature to figure out what is worth inviting into their mental sphere. Once they have figured out what is worth their time, they move on. They can sometimes mitigate to their third aspect which truly does cause them anxiety, and can further make them ignore their fourth aspect, almost making it invisible to themselves. Like the 4-1 subtype, the growth path for the 4-3 subtype is to explore their fourth aspect on its own without solely focusing on what disgusts them or feels like a time dump.
4X-4 “Accentuated” (High Contrast)
The 4-4 subtype is the most apparent and easily recognizable of the unbothered subtypes. They tend to downplay the importance of their 4th aspect regarding their own needs but will easily incorporate new blocks of information from outside sources. They identify where they stand with the aspect with ease and are genuinely fearless and unconcerned with how it might affect them long term. Anyone can come along with an opinion and impart it on the 4-4 subtype, as there is an openness to incorporating information verbatim. The accentuated subtype is like a connoisseur of the aspect, as they can absolutely see how others are skilled or lacking within. They can appear to be entirely at the mercy of others and must watch closely for manipulation as they may fall victim to insidious opinions. The accentuated subtype has the easiest time shutting the aspect off when there are other issues happening affecting their first three attitudinal aspects. They behave as chameleons when information regarding the aspect is brought up, willing to go with others so long as it means they do not have to engage and process it themselves. The growth path is recognizing all the dormant potential of information that lies within the aspect. Rather than abandoning information as they normally do, they must learn to incorporate it into a holistic and meaningful understanding.
4X-0 “Obscured” (Low Contrast)
The 4-0 subtype is the most prone to completely ignoring or denying the importance of the 4th aspect as a whole. This type tends to abandon any desire to receive information from others until it absolutely has to be done. They may struggle to cope with situations that involve the 4th aspect for long periods of time. Once they do deal with what’s limiting them they are quick to ignore or outright dismiss the 4th aspect again. This pattern leads to an adoption of an ambivalent attitude over time. This subtype can have issues staying grounded or doing and expressing things that seem pointless.