Personality Type Six

Sixes are also known as the

Defender, Devil's Advocate, Doubter, Facilitator, Faithful Skeptic, Groupist, Guardian, Loyal Guardian, Loyal Person, Loyalist, Loyal-Skeptic, Problem Finder, Questioner, Stalwart, Supporter, Traditionalist, Trooper, Troubleshooter, True Believer

Overview

Values

loyalty, commitment, cooperation, duty, responsibility, obedience, hard  work, persistence, security, the welfare of those with whom they have identified

Main Motivation

To feel supported and secure

Sixes like to see themselves as committed and dependable people. Sixes often doubt their own judgement and sense of inner guidance. As a result, they look for support and guidance outside themselves. Sixes seek direction and reassurance from their support systems to reduce their doubts and insecurity.

Sixes seek support systems through people (parent, teacher, mentor, friends), a belief system (political, philosophical, religious), an institution (the law, the military, a company, a union, the family), or other affiliations (sports team, self-help book, traditions, rules, routines). All of these sources provide the Six with a sense of stability and guidance. The more support systems the Six has, the more secure she will feel.

Sixes are wary about blindly following the rules or guidance they receive. Sixes feel the need to test it, to question it. Sixes want certainty and want to make sure that the decisions they make are completely consistent with all of their support systems and authorities. Sixes depend on their support systems for a sense of confidence, but sometimes they desire to go their own way to assert their independence. Much of the struggle of the Six is spent trying to find autonomy -- through themselves and through others.

Average Levels

Level 4: Dutiful Loyalist

Play the role of the Responsible Implementor

Level 5:  Ambivalent Pessimist

Manipulate others by testing the loyalty and commitment of others to them

Level 6: Authoritarian Rebel

Undermine others by "proving" others that their beliefs are wrong and that others have no support

Average Sixes see themselves as the responsible implementer. They believe that their commitment (to their friends, their faith, their authority figure, etc.) will result in increased mutual support and security. Their hard work will earn them the support of others. Sixes search for people and systems in which they can trust and in which they feel supported. They strengthen those alliances and friendships and work hard for them.

Average Sixes like structure and clear expectations. These things give Sixes a sense of confidence that they are doing the right thing. Sixes are attracted to jobs with clear guidelines (accounting, science, computer science, law, etc.).

Average Sixes solicit input from those they trust and often think about what advice and opinion their friends would have. Because they seek many sources of advice, conflicting opinions and self-doubt may lead to indecision and procrastination. Average Sixes react emotionally to differing opinions. In one moment they can go from being confident, loyal and believing to being fearful, rebellious, and doubting. Average Sixes move from looking to others to make them feel more confident and independent and asserting their independence to feel less dependent on others. Sixes feel caught in the middle because they can't assert too much independence lest they lose their authority's support. Ironically, Sixes depend on others to feel independent.

Average Sixes notice that they follow the rules and do what they're supposed to, but others don't. They are usually more confident in their beliefs than in themselves.

Average Sixes are keenly aware of the dangers, risks, and problems of any situation. They are great at troubleshooting, because they can foresee problems. However this ability can also lead them to imagine the worst and become pessimistic, sometimes leading to overreacting and catastrophizing. When problems are perceived, they tend to react emotionally and want others to recognize that it is a big deal.

Their underlying anxiety leads to worrying about irrational or unlikely problems - getting into a car accident, getting mugged, being struck by a meteor, etc. While Average Sixes may believe they are simply being vigilant and cautions, others see it as pessimistic, suspicious and paranoid. Average Sixes are fearful and anxious and wonder if their support system will keep them.

Sometimes the high level of anxiety and doubt becomes prolonged, leading to low feelings of confidence. Sixes compensate by taking a tough stance, becoming steadfast and stubborn in their ways. They react to apparent threats to their security. They adopt an "us against them" mentality, blaming others (who are not affiliated with the Six) for problems. By "proving" that they are wrong, we are proven right.

Unhealthy Levels

Level 7: Overreacting Dependent

Level 8: Paranoid Hysteric

Level 9: Self-Defeating Masochist

If the anxiety Sixes feel continues to increase, they become depressed and feel worthless. They exaggerate their problems and feel persecuted, as if everybody is out to get them.

What leads Sixes down the wrong path is looking for guidance and security outside themselves. Their self-worth and confidence is dependent on others.

Healthy Levels

Level 1: Valiant Hero

Level 2:  Engaging Friend

Become attached to values of trust, cooperation, and dedication

Level 3:  Committed Worker

Feel good about themselves when they do what is expected of them

Healthy Sixes let go of the need to force support from others. They can instead focus on their commitments and responsible work, which automatically pays of in mutually beneficial relationships.  They are well disciplined, prudent, and cautious. They do notice the dangers, but understand them in the larger context.

Healthy Sixes are very likeable and seek to build connections with others and systems to create stability. They are very engaging and their emotionally open nature builds strong and trusting relationships. Others look up to Healthy Sixes for guidance and support.

