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On the Evolution of Enneagram Types
How did the Enneagram personality types evolve? Do animals have Enneagram Types? Can the Enneagram system help us understand the evolution of personality? In this thought-provoking book, medical doctor Saleh Vallander, author of The Neurobiology of the Enneagram , draws from the field of neuroscience to explore the evolutionary origins of the Enneagram Types. Get ready to see the Enneagram in a whole new light as this insightful book takes you on a journey of discovery and understanding.
155 pages, Paperback
Published August 14, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 22, 2023
In "On the Evolution of Enneagram Types," Dr. Vallander makes a strong case for the nine Enneagram types both having an evolutionary origin and serving an evolutionary advantage.
A large portion of his hypotheses build upon Jaak Panksepp's work in affective neuroscience. Panksepp names seven primary-process emotional systems; fear, rage, grief, seeking, lust, care and play. He hypothesizes fear, rage and grief to be linked respectively to the head, gut and heart centres in the Enneagram model. He suggests a few possibilities as to how these may be related and organized. Instincts are addressed similarly, by linking Seeking to the self-preservation instinct, lust to the sexual instinct and both care & play to the social instinct. He supports his case also by proposing an evolutionary timeline for the development of these instincts in animal and humans. To this note, he even considers that animals may manifest personality types, proposing that they may manifest some or all possible enneagram types based on their complexity. He also does not rule out nurture as possibly exerting a small or even significant effect on Ennea-type development.
A strength of Dr. Vallander's writing is the clarity and relative simplicity of his writing. I found the simplicity somewhat deceptive, as a reader with grounding in relevant disciplines will understand the ideas expressed far more than the lay reader. Still it appears to be a solid introduction for those not versed in neuroscience or evolutionary biology. Another strength he demonstrates is a clear distinction between facts, supported data and hypothesis/speculation. Rather than try and 'sell' his case, he communicates for the purpose of the reader understanding his ideas and does not overstate his points.
I will be curious how this and future writings by Dr. Vallander will be received by the larger Enneagram community. To date, I have not seen a large interest in possible scientific underpinnings. Lay users of the model typically are more concerned with perceived subjective accuracy and most teachers and coaches I have encountered are more focused on functional application of the model in various settings. Where this may be a real boon is those who have some interest in the model but remain skeptical of any objective underpinnings and desire a model with both intuitive and scientific support.
A large portion of his hypotheses build upon Jaak Panksepp's work in affective neuroscience. Panksepp names seven primary-process emotional systems; fear, rage, grief, seeking, lust, care and play. He hypothesizes fear, rage and grief to be linked respectively to the head, gut and heart centres in the Enneagram model. He suggests a few possibilities as to how these may be related and organized. Instincts are addressed similarly, by linking Seeking to the self-preservation instinct, lust to the sexual instinct and both care & play to the social instinct. He supports his case also by proposing an evolutionary timeline for the development of these instincts in animal and humans. To this note, he even considers that animals may manifest personality types, proposing that they may manifest some or all possible enneagram types based on their complexity. He also does not rule out nurture as possibly exerting a small or even significant effect on Ennea-type development.
A strength of Dr. Vallander's writing is the clarity and relative simplicity of his writing. I found the simplicity somewhat deceptive, as a reader with grounding in relevant disciplines will understand the ideas expressed far more than the lay reader. Still it appears to be a solid introduction for those not versed in neuroscience or evolutionary biology. Another strength he demonstrates is a clear distinction between facts, supported data and hypothesis/speculation. Rather than try and 'sell' his case, he communicates for the purpose of the reader understanding his ideas and does not overstate his points.
I will be curious how this and future writings by Dr. Vallander will be received by the larger Enneagram community. To date, I have not seen a large interest in possible scientific underpinnings. Lay users of the model typically are more concerned with perceived subjective accuracy and most teachers and coaches I have encountered are more focused on functional application of the model in various settings. Where this may be a real boon is those who have some interest in the model but remain skeptical of any objective underpinnings and desire a model with both intuitive and scientific support.
October 20, 2023
Saleh Vallander is a medical doctor, enneagram teacher, and meditation expert. He is also an expert in affective neuroscience. In On the Evolution of Enneagram Types, Saleh brings neuroscience and the enneagram together to provide an overview on how they connect.
In the book, Saleh succinctly describes the nine enneagram types and the three instinctual drives, including the center triads and the lines of stress and growth. He then introduces concepts connected to the neuroscience of emotion, focusing on the seven primary-process emotional systems—three of them “negative,” and four of them “positive.”
Saleh then demonstrates how the neuroscience concepts and the enneagram categories are remarkably congruent. The three “negative” emotional systems overlap with the enneagram center triads, and the four “positive” emotional systems correspond to the enneagram instinctual drives (one of the instinctual drives encompasses two emotional systems). He shows his research, providing quotes from respected scholars of both neuroscience and the enneagram of personality. In a couple of areas, Saleh presents hypotheses, and I appreciated that he pointed this out, differentiating the hypotheses from established concepts. I saw this as an example of his professionalism and precision as a researcher and a writer.
