What is the Enneagram?
The Enneagram is a personality typology model that divides individuals into nine main types, each with its own motivations, fears and behaviours. This system has gained popularity not only in the fields of personal development and psychology, but also in sectors as varied as human resources and, more recently, video games, as demonstrated by its integration into InZOI. But before diving into its application in games, it’s essential to understand what the Enneagram really is.
The origins of the Enneagram
The Enneagram has its roots in ancient and diverse traditions ranging from the mystical philosophies of the Middle East to modern psychological theories. Although its precise origins are difficult to trace, it is generally accepted that the Enneagram as we know it today was popularised in the 20th century by thinkers such as Oscar Ichazo and Claudio Naranjo, who helped to structure and disseminate the model in the West.
Oscar Ichazo, a Bolivian philosopher, is often credited with formalising the nine personality types and integrating spiritual and psychological concepts into the Enneagram. Claudio Naranjo, a Chilean psychiatrist, then took this approach further by linking the personality types to specific behaviours and applying them in a therapeutic context. Together, their work laid the foundations of the Enneagram as it is used today.
The nine personality types
The Enneagram is made up of nine personality types, each represented by a number on a star diagram. Each type has its own dominant traits, strengths, weaknesses and thought patterns.
- Type 1 – The Perfectionist: Motivated by a desire to improve the world and do the right thing, the Perfectionist seeks to avoid mistakes and act in a moral and ethical manner.
- Type 2 – The Servant: Known for their empathy and desire to help others, Servants derive satisfaction from supporting others, often to the detriment of their own needs.
- Type 3 – The Performer: Focused on success and recognition, the Performer is motivated by the desire to succeed and stand out in the eyes of others.
- Type 4 – The Individualist: Sensitive and introspective, the Individualist focuses on personal identity and self-expression, often seeking to differentiate themselves from others.
- Type 5 – The Observer: Curious and analytical, the Observer values knowledge and intellect, preferring independence and autonomy in their quest for understanding.
- Type 6 – The Loyal: Reliable and security-oriented, Loyal people are motivated by the need for stability and support, both for themselves and for those they consider close to them.
- Type 7 – The Epicurean: Enthusiastic and optimistic, the Epicurean is constantly seeking new experiences and adventures, avoiding pain and boredom.
- Type 8 – The Leader: Strong and protective, the Leader is motivated by a desire for control and power, often seen as a natural leader in difficult situations.
- Type 9 – The Peacemaker: Seeking peace and harmony, the Peacemaker avoids conflict and strives to maintain balance in their relationships and environment.
Each of these types has particular connections with the others, illustrated by the lines connecting the dots on the Enneagram diagram. These connections show how individuals can adopt traits of other types in situations of stress or security.
Why is the Enneagram used?
h3 Why is the Enneagram used?
The Enneagram is widely used today because of its ability to provide a deep understanding of human motivations and behaviours. Unlike other typology systems, the Enneagram does not simply categorise individuals into fixed types. Instead, it provides a dynamic map of personal growth, showing how individuals can evolve or regress according to their experiences and choices.
In video games, such as InZOI, the Enneagram can be used to create more realistic and nuanced characters. Players can assign a personality type to their character, which influences their behaviour, their interactions with other characters, and even their development over the course of the game. This integration of the Enneagram adds a layer of depth to the gameplay, transforming character creation into a fascinating psychological exploration.
The Enneagram is much more than a simple classification tool; it’s a framework for understanding and enhancing human dynamics, whether in real life or in the virtual world of InZOI.
How InZOI integrates the Enneagram ?
The integration of the Enneagram into InZOI is an innovation that enables the creation of deeply realistic and varied characters. By assigning an Enneagram personality type to each character, InZOI offers a more immersive gaming experience, where characters’ interactions and decisions are influenced by their underlying psychological motivations. Let’s see how this translates into the game.
Character Type Selection during Character Creation
InZOI, the creation of your character, or Zoi, begins with a crucial step: the selection of his or her personality type, based on the Enneagram. This choice is not simply a matter of choosing from the nine classic personality types. InZOI innovates by offering an additional feature: each personality type is broken down into two distinct orientations, enabling even greater personalisation.
Understanding personality declinations
When you choose a personality type for your Zoi, you don’t just opt for a general profile such as ‘Perfectionist’ or ‘Helper.’ InZOI lets you refine this choice even further by offering you two variations within the same type. For example, if you opt for the ‘Perfectionist’ type, you’ll then have to choose between a stricter, more introspective orientation, which focuses on compliance with standards and the quest for personal perfection, or a more people-oriented orientation, such as the ‘Social Activist’, which translates this quest for perfection into a desire to improve society and defend collective causes.
The Role of Declinations in Character Development
These variations are not simply aesthetic variations; they have a profound influence on your Zoi’s behaviour throughout the game. A Zoi with a ‘Perfectionist’ orientation may be more meticulous and detail-oriented, and may prefer structured interactions. On the other hand, a Zoi who has chosen the ‘Social Activist’ orientation is likely to be more involved in social activities, seeking to influence and improve his environment.
