The Enneagram 4: Core Fixations, Subtypes and Examples

 The Enneagram Four: 

Core Fixations, Subtypes, and Examples

Hey guys, so this is is going to be the first out of a series of Enneagram blogs for each of the 27 subtypes. I figured I would start with the Enneagram Four because, well, I reread the book recently, this is my core enneagram type, and this is probably one of the most butchered Enneagram types in internet discourse (besides maybe E8, E5, and E6). 

In my opinion, this is one of the most misunderstood Enneagram types. Yeah yeah, I know I'm a 1-to-1 recreation of the stereotypes, but many write off the Enneagram Four as being this "whiny," "entitled," and "selfish" individual, and want to avoid being typed as one by any means possible (like myself at one point). Others intriniscally link this type to depression, and just because they are melancholic, type themselves as E4. This Enneagram type is probably one of the most commonly mistyped ones (alongside E5s and E8s) because of these misunderstandings. Often over idealized, or over-hated. 

In reality, you'll find that Enneagram 4s in particular are exceptionally diverse when it comes to the subtypes, and how they are expressed. As always, I will start with the core Enneagram type, and then examine what happens when the core type interacts with the three different instinctual variants. Of course, I will link the Enneagram Four book down below (and I highly encourage you to read it). 

Claudio Naranjo's Enneagram Four Book: "Envidia"
https://drive.google.com/file/d/12ivnny86AdjOMnCWyxFpykAKyjbnVSub/view

What is the Core Enneagram Four?

From childhood, the Enneagram Four individual experiences strong feelings of abandonment. As a way to cope with this (and to keep in touch with their far-removed parental figure) these children will introject their attachment figures (who abandoned them) into themselves. Introjection is a key term to understand how the Enneagram Four operates, and it basically means they put the idealized version of their attachment figure in their pocket, and it constantly assesses their character (often negatively). This idealized figure will follow them wherever they go, and while this inner critic offers negative feedback, it quells the "loss" the E4 experiences when away from this figure. 

    By doing this, they idealize the other, and devalue themselves by constantly critiquing themselves in the same manner they believe their figures would. As a result, they are constantly looking outwards at others for things they believe they naturally lack. This can be praise, affection, attention, etc. This creates a sense of envy, an attitude which characterizes that other people have what the E4 doesn't (which is, of course, false). This is what creates false-lack. The Enneagram Four is then constantly in the search of what they are missing (that other's possess), and therefore, are almost never happy with the present. Melancholy becomes the core fixation of this type, and the sense of lack follows the E4 their entire lives, and each subtype then takes on different strategies to escape from this lack. 

Introjection, False-Lack, Melancholy

These are the most important concept to understand with the E4, and you have to demonstrate these tendencies to be correctly typed as one. All types can have times in which they are depressed, melancholic, etc. However, this is an attitude the E4 has constantly, and is their life's motivation. These coping mechaisms are distinct, and consistent for this type. So make sure if you are typing yourself, or anyone else as an E4, make sure they demonstrate these mechanisms first. Don't just look at external characteristics, otherwise you might type every sad person on the street as an E4, and you might actually not see otherwise externally unemotional people as the E4s they actually are. 

With the Enneagram being a self-help tool, it is very important to be accurate with typings. You might see yourself in lots of different types, but you have to into the underlying mechanics of each. This is where enneagram subtypes come in.

So to go into subtypes, you have three distinct instincts. One of which serves as a dominant fixation.

Sexual (Intense) Instinct: The prioritization of intense interpersonal connections between people.
Social Instinct: To prioritize maintaining your standing within a group. 
Self-Preservation: Securing your safety, security, and material needs. 

These three distinct instincts govern your focus in life, and each then "meld" with the Core Enneagram Four to develop three distinct Enneagram subtypes. All of them possess the same core fixations and traits of the E4, but their dominant instincts pursuade each of them to tackle inherent feeling of "false-lack" in different ways. 

To get a complete understanding of the E4, I would recommend reading all of the subtypes, not just the ones you are interested in. You will see that no matter the subtype, the core traits of the E4 are very present and are requirements of each. This is a common thing missed when people skip automatically to subtypes, so please keep this in mind. 