At their best, Sixes let go of the belief that they must rely on someone or something outside themselves for security. They realize that self-confidence starts with the self. Their inner guidance speaks loudly, no longer lost in the noise of anxiety. They are completely self-reliant, courageous and lead others.

Similarities to other Types

Common Traits with other Types
Sixes seek Security (like Fives  and Sevens)
Sixes handle problems with a Reactive approach (like Fours and Eights)
Sixes are Compliant to their inner rules (like Ones and Twos)
Sixes are Attached to the expectations of others (like Threes and Nines)

Conflict Scenarios
Reactive vs. Positive Outlook Sixes in conflict with Twos, Sevens, Nines
Reactive vs. Reactive Sixes in conflict with Fours, Sixes, Eights
Reactive vs. Competency  Sixes in conflict with Ones, Threes, Fives

Multimedia

Watch a Six talk about her type
Dr. David Daniels describes Sixes
Don Riso on Sixes

Theme Songs

These "Theme Songs" express some of the most important issues of Type Six.

• respect for authority
  

• national loyalty
  

• worry
  

Pomp and Circumstance

Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance is often played at graduation ceremonies. It conveys a sense of grandure, symbolizing the Instituttion of education, one of many Authorities Sixes may respect.

National Anthems

Many National Anthems speak of loyalty to the Nation. Here are some examples of  anthems that speak of values that Sixes hold dear.

West Germany (pre 1990)

German Lyrics
Deutschland, Deutschland über alles,
Über alles in der Welt,
Wenn es stets zu Schutz und Trutze
Brüderlich zusammenhält.
Von der Maas bis an die Memel,
Von der Etsch bis an den Belt,
Deutschland, Deutschland über alles,
Über alles in der Welt.

Deutsche Frauen, deutsche Treue,
Deutscher Wein und deutscher Sang,
Sollen in der Welt behalten
Ihren alten schönen Klang,
Uns zu edler Tat begeistern
Unser ganzes Leben lang.
Deutsche Frauen, deutsche Treue,
Deutscher Wein und deutscher Sang.

Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit
Für das deutsche Vaterland.
Danach laßt uns alle streben
Brüderlich mit Herz und Hand!
Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit
Sind des Glückes Unterpfand
Blüh' im Glanze dieses Glückes,
Blühe, deutsches Vaterland!

English Translation

Germany, Germany above all
Above everything in the world
When it always, for protection and defence
Stands together brotherly.

From the Maas to the Memel
From the Etsch to the Belt,
Germany, Germany above all
Above all in the world!

German women, German fidelity,
German wine and German song,
Shall retain in this the world,
Their old and high regard,
To inspire us to noble deeds
For the length of our lives.
German women, German fidelity,
German wine and German song.

Unity and justice and freedom
For the German Fatherland
For this let us all strive
Brotherly, with heart and hand.
Unity and justice and freedom
Are the pledge of fortune.
Blossom in the splendour of this blessing
Blossom German Fatherland.

The Hymn of the Soviet Union

Unbreakable Union of freeborn Republics,
Great Russia has welded forever to stand.
Created in struggle by will of the people,
United and mighty, our Soviet land!

Sing to the Motherland, home of the free,
Bulwark of peoples in brotherhood strong.
O Party of Lenin, the strength of the people,
To Communism's triumph lead us on!

Through tempests the sunrays of freedom have cheered us,
Along the new path where great Lenin did lead.
To a righteous cause he raised up the peoples,
Inspired them to labor and valorous deed.
[Or, the old way:
Be true to the people, thus Stalin has reared us,
Inspire us to labor and valorous deed!]

Sing to the Motherland, home of the free,
Bulwark of peoples in brotherhood strong.
O Party of Lenin, the strength of the people,
To Communism's triumph lead us on!

In the vict'ry of Communism's deathless ideal,
We see the future of our dear land.
And to her fluttering scarlet banner,
Selflessly true we always shall stand!

Canada

O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.

With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!

From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

Overkill

by Colin Hay

Lyrics
I can't get to sleep
I think about the implications
Of diving in too deep
And possibly the complications

Especially at night
I worry over situations
I know I'll be alright
Perhaps it's just imagination

Day after day it reappears
Night after night my heartbeat shows the fear
Ghosts appear and fade away

Alone between the sheets
Only brings exasperation
It's time to walk the streets
Smell the desperation

At least there's pretty lights
And though there's little variation
It nullifies the night from overkill

Day after day it reappears
Night after night my heartbeat shows the fear
Ghosts appear and fade away
Come back another day

I can't get to sleep
I think about the implications
Of diving in too deep
And possibly the complications

Especially at night
I worry over situations
I know I'll be alright
It's just overkill

Day after day it reappears
Night after night my heartbeat shows the fear
Ghosts appear and fade away
Ghosts appear and fade away
Ghosts appear and fade away