Type Overlays Type Nine: country and family

Accurately identifying your Enneagram type really does matter, and here’s why. Mistyped people pay attention, although unintentionally, to the wrong things (or misinterpret why they do something) and subsequently pursue a development path that isn’t going to support their growth and transformation. Mistyped people also misunderstand or misinterpret their own impact on others, making it challenging to truly understand and improve human interactions using the insights of the Enneagram.

There are many reasons that contribute to the challenge, but also the beauty, of accurate typing. One of these factors involves overlays on our type. The two overlays that occur most frequently are country (culture) overlays and family overlays. Not every country has a clear Enneagram type, and Enneagram teachers may disagree about the type of a certain country. My assessments come from two sources: my personally having visited the countries multiple times and from discussions with Enneagram professionals who live and work in those countries.

Country: Canada

Canada is a Nine culture. Their role around the world has traditionally been the peacekeeper; they say hello when passing strangers on a bike trail or street. When driving, they stop for pedestrians, even when not required to do so. And they’ll say they’re sorry for no reason; they like to keep the peace and maintain comfortable relationships. They keep their doors unlocked, welcome strangers and support a multiplicity of viewpoints without getting into conflict with one another. The Nine culture is so strong that even more individualistic or reactive Enneagram types tend to be more easy-going and accepting (if they are Canadian).

I think it is interesting to consider that not all parts of Canada reflect an Enneagram Nine way of being. For example, Calgary bears a strong similarity to Texas (industry, size, etc.)  and is also  likely an Eight city. Quebec is very French in language and culture and seems to be a type Four in orientation. That said, both Calgary and Quebec would also have a type  Nine overlay, so pervasive is the Canadian country culture.

Family overlays

Not every family has a strong family overlay, but those that do have had one person in the family system, usually a person in a position of perceived authority, who has had a pervasive influence on all the children in that family, not just one child. That person could be a mother, father, grandparent, uncle, aunt, or even the eldest sibling. If the family overlay is type Nine, the children tend to have more challenges expressing themselves, including their anger, directly, are conflict avoidant, but also are more easy going and inclusive.

About Ginger

Ginger Lapid-Bogda PhD, author of nine Enneagram books including The Art of Typing, is a speaker, consultant, trainer, and coach. She provides certification programs and training tools for business professionals around the world who want to bring the Enneagram into organizations with high-impact business applications. TheEnneagramInBusiness.com | ginger@theenneagraminbusiness.com