Author's Note:
As another point, I do not use enneagram wings because they just lead to heavy stereotypes. Instead, Enneagram subtypes offer a lot more complexity and nuance. 

Sexual Instinct + E4 = Sexual (Intense) Enneagram Four:

"𝘌𝘯𝘷𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘣𝘵𝘺𝘱𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵. 𝘚𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘶𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘹𝘶𝘢𝘭, 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘦𝘥. 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦. 𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦, 𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦, 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱, 𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴. 

    𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘢 𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘭𝘥; 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘪𝘵. 𝘗𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘨𝘰, 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨, 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘵. [...]

The Sexual Enneagram Four is one who internalizes that frequent comparsion of themselves and others (in which they come up short) that all E4s do, but then intensifies those feelings from envy into hate. Or rather, into a need to compete and earn what they lack to quell that inferiority complex. 

This is why this subtype is constantly defined by their need for competition. In comparison to other Enneagram subtypes, the Sexual E4 requires that their hate gets projected outwards into sources of envy (which is oftentimes other people). Rather than waiting for affection, they are people who will seek out and claim it through angry, and intense means. This coping mechanism was a requirement to get what they needed out of their attachment figure, even if it is negative attention that criticizes the SX4s character. 

This coping mechanism then follows the SX4 into adulthood, in where because they believe they are inherently self-defcient, and they must obtain those qualities from outside sources, they will engage to obtain those "sources" with the same degree of intensity they did so with their attachment figure. The SX4 believes they were worthy of such attention earlier in life, but was stripped from them early. This sense of unnearned/unfair loss transforms into rage/passion, which then motivates the SX4 to recover what was lost. A strive to earn, to compete against others, all for that place they feel they have earned, but lost. The difficulty comes from the fact that, as is the case with all defence mechanisms, they never allow the SX4 to escape their sense of self-lack.

"Where's my Arc Paulie?"
Christopher Molstisanti - The Sopranos

 

"𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘣𝘵𝘺𝘱𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘻𝘺 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘢 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘶𝘯𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘺. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘺 𝘢𝘨𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘺𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘹𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘌4 𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘭𝘺."

Passion: Envy
Neurotic Need: Passionate Resentment of the Desired Other
Trait Structure: Dissastisfied, Emotionally Liable, Intolerant of Limits, Humourous/Expressive, Extravagant, Violent, Jealous, Overpowering, Vain, Sarcastic, Cheerful/Chatty (in periods of Euphoria), Sometimes Highly Intellectualized. 

This is a very important concept to understand when talking about the SX4 (which is an oft misunderstood type). The SX4 devalues others as a need to equalize themselves to them, not to make themselves feel "above." 

Aggression is a tool to bring themselves on an equal playing field to others, as a coping mechanism to combat their feeling of self-lack, and negative personal qualities. Again, this aggression is a continuation of the tactic to SX4 used to secure attention from their attachment figures. This is not someone who wants to rebel (as is the case with E8s) against forces who seek to do harm, but just wants people to percieve them as the person they are supposed to be, and not the devalued individual they were "seen" as by their idealized figures. 

Hatred is a theme that is often used by SX4 individuals, who will respond to "affronts" through that same aggression. Confrontation, aggression and feelings of revenge are always better than simple indifference, and negative attention is always better than no attention at all. The SX4 always moves to "equal the playing field," and will move aggressively to bring down anyone who they feel as "above" them. They seek to outcompete, use verbal argumentation, and if that does not work, will try to create pity by exaggerating their own experiences of suffering. These are types that are built to be competitive. They are often times physically capable, have strong wit, and have a certain presence that allows them to captivate attention and to compete in any sphere. 

This drive for competition, however, is never enough. Even if the battle is won, and the individual recieves unconditional love, the SX4 is left alone with their feelings of self inadequacy. Hate and competition, although help relieve the symptons, never fix the root cause.

Sees Other "Successful" Person - False Lack - Use Anger/Competition to Bring Down That Person  - Secure Attention - Disregards Love Received - Sees Other "Successful Person" - False Lack - Use Anger/Competition - Secure Attention - Disregards Love Received - Sees Other "Successful" Person (repeat)

A cycle develops, one of which stems from childhood experience, and can run for the rest of their lives if not confronted and treated accordingly. This cycle simulatenously gives you energy, motivation and purpose, but does not solve your core existential problem. 

So, how do you heal?

