Enneagram Ego 8
"Over-Moralist"

This ego describes a person who lives with a constant moral imbalance and therefore strives for a state of moral truth both within themselves and in the world; this means that they are extremely sensitive to their own perceived moral flaws and misdeeds, which is why they are tempted to impose excessive self-control, standards and principles on themselves - thus this ego strives to live without remorse for their own immoral behaviour. However, this excessive self-criticism is also projected onto people around it, which is why it is also extremely critical of the perceived moral flaws and misdeeds of others. Basically, this ego does not feel able to lead a normal life without a certain moral authenticity. In order to achieve the desired morality, this ego shows dominant and or intolerant tendencies towards its own environment, society and its own mother figure.

Furthermore, there are two different characters or realities within this ego: The Over-Moralist on the one hand and the Under-Moralist on the other. The Under-Moralist is a hedonistic character who pursues excessive pleasure in certain aspects of life. They complain about rules, insult themselves and disregard social and moral standards to fulfil their own desires, trying to justify their own immoral behaviour by strongly criticising others. The Over-Moralist is a person with rigid self-control, and strong self-criticism, who tries to embody morality itself; they think that everything they do serves a good purpose. A single person can embody both characters in the course of their life, even at the same time. The following sections explain the totality of this Ego-Fixation.

Ego-Characteristics

Ego-Fixation: Moralist

This fixation projects one's own lack of authentic existence into social atmospheres in the form of morality and decency in every form of relationship. One's sense of self-preservation depends on rules of justice provided by circumstances of one's environment in the form of laws and morals. This perceived lack of moral authenticity within oneself and the world stems from an unfair relationship with one's mother figure in earlier stages of life, whereby this ego was punished for mistakes with harsh behaviour or reactions. It perceives the world as an overwhelming and severe place that lacks moral authenticity. Therefore, this fixation craves an eternal state of morality to compensate for its own sense of a lacking authentic existence and its own lack of healthy self-preservation. Overall, this ego has the distorted perception of being both the convicted and the judge at the same time.

Trigger: Unjust mother figure

The own mother figure or family-environment, which was supposed to take care about ones basic needs, was perceived as severe, aggressive, dominating and unjust. This harsh treatment, often in response to the child's mistakes and wrongdoings, has triggered a sense of moral corruption within this ego. This ego therefore constantly feels judged, criticised and held back by environmental circumstances, through which they have developed a tendency to confront and severely criticise the people on whom their sense of self-preservation depends, including their mother figure, with dominant behaviour - in the form of excessive, open confrontation and rebellious tendencies. They project being judged by others, being unfairly treated and being held back in life and in their own capacity for self-preservation.

Dichotomy: Domain of Laws and Morals

Moves between two extremes in the domain of laws and morals. This domain encompasses all aspects of correct and incorrect behaviour, morals and the justice system. Is therefore attracted to being an upright human, or even to work related to justice; e.g. policeman, lawyer, judge and the like. Mythomania is the poison of this domain as they may resort to dishonesty to escape other's harsh judgements.

Ego-Delusion: Vengeance

Their delusion is that they live with a moral imbalance and are hypersensitive to subjectively perceived wrongdoings in themselves and other people, against which they want to respond with some kind of vengeance in the form of an open protest.

Ego-Projections:

This ego wants to perceive itself as responsible, honourable, correct, ethical and as a person full of standards. The reality of this fixation is perceived by others as the projection of an imposing, critical and excessive person with possibly ruthless and hypocritical behaviour.

Ego-Position: Self-criticism

The negative experiences of this ego leads it into the ego-position of self-criticism, through which it perceives that any injustice against its own person is somehow justified. This is why it also criticises itself excessively. It also projects this self-criticism onto its own environment by also being critical of other people.

Ego-Justification: Insincerity

Justifies themselves by being insincere in their choice of words in order to avoid other's judgements and criticism.

