To chose between Process Com and Enneagram
Process Com or Enneagram
These 2 tools or methods are no longer to be introduced. Used by Americanuniversities, by NASA, or by many psychologists around the world. They have the particularity to present personality types, and to target our unconsciousmotivations as one of the drivers of our behaviors and feelings.
Nevertheless, if you do not know your respective types, you can:
– For the Process Com, either buy the very good book by Gerard Collignon (How to tell them … which is one of the sources of this article) or access our article that summarizes some key points of the 6 personality types.
– For the enneagram you can discover this powerful tool in the menu of our website @Prisme, or if you want you can perform the free test.
Some reminders on Process Com
In the 1970s, an American psychologist, Taibi Kahler, evolved the Transactional Analysis and developed the Process Com model. As the name suggests it is a methodology on communication:
“Our future is not just based on our understanding of ourselves. We must also know how to communicate and demonstrate to others who we are and what we are “
This model for which he receives the Eric Berne prize in 1977, is called the mini-scenario. From the mini-scenario come 6 types of personality (Harmonizer, Thinker, Persister, Promoter, Imaginer, Rebel).
An individual can have the characteristics of many types at once. Nevertheless one of them constitutes its dominant (called: Base). For simplicity, the second most used type will be called the Phasing.
Each type provides 3 pieces of information: the main source of motivation, the preferred mode of communication and how to deal with stress.
In other words, if an individual does not get positive satisfaction for his needs, he will look for it negatively, adopting ineffective behaviors.
Indeed, since childhood, we have learned that it is better to receive negative attention than no attention at all.
Thus, in the absence of any sign of recognition, the stress appears then the unsuitable behaviors.
The table below shows the existential question, the psychological needs, the negative satisfactions of each of the 6 types of the Process Com.
The scenario from transactional Analysis
In Process Com, every type corresponds to 1 scenario which can be represented by 1 key word so called failure pattern. Those words are “after”, “always”, “until”, “never”. We are talking about failure patterns and beliefs that every individual has developed in his childhood and consolidated during his existence.
The table below contains the failure patterns and beliefs related to each of the 6 types of Process Com.
The miscommunication
In interpersonal communication situations, only few words can generate misunderstanding and even strong conflicts. Taibi Kahler chose the term “miscommunication” to describe these phenomena of misunderstanding, conflict or frequent passivity in the daily life.
Under stress, everyone stops thinking clearly. His ability to solve problems is impaired. An individual has a tendency to see things not as they are, but as he thinks they are, and this, of course, in all unconsciousness.
It is in a negative mode that may have only a far relationship with the apparent purpose of the conversation. It is why we speak about miscommunication. Wearing the “mask” is one of the signals of the miscommunication and stress.
Masks invite masks!
1st degree of miscommunication (1st level of distress)
If people are not able to satisfy positively their psychological needs, they will enter in a first level of distress that corresponds to the drivers of the transactional analysis. In an unconscious way!
And to do it in a negative way!
2nd degree of distress: the failure mechanisms
If my first degree of distress is not released, I will enter in a second degree of distress, very visible for my interlocutor: I will wear the mask!
I am not aware of having had negative behavior, so I do not understand the strong reaction that my interlocutor can present.
My interlocutor seeing me wearing the mask will also tend to put himself on the defensive position.
I will unconsciously set up a failure mechanism.
There is a great risk of escalation, misunderstanding. A risk of entering in the famous drama triangle: the game of the rescuer, the persecutor and the victim.
3rd degree of distress
The third degree of miscommunication corresponds to a state of severesustained distress. Fortunately the 3rd degree of distress is rare: it corresponds to the Burn-out…
The famous drama triangle
Thus every type will tend to position itself in the dramatic triangle as a victim, a rescuer or a persecutor.
Below is an example of typical exchanges in a dramatic triangle frame.
For example, the miscommunication between a Harmonizer type and a Persister type can go as far as breaking up in a couple. And I confirm. By personal experience.
To chose between Process Com and Enneagram
Everything is relative, but the Process Com and the Enneagram have many similarities.
Both present types of personality, based on motivation. They are powerful and recognized as personal development tools. Both are based on the unconscious and automatic use of unsuitable behavior in response to a specific stimulus or lack of stimulus. Finally, they are based on defense mechanisms.
The objectives
In these two methodologies, one of the first objectives is to realize that there are different ways to consider a situation. If someone behaves in an incomprehensible way, it can only be a question of points of view. We have several cards in our hands.
A second step will be to identify its type, its base, its phasing or in Enneagram its enneatype, the corresponding wing(s), and the integration and disintegration approaches. Consequently to identify its own automatic, unconscious, non-adapted behaviors that can be moderated. Or at least that allows us to relativize a situation with respect to an interlocutor or a situation.