This dual-choice system not only allows you to create a character that perfectly matches your play style, it also adds a strategic dimension right from the start. The choice you make at the start will have repercussions throughout the game, affecting not only your Zoi’s relationships with other characters, but also his decisions, successes and challenges.
Even finer customisation
By offering this dual option, InZOI goes beyond traditional character creation systems in life simulation. You don’t just create a physical avatar; you shape a complex personality that reacts to the virtual world in a unique way. This fine-tuned customisation enhances immersion in the game, as each Zoi becomes a genuine extension of the human psychology, with motivations, desires and behaviours that reflect those of the player.
Understanding personality declinations
The personality type selected in InZOI directly influences your character’s social interactions and decisions throughout the game. For example, a character with a type 2 (The Servant) will naturally be more inclined to help others, which could unlock specific dialogue options or influence how other characters react to them. This creates a game dynamic where relationships and choices are deeply linked to personality, making each experience unique.
Evolution of personalities over the course of the game
InZOI doesn’t just assign a fixed personality type to each character; the game also allows personalities to evolve as a result of experiences and choices made. This evolution can be influenced by events in the game, interactions with other characters, or even your character’s personal development. In this way, a personality type can be strengthened or transformed, reflecting the complex and dynamic nature of the human personality.
What will the Enneagram bring to life simulation games ?
The Enneagram will bring a new dimension to life simulation games by introducing a level of psychological depth that is not generally present in this type of game. Here’s what the Enneagram will specifically add to an experience like InZOI:
1. Psychological personalisation of characters
Traditionally, life simulation games allow players to customise the appearance and behaviour of their avatars, but this is often limited to character traits. Despite their competitor’s (sims 4) enrichment of emotions and feelings a few months ago, this system is revolutionising the gameplay of life simulation games. With the integration of the Enneagram, each character has a real personality structure. This allows players to create characters whose motivations, fears and behaviour are directly influenced by their personality type.
For example, a character of type ‘2 – The Servant’ will naturally be more inclined to help others and build relationships, while a character of type ‘5 – The Observer’ will be more introspective and detached. This depth allows players to better connect with their avatars and become more invested in their stories and interactions.
2. More realistic social interactions
The Enneagram will enrich social interactions in the game. Each character, depending on their personality type, will react in a unique way to events and to other characters. This results in much more nuanced and realistic interactions.
For example, a character of type ‘8 – The Leader’ might be authoritarian in a group situation, seeking to take control, while a type ‘9 – The Peacemaker’ will try to calm tensions and maintain harmony. This complexity in interactions allows players to create social dynamics that resemble those of real life.
3. More Dynamic Narrative Decisions and Developments
The integration of the Enneagram will also influence the choices players have to make and the impact these choices have on the game. Characters will react differently to the same situations depending on their personality type, creating unique and varied narrative scenarios.
For example, a character with a type ‘6 – The Loyal’ might seek safety and be reluctant to take risks, while a type ‘7 – The Epicurean’ might jump at every new opportunity with enthusiasm, even if it involves danger. This enriches the diversity of choices and offers greater replayability, as players can experience different stories depending on the type of Zoi they create.
4. Evolution of personalities over the course of the game
Unlike traditional simulation games, where character traits often remain fixed, the Enneagram allows personalities to evolve over time. Depending on the decisions made and experiences gained, personality traits can strengthen or change. This creates a new dynamic in which each character can evolve psychologically throughout the adventure.
For example, a character of type ‘1 – The Perfectionist’ could, under the effect of stress or the relationships he develops, tend more towards rigid behaviour or, on the contrary, learn to let go and become more flexible.
5. Deep Immersion and Player Engagement
By adding this psychological complexity, the Enneagram creates a stronger bond between the player and their character. The player not only becomes a spectator or an actor in superficial decisions, but is immersed in managing the inner motivations and emotional dynamics of their Zoi. This immersion leads to greater identification with the avatars and greater involvement in the course of the game.
To sum up, integrating the Enneagram into a life simulation game like InZOI enables players to move from a simple physical and behavioural personalisation experience to a more complete simulation of human life, where human psychology and interactions are at the heart of the gameplay. This not only enriches the narrative and interactions, but also offers a unique experience for each player, based on the depth and diversity of their Zoi’s personality.
An ultra-realistic game like InZOI, combined with the possibility of playing in virtual reality (VR), raises an important question about the potential dangers of total immersion. By offering such a captivating and realistic virtual world, the game could quickly become addictive for players, leading them to prefer their digital existence to real life. The level of psychological customisation and deep interaction with other avatars makes the experience so engaging that some players might be tempted to isolate themselves in this virtual world, to the detriment of their everyday lives. It’s reminiscent of dystopian scenarios like Ready Player One, where the line between the virtual and the real becomes blurred, and escape into a simulated universe takes over from reality. Are we at the dawn of this phenomenon? Only time will tell…
Very Good analysis !