Your breakdown of how the U.S. embodies Type Three traits is incredibly compelling—especially the emphasis on image, achievement, and self-deception. The example of the Golden Spike really drives home how the country’s historical narrative often prioritizes a clean, triumphant story over a more complex truth. You touched on how Threes can struggle with self-deception and denial of failure. Do you think this explains some of the cultural resistance to reckoning with difficult parts of U.S. history? And what might help shift that resistance?
The Enneagram teaches that each type has a point of integration and disintegration. If the U.S. is a Three, what would it look like for the country to integrate its Six qualities in a positive way? And conversely, how do you see the U.S. falling into Nine-like disintegration?
This has been so thought-provoking, thank you for sharing! I'm doing an Enneagram series on my Substack right now, check it out if you're interested :)
You are thinking the exact thing I was that our cultural Three-ness could help explain why we have such a hard time reckoning with difficult parts of our past, especially racial reconciliation. Our Canadian neighbors have done a much better job of this with their Truth and Reconciliation commission than we have. Although I understand from my Canadian friends that there is still a lot of work to do concerning righting wrongs for the First Nations peoples there. But at least they’ve stated publicly what those wrongs are. The U.S. as a country has done precious little of that. I wonder if Canada might be a Nine?? But as for your other questions I don’t know as I’ve barely started studying the Enneagram. But it’s definitely worth pursuing I think.
Very interesting, Louise. I didn't know anything about the enneagram. You certainly have our president pegged as t a three. But all of us have some of a three inside us. I both succumb to it and rise above it. Yin and yang?
I think all of us in the culture have Three tendencies no matter what our innate type is. And yes, sometimes we recognize and push against it and sometimes don’t. I’ve also found that the books tend to lean more on the negative qualities of each type in the descriptions, so I don’t want to make it sound like Threes are all bad. The entrepreneurial spirit of the U.S. is definitely a positive side of Three that this country has.
Such an interesting parallel! Agree with you about the U.S. being a 3 although I never thought about it. I did think about the Pres before though, and I assumed he is an 8?
I am by no means an expert, but my understanding is that while an 8 type can definitely be aggressive, which tracks, it is more that they are aggressive in pursuit of justice (however justice appears to them) and a 3 is aggressive in pursuit of success. So I’m feeling more 3 energy from our prez. The hyper-focus on appearance, desire to be seen as successful (“we’re winning!”) and a pathological inability to admit failure are what did it for me. That and the description of how Threes believe their own lies. It seemed tailor made!
Thank you for this insight!
Your breakdown of how the U.S. embodies Type Three traits is incredibly compelling—especially the emphasis on image, achievement, and self-deception. The example of the Golden Spike really drives home how the country’s historical narrative often prioritizes a clean, triumphant story over a more complex truth. You touched on how Threes can struggle with self-deception and denial of failure. Do you think this explains some of the cultural resistance to reckoning with difficult parts of U.S. history? And what might help shift that resistance?
The Enneagram teaches that each type has a point of integration and disintegration. If the U.S. is a Three, what would it look like for the country to integrate its Six qualities in a positive way? And conversely, how do you see the U.S. falling into Nine-like disintegration?
This has been so thought-provoking, thank you for sharing! I'm doing an Enneagram series on my Substack right now, check it out if you're interested :)
You are thinking the exact thing I was that our cultural Three-ness could help explain why we have such a hard time reckoning with difficult parts of our past, especially racial reconciliation. Our Canadian neighbors have done a much better job of this with their Truth and Reconciliation commission than we have. Although I understand from my Canadian friends that there is still a lot of work to do concerning righting wrongs for the First Nations peoples there. But at least they’ve stated publicly what those wrongs are. The U.S. as a country has done precious little of that. I wonder if Canada might be a Nine?? But as for your other questions I don’t know as I’ve barely started studying the Enneagram. But it’s definitely worth pursuing I think.
Fascinating, Louise! Thanks for the insight!
Very interesting, Louise. I didn't know anything about the enneagram. You certainly have our president pegged as t a three. But all of us have some of a three inside us. I both succumb to it and rise above it. Yin and yang?
I think all of us in the culture have Three tendencies no matter what our innate type is. And yes, sometimes we recognize and push against it and sometimes don’t. I’ve also found that the books tend to lean more on the negative qualities of each type in the descriptions, so I don’t want to make it sound like Threes are all bad. The entrepreneurial spirit of the U.S. is definitely a positive side of Three that this country has.
Such an interesting parallel! Agree with you about the U.S. being a 3 although I never thought about it. I did think about the Pres before though, and I assumed he is an 8?
I am by no means an expert, but my understanding is that while an 8 type can definitely be aggressive, which tracks, it is more that they are aggressive in pursuit of justice (however justice appears to them) and a 3 is aggressive in pursuit of success. So I’m feeling more 3 energy from our prez. The hyper-focus on appearance, desire to be seen as successful (“we’re winning!”) and a pathological inability to admit failure are what did it for me. That and the description of how Threes believe their own lies. It seemed tailor made!
Fascinating!