The third step is to identify the same characteristics in our interlocutor. But this is more complicated due to the fact that it requires huge experience. Above all, there is the risk of putting people in boxes. It is exactly the opposite goal of these 2 methodologies.
The similarities between the types of personality
Few types correspond perfectly between the 2 methodologies.
The driver “Please” is here again well adapted.
CThe fear of conflict for type 9. The need for a goodrelationship with the other person and the analysis of a situation through hisfeelings for type 2 and 9.Toncern for the image that others have ofthemselves.
And the difficulty to assert oneself.
The driver Be Strong corresponds well to its two types.
You have to respect their needs in terms of time and loneliness, and not force them to discuss about everything.
Action is not vital for these types.
Their security is their intimate world. They draw on it a great capacity for introspection and reflection.
The driver “Be perfect” matches between the 2 types. Time management, or lack of fun as long as the work is not finished. They are theking of planning and they have sense of responsibility.
Attention, the Enneatype 3 can be mistaken for an Enneatype 1 or a Thinker type. Indeed they have similar points like the driver but they don’t have the same motivation.
The nuances
in the opposite for the 3 other types the correspondances are more nuanced, or there are didagreements between the differents authors.
The Driver “Be perfect / Parent” corresponds to the type 3.
He sets a goal and needs to go until the end is the right definition of Enneatype 3.
The persister seeks first to know the opinion of his interlocutor, or to expose his opinion, as well corresponds to the image of sales rep for the type 3.
It is interesting to note that in the Process Com it is the Promoter who is labeled “Sales Rep.”.
Finally like type 6, under stress, he tends to see only what is wrong. Focus on mistakes, it becomes more and more rigid.
The driver Be Strong / Parent seems well adapted.
Their side Adventure and “I have trouble finishing well along-term work” corresponds to the Enneatype 7 and the 6 conterphobic.
The approach “I do not know to stop”, also corresponds to Enneatype 7 (gluttony) but also to type 6 conterphobic (risk taking) and type 8 in the provocation.
Finally, like type 8, when he wants something, it is everything and from right now. It’s white or black.
Effectively the Try Hard is still well suited to Enneatype 4. Wecan consider that the type 7 and 8 are in opposite reaction to this driver. It makessense.
They work poorly from requirements and poorly support directivity.
They react badly to the constraint, turn easily and become very quickly unpleasant and can by reaction easily blame the interlocutor.
The original customized clothing fit well with type 4. But the 4 does not live in the moment. He lives in the past. As the 7 lives in the future.
The tendency to look for fun everywhere with the type 7.
Never the less there are clear differences between the 2 methodologies
Process Com is primarily presented as a communication tool. How to communicate better. The enneagram, beyond bringing 3 additional types of personality, therefore to be more precise, also addresses the area of “Why”.
Like psychoanalysis, he allows us to approach the notion of Why. But without going into lengthy introspection sessions. It allows to put a name on deep motivations. And so to be able to focus on the Present and on adapted solutions.
The motivation
On the other hand if these 2 methods are based on motivation. We are not talking about the same motivation. The Process Com identifies the source of the motivation by a psychological need not recognized by the environment, an unmet need.
While the Enneagram identifies motivation through avoidance, through the fear to be front of a precise unexpected situation. It is therefore the notion of a center unconsciously repressed (1 of the 3 centers of th e Enneagram concept) and the over-use of another center and of behaviors where we excel, which will guide our choices, our reactions and our behaviors.
The defense mechanisms identified by type are also not the same. Except for the Projection mechanism of the Persister and of the Enneatype 6.
Finally the Enneagram has a long history older than the Process Com. Although it presents a more esoteric side which has in my opinion a negative impact in the perception of this tool, it must be recognized that people can also find a spiritual approach in the Enneagram. This is the principle of freedom.
These 2 tools have been identified as leading to sectarian dangers. It must be made clear that it is the use of these powerful tools by malicious people that is targeted. So this applies to all trades. We must remain attentive.
In conclusion
Process Com and Enneagram are complementary.
The Enneagram, for example, does not easily highlight the Persister (Crusade) failure mechanism, but as the Process Com does not identify this fear of the failure of the Enneatype 3 that motivates the Performer in his daily life and that makes him so effective in action.
I remain convinced that the Enneagram allows us to go much further in the Why, but the drawer approach of Process Com (the famous building with its base, its phasings and its energy levels) explaining the behavioral changes in function of the environment is powerful.
Since Process Com is a protected trademark, the Enneagram has the advantage of being accessible to all.
To know more :
- To chose between MBTI and Enneagram
- Enneagram, tool for change
- Correlation Enneagram vs the Big 5
- Back to the main page Enneagram