This is a short book, but it has a lot of information in it. The book is both engaging and informative. I appreciated the book’s clarity—a lot of enneagram books can get pretty esoteric and difficult to understand. Saleh also explains the scientific material clearly. I’m someone who enjoys science but have never been good at it, and I was able to understand all parts of the book.
I highly recommend On the Evolution of Enneagram Types for anyone who wants to learn more about the enneagram, especially for people who are curious about how personalities evolved in living things. Saleh even discusses whether animals have enneagram types—and if so, which animals? I enjoyed the book and learned a lot. There is a lot of misinformation out there about the enneagram, but Saleh’s work is consistently reliable.
In the book, Saleh succinctly describes the nine enneagram types and the three instinctual drives, including the center triads and the lines of stress and growth. He then introduces concepts connected to the neuroscience of emotion, focusing on the seven primary-process emotional systems—three of them “negative,” and four of them “positive.”
Saleh then demonstrates how the neuroscience concepts and the enneagram categories are remarkably congruent. The three “negative” emotional systems overlap with the enneagram center triads, and the four “positive” emotional systems correspond to the enneagram instinctual drives (one of the instinctual drives encompasses two emotional systems). He shows his research, providing quotes from respected scholars of both neuroscience and the enneagram of personality. In a couple of areas, Saleh presents hypotheses, and I appreciated that he pointed this out, differentiating the hypotheses from established concepts. I saw this as an example of his professionalism and precision as a researcher and a writer.
This is a short book, but it has a lot of information in it. The book is both engaging and informative. I appreciated the book’s clarity—a lot of enneagram books can get pretty esoteric and difficult to understand. Saleh also explains the scientific material clearly. I’m someone who enjoys science but have never been good at it, and I was able to understand all parts of the book.
I highly recommend On the Evolution of Enneagram Types for anyone who wants to learn more about the enneagram, especially for people who are curious about how personalities evolved in living things. Saleh even discusses whether animals have enneagram types—and if so, which animals? I enjoyed the book and learned a lot. There is a lot of misinformation out there about the enneagram, but Saleh’s work is consistently reliable.
October 2, 2023
This book sets out in a logical, step-by-step and clear way a hugely engaging train of thought around how Enneagram patterns (personality structures) and instinctual drives may be linked to the neurobiology of the brain. In this way, very complex material suddenly becomes understandable and accessible: a refreshing experience as a reader. On The Evolution of Enneagram Types starts from a set of solid, well-supported hypotheses that provide clarity and direction. As a Professional Certified Coach and Enneagram Teacher, I am always eager to find puzzle pieces in complex questions such as 'why did 'nature' give us a personality when it has so many drawbacks, why does our personality arise through nature, nurture -or both, how and why are our personality and instincts linked to our three Intelligence Centers (Gut-Heart-Brain) and also: could it be that I recognize Enneagram types in my dogs?
There will probably always remain some mystery in these themes, and other authors' spiritual answers to some of these questions definitely retain their place. And yet it is precisely the link to biology, neuroscience and evolutionary theory that will give the Enneagram more support among a wider audience -especially in the business world. This book is another important contribution by the author to help people see the Enneagram for what it is: a genius and logical system that provides unprecedented insight into our human nature and offers endless possibilities to realise our true potential. For me, Saleh Vallander is surely an author to keep an eye on!
There will probably always remain some mystery in these themes, and other authors' spiritual answers to some of these questions definitely retain their place. And yet it is precisely the link to biology, neuroscience and evolutionary theory that will give the Enneagram more support among a wider audience -especially in the business world. This book is another important contribution by the author to help people see the Enneagram for what it is: a genius and logical system that provides unprecedented insight into our human nature and offers endless possibilities to realise our true potential. For me, Saleh Vallander is surely an author to keep an eye on!
November 24, 2023
Dr. Saleh Vallander's "On the Evolution of Enneagram Types" (2023) offers a compelling and thought-provoking exploration of the enneagram system through the lens of evolutionary psychology and neurobiology. He builds on his previous work to delve into the correlation between the enneagram and Jaak Panksepp's seven primary-process emotional systems, providing a rich, scientific backdrop to a traditionally psychological and spiritual framework.
Dr. Vallander's book is a must-read for those interested in the intersection of personality theory, neuroscience, and evolutionary psychology. It is a scholarly yet accessible work that adds a significant new dimension to understanding the enneagram system.
I appreciate the synthesis of complex ideas into a coherent narrative in this book that inspires further thought and research into the nature of personality.
Dr. Vallander's book is a must-read for those interested in the intersection of personality theory, neuroscience, and evolutionary psychology. It is a scholarly yet accessible work that adds a significant new dimension to understanding the enneagram system.
I appreciate the synthesis of complex ideas into a coherent narrative in this book that inspires further thought and research into the nature of personality.
October 16, 2023
I met enneagram on 2012 and found it as excellent approach to help my coaching clients in their growing process, despite of lack of scientific approval (actually I didn`t met such at those times). Im happy to notice, that more and more scientific minds start to look on enneagram as something valuable and, as result there arises more clear view on this system. Now Im happy to say, that it is not an esoteric approach, completely not, and this particular book is another input for credibility of enneagram. Please, read it, discuss here mentioned ideas and hypothesis about evolution of enneagram types... and keep your mind open to ancient wisdom, what could be used in nowadays.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews