The United States of Enneagram

4/17/2013

American culture is often typed as an Enneagram Three. When you look a little more closely, however, you see a different story.

1. Massachusetts. Originally a puritanical colony, this clean and refined New England state still makes a stand for what it believes is morally right (it was the first state to legalise same-sex marriage, for example).

2. Mississippi. 'The Hospitality State' tops the charts for being the most charitable of all US states and is also known for its friendly, welcoming inhabitants.

3. California. Projecting a image of success, attractiveness, fame and glamour, California is 'The Golden State' (would a Three be content with Silver or Bronze?).

4. Tennessee. The home of blues artists and heartsick country ballads, it is also high-up on the charts for having the most cases of chronic depression of all the states (a telling sign of melancholy Fourishness).

5. Alaska. This isolated wilderness is the perfect place for Fives, who often like to distance themselves physically or mentally from the mainstream of society. Hermits, eccentrics and people who want lots of time to think can find solace here.

6. Utah. Sixes like to form an alliance, as they like the feeling of 'safety-in-numbers'. Apparently, 63% of Utah residents are Mormons. This, along with the fact that Utahns have been found to be extremely hard-working, cooperative and reliable, makes it the most Sixish state.

7. Florida. Theme parks, wetlands, beach parties, water parks, islands, boating, space travel... with unlimited fun options and a famously sunny outlook, this is the most Sevenish state of them all.

8. Nevada. In tough cowboy country, this state is famous for confrontation (one of its nicknames is 'The Battle Born State') and money-making. The original large casinos in Las Vegas were allegedly funded by the mob.

9. Hawaii. This warm, laid-back archipelago benefits from its harmonious Polynesian culture.The ancient Hawaiian practice of hoʻoponopono is way to let go of stress and reconcile confrontations... very Nineish.

4 Comments

C.Cox

8/31/2013 07:44:55 am

have to say I blanched a little reading about Mississippi's "charitable, friendly, welcoming" character representing 2s... since it also has one of the most violently oppressive, racist histories still affecting how safe (not to mention welcomed) some individuals feel today. I hope one day the motto will apply to people of all colors and orientations...

Dani

12/27/2019 06:29:24 am

I totally get how one could respond to the idea of MS being a "2" and finding it not quite a proper match (or even an offensive one), but what 2's are also known for being is "tribal".

Type 2's are indeed super relational and are maybe the greatest care givers on the planet, putting others first, but they also can circle wagons and retain that intense hospitality within their own ranks. They can be highly "in-group" oriented, coming across as very conscious of whether you belong with their association or not- whatever it happens to be.

I have seen 2's be so lovely and welcoming, until they decide someone doesn't "fit" into their structure. I have also seen 2's go from charming to condescending to people who do not appear to belong to the right group/club/family and shut them out entirely.

So, in regards to oppression... some of that (considering a possible 2 identity) could be that they are maintaining membership comfort/security for their own in-group by excluding others and keeping others in less power in order to protect their own tribal well being... which then prevents all those who do not fit into their membership- out.

I think we also have to consider that the collective people make up the state culture (aside from politics/legal structures) and it isn't just racists or racist white people who make up MS, there are all kinds of ethnicities that make the state up who are also contributing to the 2 type expression.

And while non-white persons may experience racism or oppression within a system, that doesn't mean they themselves are powerless from expressing the highest traits of two-ness, the genuine warmth and inclusion that 2's are famous for and thus represent that "two-ness" across the state in great diversity.

Those who are oppressed often make the conscious choice to not inflict that pain on others and instead create greater community and inclusiveness in response to the lack of belonging. They become the generators of social welcome, family and collective unity that they want to express in this world.

There are always polarities of positive and negative expressions and there are a whole lot of people of different backgrounds and races that help to generate the best energies of personality typing across a state.

Southern hospitality is not just for one group membership to own, nor is one group capable of representing an entire state- it is ALL the people, including those who have been oppressed who contribute to a state's fundamental relational strengths...

Just a thought <3

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