The first step is to recognize your capacity for hate.
Do not try to justify your hate beased on previous wrongdoing, but acknowledge it as the coping mechanism it is. Hatred is a tool to bring others down to your level, and so you have to look at the underlying mechanisms which motivate you to hate others, devalue, or compete against them. You'll find that it's centred on feelings of self-inadequacy, and even guilt. If you begin to bring awareness to it, eventually you'll stop using hatred to replace poor self-esteem, because it never really brings you the self-peace you want. Your relationships with people will improve, and will be based on actual respect and love. When you start to have feelings of hatred, learn to simply do nothing and let the person be. Learn to develop more subtle emotions, rather than relying on emotional outbursts. 

Second is to recognize your own self-strength and abilities. You don't need others to give you it. 
The coping mechanisms of the SX4 are all based on the premise that they lack something, and the only way to get it, is to recieve it from external sources (other people). This then fuels their desire for competition, and expecting others to give them what they rightfully deserve (but lost). However, if the SX4 realizes that they can get everything they need from themselves, they no longer require to compete, or to feel "special" in the eyes of the other. Their uniqueness is a given based on being an individual person, and you don't need anyone else to give you that identity. So don't seek it out. 

So how do you know if you are a SX4?

• You believed that you "had it all," but it was taken from you. Love, acceptance, etc. You strive to get it back with force and aggression, using your personal volition as vengeance to acquire what you lack.
• Others might find you as overly confident, but deep down, you suffer from a need to bring down others to your level. You don't see yourself as above anyone. Seeing people more successful than you brings attention to your false-lack, and so you seek out quell that feeling. 
• You experience feelings of intense euphoria (in where you can be exceptionally happy, cheerful, expressive; but then it suddenly comes crashing down in depressive lows. You might find that your mood can switch excessively, depending on the type of "comparison" you have with others (whether it is positive or negative). 

Most Common Socionics Type(s): ESI (ISFP/ISFj)
    Why: SX4 is defined by contast/valued comparsion of others and the relationship between specific people. This is the realm of introverted feeling (Fi), and this perception formulates the entire worldview of the SX4 (which indicates Fi Base) and the almost instant need for competition and movement is more characterized by a restless Ni Mobilizing type (ESI/LSI). 

Most Common Psychosophy Type: EFVL

Most Common Mistypes to Watch Out For: SEE (ESFP/ESFp) SX8

Sexual E4 Characters:

Jinx 
Arcane

Christopher Moltisanti
The Sopranos

Casca 
Berserk

Katsuki Bakugo
My Hero Academia

Sasuke Uchiha

Naruto

Prince Zuko
Avatar: The Last Airbender

Other Examples...
Dabi - My Hero Academia
Kat Stratford - 10 Things I Hate About You
Mai Zenin - Jujutsu Kaisen
Chloe Price - Life is Strange
Jane Margolis - Breaking Bad
Akito Sohma - Fruits Basket
Livia Soprano - The Sopranos
Darth Maul - Star Wars
Kyo Sohma - Fruits Basket

Mello - Death Note
Scar - The Lion King
Gellert Grindlewald - Harry Potter
Edmund Pevensie - The Chronicles of Narnia
Envy - Fullmetal Alchemist
Shadow the Hedgehog - Sonic the Hedgehog
Loki Laufeyson - The Marvel Cinematic Universe
Jim Hawkins - Treasure Planet

Social Instinct + E4 = Social Enneagram 4

"𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘶𝘣𝘵𝘺𝘱𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘱 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘥. 𝘚𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘦, 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘶𝘣𝘵𝘺𝘱𝘦, 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘵. 𝘉𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘧𝘵, 𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘦, 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘮, 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥-𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘥. 

𝘏𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦, 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧. 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘰, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯'𝘵 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘪𝘵. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳, 𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘩𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘯."

The Social Enneagram 4 is one of the most misunderstood and complex of the Enneagram subtypes, and people tend to overhighlight the SO4s need for shame. For the SO4, shame is a requirement that they need to uphold. It facilitates their ideniity, and it allows them access to certain groups that will accept them despite those defeciencies. However, people conflate "shame" with an open decrying of their circumstances, which is incorrect. 