Ego-Balancer: Ethical & open-minded

Claims to be very ethical and open-minded in order to convince themselves of their own moral correctness.

Ego-Reaction: Violence

The sudden reaction of the ego to react to situations in life or criticism from others with violence or vehemence in one's own actions or words.

Ego-Insecurity: Remorse

Imbalance in the area of laws and morals leads to remorse for one's own actions.

Passion: Excess

Excess in the form of exaggeration in all areas of life. This excess can be observed, for example, in the pursuit of one's own morals, hobbies, luxury objects and as a lust for life.

Virtue: Serenity

Serenity describes a state that can be equated with innocence about one's own behaviour. With this serenity, they can face situations without judgement or prejudice.

Trapdoor: Morality

As this ego is driven by a compulsion for morality, they also yearn for its realisation in reality. However, when this is combined with the virtue of serenity, it can create a morality based on empathy, acceptance and openness. This can lead to a higher state of self.

Holy Idea: Truth

Must realise that they face all situations with prejudice and are not open-minded and therefore constantly judge others. With holy truth, they realise that they need to re-examine situations without prejudice.

Difficulty: Hindrance

The ego is constantly hindered and held back in life by its own self-criticism.

Immoral Force: Betrayal & Disloyalty

At a low point, they may betray people who have placed their trust in them. In doing so, however, they not only betray others, but also their own moral principles. As a result, they lose both their own self-respect and the respect of others.

Existential Attitude: Fair - Critical

Is fair on the one hand, but critical on the other.

Defense Mechanisms: Rationalization, Resistance

Rationalization involves justifying unacceptable feelings or actions with a rational reason. This can relate to both one's own behaviour and that of others. Excuses are being made for negative behaviour or facts are distorted. In particular, their intolerant feelings towards other people are justified. Resistance is when a person refuses to co-operate with others when it comes to talking about things that could psychologically upset or stress the person. For example, any advice from others on such matters may be rejected in order to protect themselves from confrontation with themselves.

Compensatory Mechanism: Cruelty

Could, through an imbalance in the domain of laws and morals, meet itself and others with a kind of cruelty in behaviour.

Possible Disorder: Passive-aggressive personality disorder

In isolated, extreme manifestations of this ego, it is possible for it to resemble passive-aggressive personality disorder.

Way of self-realization: Redemption

The path of the Moralist is to follow the path of redemption, in which they learn to forgive their own sins as well as those of others and become more gentle. Only in this way can they practise true morality.

Domain of Laws and Morals

Representative Characters

Puritane character(Over-Moralist)

This character has rigid self-control and is absorbed in what is the correct way to behave and be. Is highly critical of themselves and other people. Thinks that everything they do serves a good purpose.

Libertine character(Under-Moralist)

This character wants to immerse themselves in pleasure in whatever aspect of life they like, complaining about rules and ignoring social and moral standards in order to fulfil their own desires. They try to justify their own immoral behaviour with arguments and excuses, while strongly criticising the more moral lives of others.

Positive Domain

Morality

Dedicated to true morality, which is related to empathy and forgiveness. Spends energy helping others.

Tolerance

Instead of criticising and judging others, tolerant behaviour is adopted instead, in which certain characteristics of others are accepted.

Negative Domain

Puritanism

Adopts extremely strict moral rules of behaviour, often seeing any kind of pleasure as wrong or unnecessary. Wants to impose the same rules on others. Tries to be as morally pure as possible.

Hedonism

The belief that pleasure is the greatest good in a person's life. Justifies their own hedonistic life while condemning other lifestyles that are more moral than their own.

An imbalance in these domains can lead to mythomania and to avarice; in the worst case to cruelty in behavior.

Used Literature

The Enneagrams of the Divine Forms: Perfect, Eternal, Unchanging Truths. - Oscar Ichazo
The Enneagrams of the Fixations: The Original Teachings. - Oscar Ichazo

Everything on this page was written independently by Advanced Personality.

Enneagram Ego 8"Over-Moralist"