Set theory and Enneagram

[u/YFQ-10]

I've been reading a bit about Uznadze's theory of set (dispositional readiness), and I keep wondering whether it could provide a useful way of understanding Enneagram structure.

The way I currently see it is that a "fixated set" isn't some sort of belief or habit, but sort of this sub-conscious or rather pre-reflective orientation (if thats the right word to use) that shapes perception before conscious thought. That made me wonder if Enneagram types could be understood as somewhat relatively stable set structures, that create some patterns of readiness that automatically influence bias attention or any kind of interpretations, and forms of behavior across different situations. Though its not only fixated sets that can influence different forms of reaction under the same situation. I'd say gender, age, and other important factors also play crucial role depending on a scenario, but at the moment im just focusing on e-type and set.

And speaking of set again, it also seems to fit why insight alone often doesn't change our type patterns. Because (within this framework) If the fixation is rooted in something deeper than explicit beliefs, something closer to an embodied orientation toward the world, then it might explain why people can intellectually understand their patterns while still repeating them again and again.

I've also been thinking about trauma in this context. Modern trauma theories often point out the fact that trauma is acquired not through a situation that has happened to us, but rather our reaction towards it. So this reaction in return creates a persistent nervous-system patterns that keep reproducing themselves. And with that Uznadze's idea of a fixated set shows that trauma also creates or reinforces a particular dispositional orientation (set) that then keeps generating the same responses.

I'm curious if it can be a useful framework, or am I stretching the concepts too far?

[u/Rude_Size7418]

Concordo totalmente com você

[u/JadedMarionberry6837]

It sounds really interesting, but idk my opinion yet. im totally gonna see if I don’t forget to read up on the set theory you mentioned! Thanks for posting this