Personally, I prefer the term "the search for hope" to characterize the SO4 for a few reasons. Shame is certainly important, but SO4s are highly creative people that are skilled at crafting imaginative worlds. Ideal ones in which they are "rescued" from their suffering. That hope of being rescued is often a better reality than what will likely happen if those problems are solved. That imaginative world is of greater comfort, and far more colourful than the reality they are confronted with. Despite stereotypes and their need to idenify as victims, these types have a very difficult time sharing these emotional worlds. Not necessarily because they fear judgement, but rather, I believe they don't want to have their life struggles fixed, in fear of losing that imaginative world, full of great possibilities and happiness, to the "grey," often unsatisfactory world we live in. 

When the SO4 complains, it is actually not often (which is honestly more common in types such as the SP2, and even SX8). But rather, what people might notice is that these types will complain about the same problem, while infrequently, over a long period of time. What I find most significant in the SO4 is the distinct lack of movement to reach a conclusion, but instead, would much rather maintain that ideal hope of being saved, a world in which their identity as a victim is preserved, but simultaneously, the hope of being rescued from a place of suffering. 

Generally, it is actually quite difficult for people to acknowledge that they are SO4 (which is similar to the SP4 subtype in many ways). This is because this type, while constantly comparing themsleves to others, typically does not cling to that false-lack for long, and instead replaces it with admiration. However, the SO4 (as I mentioned earlier) is stunted by inaction, and typically does not go further past that stage of admiration, because they are often quite dissapointed with what they find when they reach the conclusion, that person is not who I thought he/she was. Or if they get love/admiration in return, the SO4 (much like other E4 subtypes) devalues that attention, because they need to keep their position as a victim (to therefore, keep the hope of being rescued alive). Hence, the SO4s preference for idealism, imagination at the cost of reality, in some cases. 

Personally, I believe Silent Hill 2 is one of the best representations of the coping mechanism of the SO4. A man who did a grave physical deed, but then prefers to create an illusion around himself that he is the victim of the situation. He idealizes his wife, and creates a world in where seeing his wife again would save him, and one of which where he is consistenly punished for his past mistakes, not by himself, but through an unstoppable force. Important people that he cares about are killed over and over again. It allows him to not admit the guilt of his crimes, to keep playing the victim, and to keep the cycle playing over and over again. 

The growth in James is being able to acknowledge what he has done, and take ownership in the physical world (and to destroy the imaginative world he has crafted for himself). It's him finally taking action to fix the mess he has created, and to pursue a future no matter where it leads.

"I know what you are. I know why I needed you. I was weak, I needed someone to punish me for my sins. But that's all over now. I don't need you anymore... I'm ready."

- James Sunderland 
Silent Hill 2

 

Passion: Self-Hatred
Neurotic Need: Shame
Trait Structure: Imaginative/Creative, Sensible, Romantic, Passive-Agressive/Self-Destructive, Introspective, Reserved, Gentle, Procrastinator, Criticism/ Self-Disqualification, Shy, Pessimistic/Distrustful.

They feel a profound sense of shame in themselves and seek "redemption" in the eyes of those who cause them suffering, and yet, they feel intense shame when they make their subjects feel bad for their predicament. This stems from a great deal of empathy, as they feel guilty for the feelings they impose on others, especially if those figures play a big role in their lives. Because of the disappointment they felt they brought to their parents while growing up, they do not only expect to be punished, they feel as if they deserve it (which they often don't). As a result, when someone does decide to take them in, they feel indebted to those people, feeling as if they've done the SO4 a favour.

This is where the hope of being rescued comes in, and why I personally feel that "hope" is a better word to understand the SO4 than "shame." Everything the SO4 does is to maintain the shame they feel towards themselves, yes. However, that shame is only there to preserve the ideal future, the hope of being able to overcome that suffering. It is why the SO4 struggles with inaction and has a proclivity towards imagination. Crafting worlds that indicate suffering and a need of rescue, but they don't want to commit to actual physical action to solve problems, in fear of being rejected or no longer being able to access those "communities" they have acquired. To them, breaking the cycle of suffering can lead to large consequences, so it's safer for them to dwell on it. 

