Adaptation

Order to follow when writing descriptions:
1. Bodily association and meaning
2. Perception
3. Living question
4. Logic
5. Ego
6. Existential attitude
7. Domains
8. Psychic poison
9. Fixated points

Also known as the syntony instinct,^[1]  the Adaptation Instinct derives from the cognitive system and is responsible for thoughts, actions, and working. It is the intellectual centre that wants to know and do, and perceives reality primarily through the criteria of truth and falsity, right and wrong. From this instinct derives large ideological and societal ideas and constructs. The Existential Attitude which the instinct is gripped by is the horror of conflict, developing into fear and stress. The higher search constitutes a search for a way to liberate oneself through the mind, a "True Knowledge" of things.

From this instinct comes the Practical Ego, which wants to get things done, but it cannot do this because the other two instincts are getting in the way. This ego continuously asks "Where am I?" It wants to adapt to its environment; it wants the know-how for surviving.

Analytical Reasoning

Ichazo originally assigned the Adaptation instinct with empathetical reasoning. He explained that empathetical reasoning means to "be alike, or to become like," which helps the adaptive instinct to understand the internal qualities and perspectives of other people or things around them. This could manifest as a projection of oneself into theoretical scenarios and viewpoints that shed light on a situation, environment, or as a means of preparation. This is how the adaptation instinct figures out what to do at any given moment.^[1] Ichazo later revised this and assigned analytical reasoning to the adaptation instinct. Analytical reasoning is a specifically inductive process where a situation is analyzed and possibilities are explored in order to open an avenue for action or a plan for achieving a specific goal. This analysis is built on the basis of individual thoughts and experience evaluated on the basis of right or wrong rather than on external authority.^[3]

Practical Ego

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Existential Attitude

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Domains

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Psychic Poison

This ego may develop into the psychic poison of deceit, more specifically self-deceit in the sense of delusions and worrying about how to do things. Deceit is then broken down into three other poisons: confusion, which becomes Ego-Stinginess (Over-Observer, point 5); deceit, which becomes Ego-Cowardice (Over-Adventurer, point 6); and mythomania, which becomes Ego-Planning (Over-Idealist, point 7).

Fixated Points

References

1. Ichazo, O. (1976). The human process for enlightenment and freedom, The Arica School, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1w6Zs6WYimJud29sl2kzjjO2k-v5x4rk0/view

2. Ichazo, O. (2023). The enneagrams of the divine forms perfect, eternal, unchanging truths (transcribed by American Pragmatist), The Arica School, https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GzIWVuKR6rpLgznI8T8RfU-BkBWHWcufQZF4oBKUioE/edit?tab=t.0 

3. Ichazo, O. (2024). The enneagrams of the fixations: The original teachings, The Arica School, https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Puteue12lR_8YWmNfpOFrhutLtnUbbZEvAPM5za2T10/edit?tab=t.0