This need for hope ties into the SO4's most powerful tool: fantasy. Unlike the real world, which can force people to hide their needs, fantasy permits your desires to be expressed with you as the undisputed protagonist of the "story." These types are exceptionally gifted in their creativity as a result. But through these flights of fantasy, they can once again envision a better future. In your mind, your desires can be simply yours, and they don't need to be broken by reality.

This goes to show that SO4s do their utmost to maintain the possibility of hope and facilitate idealism, shame, and fantasy in order to keep that hope alive. Personally, I think if people focused on the need for that hope (instead of just saying that SO4s complain simply for the sake of it), they would understand the sheer amount of complexity this type has to offer.

False-Lack - Sees Someone with Admirable Qualities Who Can Save Them - Creates an Imaginative World in Which This Person Can Help Them Escape From Suffering (Which Brings Comfort) - Secures Attention/Affection - Devalues Attention and Writes Themselves Off As "Not Worth Saving - False-Lack - Creates Imaginative World (rinse and repeat).

This cycle permits these types to keep the fantasy alive, which brings them the most comfort. Reality is always dissapointing, whereas the world in your head is filled with ideal, positive posibilities. There you aren't alone, and you can always keep up the hope of being rescued. To even keep things up, you might even unconciously provoke people to mistreat you. 

So how do you heal? 

Leave the Imagination
Recognize that your propensity to always place yourself in a position of suffering is a coping mechanism, and that there is nothing objectively wrong with you. You deserve a right to exist as you are, and you don't need anyone to give you that gratification. If your parents didn't give you affection, you need to recognize that you'll likely never get it. And that's okay, so be kind to yourself. Recognize the envy for what it is. I might sound like a Sith Lord here, but learn to hate. Direct your anger to other people, and not automatically towards yourself. You are not always at fault, so don't assume that you are always to blame. 

Engage with the physical world. Enjoy yourself. Learn to be more uninhibited with your expressions, and physical gestures. And when you recieve attention in return, learn to simply be okay with what you are given. Don't devalue it, nor don't go out looking for more to replace the void in your heart. 

This does not mean that you have to discard your imagination. Value it, and cultivate it further. But be sure to balance it out with physical groundedness. Learn to breath, practice discipline, and create routines that ground you to the physical space. If you do that enough times, you'll realize that the world simply keeps on spinning, and that you can take action to create the world you want for yourself. 

How to know if you are a SO4?

• You have a strong, imagiative and important internal world in which you take shelter in from harsh daily tribulations. It's a world in which you maintain your status as a victim, but it is always predicated on the ideal hope of being rescued.
• People might find you likeable, mild, and genuinely empathtic. You know what it is like to suffer, but you also have a tendency to idealize people, and gloss over their more negative attributes. 
• You do not complain often, but your problems seem to be major, long-term ones. You don't feel a strong need to "conclude" your "story-arcs" in fear of losing access to the ideal world you created for yourself. When you receive positive affirmation, you devalue it because it threatens what you are most comfortable with (your imagination). 

Most Common Socionics Type(s): EII (INFP/ INFj) 

    Why: The Social E4 requires a socionics type that has intrinsic need for comparison between individuals (Fi Base) a strong preference for the abstract/conceptual world over the physical (Ne Creative), but feels a strong dislike with taking volitional action to assert themselves (Se POLR). This is a type that is slow moving, imaginative, and is content with taking their time. 

Most Common Psychosophy Type: ELVF and EVLF
Most Common Mistypes to Watch Out For: IEI (INFJ/INFp) SX5 / SEI (ISFJ/ ISFp) SX9

Social E4 Characters:

James Sunderland 
Silent Hill 2 

Father Karras 
The Exorcist

Max Caulfield
Life is Strange

Hitori "Bocchi" Gotou 
Bocchi the Rock

Arthur Fleck "The Joker"
Joker (2019)

Belle 
Disney's Sleeping Beauty 






More Examples...

Ellen Hutter - Nosterfaru (2024)

Nico De Angelo - Percy Jackson and the Olympians

D'Angelo Barksdale - The Wire

Artyom Chyornyj - Metro 2033

Lexi Howard - Euphoria

Beth Greene - The Walking Dead

Wanda Maximoff/ Scarlet Witch - The Marvel Cinematic Universe

Junpei Yoshino  - Jujutsu Kaisen

Juliet Capulet - Romeo and Juliet

Diane Nguyen - Bojack Horseman

Gaara - Naruto

Kiri - Avatar: Way of the Water

Viktor Hargreeves - Umbrella Academy

Self-Preservation + E4 =Self-Preservation Four:

“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘌4 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴 𝘦𝘯𝘷𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬. 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘢𝘥𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘥, 𝘴𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘺𝘱𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘢𝘹. 𝘏𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳."

𝘖𝘶𝘳 𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱𝘴 𝘶𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵, 𝘨𝘰 𝘰𝘶𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘲𝘶𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳’𝘴 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴. 𝘞𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘧𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘥𝘶𝘵𝘺, 𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥/𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵, 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘥 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵, 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘦𝘳-𝘦𝘨𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘸𝘦 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘺 𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘻𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘶𝘴 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘸𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘪𝘳𝘤𝘭𝘦. [...]

Out of all the Enneagram subtypes (with the exception of SO7), I find that the Self-Preservation E4 is one of the most difficult to spot, or type correctly. This is for a few reasons. 

Many people tend to oversimplify the SP4 type to include anyone who is "long-suffered" without identifying the core E4 traits. Additionally, SP4 individuals have an exceptionally difficult time identifying with the core E4 traits. It's not that they actually don't share these traits, but they put up an image of being unable to acknowledge their suffering. To do so, would negatively impact said image. Therefore, you find many of these individuals actually relating more heavily to the SP1, SX6, or that of the SP9. This then results in an unfortunate stereotyping of those enneagram types (and what makes them unqiue), and it misses the nuance of this specific subtype as well. There is a lot more to this subtype than tenacity. 

The most important thing to consider is that the Self-Preservation E4 is someone who wants to secure their safety, and material needs first and foremost, and they do this through relationships (comparing themselves to other people). Through the connections they forge, they get access to love, affection, and access to their basic needs consistently. But you have to remember that being an SP dom, these types are naturally risk-adverse.

So, naturally, they look at securing these connections through risk-assessment. Is it riskier to ask for a bond through mutual vulnerability (where you run the risk of being rejected, or being told no)?  Or, is it safer to look for a more objective means of displaying loyalty? Something that anyone can see, and not dispute? This is where effort/tenacity comes in. The SP4 seeks an objective measure that the object of their attention can not disregard, but does not run as much risk of being rejected. Physical "effort," pain, suffering and tenacity is then used as a bargaining chip to secure that attention, loyalty, and therefore, their material needs and well-being. 

As a consequence however, this comes at the cost of outward emotional expression. They need to keep a facade of someone who can handle extreme amounts of effort, and therefore, can't let their true feelings get out. If they do, it runs counter to the facade of being able to handle such pain. Therefore, it is all internalized, and as a result, creates frustration and that frustration then feeds into that pursuit of effort. The greater the frustration, the greater the yield; the more special these types feel in the eyes of the other. It is how they feel unique. 

The childhood of the SP4 is someone whose parents did not give them sufficient attention, whether that is because of work, harsh economic/social circumstances, health, sadistic tendencies, etc. The child was then largely left alone to fend for themselves. But the few times that affection was given, it was through the parent venting their frustrations, or when the child takes on emotional adversity for the sake of the parent's affection and does not complain about their cirucmstances. When the parent displays positive affirmation, the child would then feel priviliged to have unique access to that information, or position. To them, it secured their status as a part of the family, and whatever anxiety and negative stimuli they felt as of learning this information was to be suppressed in order to keep being "chosen" to have access to that relationship. 

So from the onest, the SP4 then ties suffering/effort to having unique priviliges, or having unique access to a personal relationship/bond. Emotional expression that runs contrary to them gaining access to that relationship is to be suppressed. This is a lifelong coping mechanism of which enables the SP4 to take on tons of physical suffering and torment, and not complaining about the effort expenditure. However, it can have grave consequences for their mental and physical health, with no cost being too great to secure their needs/safety. 

As an example, Riza Hawkeye in Fullmetal Alchemist is an individual who had a very distant relationship with her father, a reclusive alchemist who was responsible for the forbidden flame alchemy. Even when her father was at death's door, she did not have much of an external reaction, only a look of mild concern. However, she allowed her father to tatoo his research notes onto her back, an undoubtably very painful (and irreversable) procedure. Not only is this invasive, it puts the entire burden of choosing the next flame alchemist on her shoulders, a teenager who only wanted a loyal connection to someone she cared for. This need for attachment resulted in her following Roy Mustang into war, and to display her loyaty to him, engaged in further trauma to secure her relationship to him. 

Just as Riza Hawkeye seems like a very independent, courageous woman who can endure large amounts of suffering and physically, she is far more emotionally co-dependent than many people might recognize. She needs Mustang to affirm his loyalty to her in exchange for her effort, and just like with her allowing her father to invasely tattoo her, she trades her effort/tenacity in exchange for affection/material safety.

This highlights the key coping mechanism of the SP4 that many people forget. While the subtype often displays a physical overconfidence, they have a key emotional submissiveness. They will downplay their effort when it is praised, with the unconcious intention of having that person reaffirm that they are "doing a great job." They will lower themselves (not physically, but again, emotionally) to let themselves be judged by the eyes of the "other." They don't allow themselves to outright ask for emotional validation (or express frustration) because they run the risk of ruining their relationship. 

Passion: Envy
Fixation: Tenacity
Trait Structure: Self-Demand, Empathy, Difficulty Accepting Limits, Masochistic Attitude, Refinement, Caregiver of Others, Stoic, Difficulty in Expressing Themselves, Rigidity, Hoarding of Resources, etc.

Just like the other Enneagram Four subtypes, the Self-Preservation 4 is constantly comparing themselves to others, and assessing their relationship (what others have, what they themselves lack) to them. However, unlike the SX4, the SP4 is deeply afraid of competition, because, it runs the risk of them potentially losing. Again, the SP4 is a subtype that constantly looks at risk-assessment, and picks the option with the most odds of success. If people can see them putting lots of effort towards something, no competition needed. As a result, these types are often passive. They do not ask for much, because they expect to be told "no" (which is worse to them than never asking at all). This creates frustration, and a sense of resentment when they see that others get affection by just "asking for it." But again, that resentment and frustration is once again internalized into self-demand. This is how they get their motivation to keep on living, but that cycle is never conducive to long-term happiness or satisfaction. 

The unfortunate thing is that the cycle of suffering never ends. Like all other E4 subtypes, they require envy and self-lack through constant comparison. If the SP4 recieves love and affection, they devalue it. If they didn't, then they would need to accept the fact that strenous effort is no longer needed. That would require then emotional vulnerability, which to the SP4, is a far more dangerous and uneasy means of aquiring stable and strong bonds with others. 

Because they don't expect anyone else to unconditionally secure their needs, the SP4 does it themselves. Despite the physical punishments and emotional frustration they endure, these types greatly value refinement in their physical spaces. Their homes are often clean, comfortable, decorated to their taste and represent a place to recover that is completely independent from outside influences. As a result, these types can be excessively stingy with their resources/finances, as they need something to always fall back on in case their relationships fall through. As much as the SP4 wishes for unconditional love, with how much the Self-Preservation dominant instinct requires safety and security, they must not allow external emotionality jeapordize their safety and attachments. Therefore, they look to themselves to provide that comfort. 

Lastly, the Self-Preservation 4 tends to believe that their life is a series of obstacles that are set in stone, and cannot be altered. So if that's the case, why complain about their problems? Being upset, or wishing that things did not happen never changed the outcome. This worldview only then further cements their need to endure, rather than applying pressure to actively change their future. So while these types display heavy amounts of volition to overcome obstacles, they do little to avoid them. In fact, these types can even be impuslive, and dive into scenarios based on the opportunity of demonstrating effort. These are restless types by nature, and are always looking for objective signs that prove their strength, and capacity for endurance in harsh "terrain."

Self-Lack - Sees Someone They Want to Secure Close Ties To - Uses Effort/Tenacity as a Safer Means of Acquiring Affection - Internalizes Frustration/Resentment -Devalues Affection From the "Other" to Convince Themselves That More Effort is Needed - Uses More Effort/Tenacity (Rinse and Repeat)

This cycle allows the SP4 to continue using effort, because they are too afraid of being emotionally vulnerable. They feel as if outward emotional expression runs counter to the image they are trying to potray (and one of which they believe secures them relationships), and therefore feel a continous need to punish themselves to secure loyalty. In fact, Naranjo likened this subtype to people who would participate in self-flagellation (whipping) in order to convince God and others that they are "worthy" Christians, as if their pain and suffering makes them better than others, or more worthy of love/affection. But this cycle, again, never leads to true happiness or fufillment. The effort is never going to be enough, and what's left is a person who constantly seeks out more ways to "outpeform" everyone in the suffering olympics. 

So how do you heal?

Be Open to Tears/ Expressive Emotionality
The biggest first step to an SP4 is to acknowledge their suffering in the first place, and to not rationalize as it as just "something you have to deal with." Allow yourself to get angry, and to vocalize your resentment. Set a limit to how much you are willing to endure. And much like other E4 subtypes, a "lack" in one area does not mean a "lack" in all areas, or one that is detrimental to your character. Perfection does not exist, so don't hold yourself to that standard at the cost of your emotional well-being. Nobody is better or worse for being "long-suffered" and thinking so is arrogant. SP4s can sometimes display a sort of elitism, so it is important to seperate suffering from "worth." 

Self-Compassion
Don't make yourself give up everything, because you have the idea that sacrificing not everything is equivalent to doing absolutely nothing. Again, set limits. Recognize that if you have continuing harmful circumstances, make sure it's not you placing more burdens upon yourself. True strength is being open with your emotions, and expressing them freely. That is what it means to be human. Undergoing harsh trauma, but having the strength to open up despite those harships is something to strive for, and it also leads to more likely personal fufillment. 

How to know you are an SP4?

• You are extremely repressed emotionally. Despite having a very powerful emotional world that you value (and compare yourself from others from), you fear "spillover" because it can jeapordize important emotional connections. People might have a difficult time acknowledging you are an emotional person, and in typology systems, it can be easy for you to get mistyped as a "thinking" type. You might be called "prude" or that you have a "stick up your ass" because of your unwillingness to participate in hedonism.
• You are impulsive, and when you see a burden that needs to be undertaken, there is very little deliberation on your end to pursue it. If you see an opportunity to prove how much effort you can extract, you will take it gladly in hopes someone will notice your suffering passively.
• If you recieve compliments on your efforts, you devalue or write them off. "It's just something that needed to get done." But you are always holding on to the hope that person will then continue praising you for your efforts. 

Most Common Socionics Type(s): ESI (ISFP/ ISFj) 

    Why: The Self-Preservation E4 is a subtype that is physically impulsive, and feels a constant need to do "more" or to commit to more effort. Enough is never enough, and not contributing everything you have is equivalent to doing nothing. Like all E4 types, this is an individual that constantly engages in comparison with other people (Fi Base), and all of their actions stem from the self-lack they experience from that comparsion. They are then immediately driven to action, and have a very difficult time waiting (especially when they see other people undertaking efforts), which suits the Se Creative and Ni Mobilizing of the ESI. In contrast, EIIs (INFP) are far more comfortable with the flow of time (Ni Demonstrative), but lack the same amount of physical agency. 

Most Common Psychosophy Type: FVEL
Most Common Mistypes to Watch Out For: LSI (ISTP/ISTj) SX6 and SLI (ISTJ/ISTp) SP9

Self-Preservation E4 Characters

 Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye 
Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

Queen Elsa
Disney's Frozen

Leon S. Kennedy
Resident Evil

Shoto Todoroki|
My Hero Academia

Levi Ackerman
Attack on Titan

Katniss Everdeen
The Hunger Games

Other Examples

Aragorn - The Lord of the Rings
Reki - Haibane Renmei
Steve Rogers/ Captain America - Marvel Cinematic Universe
Gwen Stacy/ Ghost Spider - Into the Spiderverse
Shinobu Kocho - Demon Slayer
Stan Marsh - South Park
Harry Potter - Harry Potter
Nina - Black Swan
Shirou Emiya/ "Archer" - Fate Stay Night

Clementine - Telltale's The Walking Dead
Choso - Jujutsu Kaisen
Niko Bellic - Grand Theft Auto 4
Hinako Shimizu - Silent Hill F
Cloud Strife - Final Fantasy
Edward Cullen - Twilight
Raiden - Metal Gear Solid
Ignacio "Nacho" Varga - Better Call Saul
Hua Mulan - Disney's Mulan