8 - The Moralist

Conservation Instinct · Domain of Laws and Morals

The Conservation Instinct's fundamental concern is the question of being, expressed as "How am I?" - a preoccupation with Feelings of like or dislike rooted in the abdominal center. The three Fixations of the Being Group approach reality from this perspective, manifesting in patterns connected to the child's history with the mother. The Moralist emerges when the Domain of Laws and Morals becomes fixated, producing an ego-personality that projects this aspect of being onto social reality as justice, laws, and moral rules. This fixation obscures the Divine Principle of No Time (Eternity), resulting in a personality preoccupied with justice, judgment, and moral correctness while experiencing a profound lack of true being and a yearning for the transcendent state of Eternal Truth.

Initial Trauma
The initial trauma of Moralists occurs when their conservation is affected by what they perceive and project as unjust abuse by a powerful mother who appears domineering, cruel and severe. This Feeling of being treated unjustly develops into a personality that seeks justice in the sense of Truth.

Ego-Projections

• Idealized Self: Wants to believe (and have others believe) they have high standards of decency and ethics, are responsible, honorable, and possess great integrity.

• Projected Reality: Recognizable by the ego-projections of an imposing person, critical, cruel, and lustful, who indulges in endless hypocritical sermonizing.

Ego-Position
Self-critical. Moralists believe any injustice toward them is justified, making them criticize themselves endlessly. They project this by being highly critical of others.

Domain
The Domain of Laws and Morals is where we determine correct or incorrect behavior. This includes: the justice system, police, lawyers, courts, punishment, jails, ethics, rules of being an upstanding citizen, judgment, and revenge.

Dichotomy
The two poles of the ego in this Domain:

• Puritanical Ego: Self-denial and self-criticism. Rigid control, preoccupation with correct behavior, harshly critical.

• Hedonistic Ego: Self-indulgence and libertine behavior. Excessive, self-abusive, complains about rules, ignores standards to fulfill indulgences.

• Corrective Purpose: To moderate the rigid moralism or unrestrained indulgence.
  
  

Moralists swing between these extremes.

Ego-Balancers

• For the Puritanical side: Open-minded and stable (to soften rigid judgment and find balanced perspective).

• For the Hedonistic side: Ethical with a disciplined approach (to introduce conscience and structure to unrestrained behavior).

Ego-Insecurity

Regrets. The ego-insecurity that develops from their dichotomous swings between Puritanical self-denial and Hedonistic self-indulgence is a deep-seated sense of Regrets about their contradictory actions and moral failings.

Main Characteristic

Vengeful. Their main characteristic is being Vengeful. Because they do not recognize their own ego-process, they project it onto others with vengeance, seeking retribution for perceived injustices against them.

Analysis Across the Five Centers of Attention

1. Sexual Drive: Intense subjective life with constant criticism leads to an unstable mentality with periods of erotic imagination and lustful scenes contradicting their puritanical attitude.

2. Motivational (Conservation Instinct): Sense of being is punctilious and highly susceptible to their fixated critical point of view. Dominated by ego-attachments which they justify passionately.

3. Behavioral: Behavior can be harsh and profoundly judgmental. Projects a tense demeanor, finding nothing good enough. Expects others to share their views.

4. Cognitive: Like to be in charge, prefer their own way. Impose duties upon themselves carried out ostentatiously. Intensely self-assured, put themselves into their lives enthusiastically, inspiring others and being naturally in charge. Can be exemplary and honest, but also have harsh, dominating inclinations, and can be scornful of authority.

5. Individuation: When directed toward higher consciousness, they become an honest person with great loyalty and trustworthiness. Their superego evaluates when they are being judgmental or imposing rules on others instead of adhering to higher ethical values.

Passion
Excess (exaggeration). Projected not only sexually but in all areas: luxury, affectations, excessive talking, lust for life.

Immoral Force
Betrayal. When disintegrated, they show disloyalty to those who trust them, as well as betray opponents, themselves, and their own principles. Leads to feeling misunderstood, mistrustful, and demoralized.

Door of Compensation
When stressed, they compensate for Feelings of being unjustly treated by reacting with cruelty and dispassionate Indifference. Believe their cruelty is necessary to teach a moral lesson and make others "pay for their sins." Can be ruthless, pitiless, unmerciful.

Primary Defense Mechanism
Rationalization. A self-serving, superficial mechanism to morally justify their excesses, contrasting with their criticisms of others. They distort facts and elaborate plausible excuses.

Secondary Defense Mechanism
Resistance. They resist accepting any judgment or suggestion seen as criticism, manifesting as intolerance toward others and repression of painful memories.

Personality Disorder
Passive-Aggressive (Negativistic) Personality Disorder. Expressed indirectly by ineffectiveness in social/work situations and relationships. Preoccupied with Feelings of being unfairly treated. Believe others express covert aggression toward them.

Trap
A preoccupation with true Morality or moral standards. Finding a Higher State of morality gives them a way to transcend their Fixation.

Virtue
Serenity. Impartiality or justice innocent of any bias; the archetype of blindfolded Lady Justice. An actual moral energy that allows them to witness their Fixation from a higher perspective.

Ethical State
Loyalty. Essential for them. Their highest intention is to be a person who can be trusted and counted upon to remain loyal to the highest Transcendental Integral Teachings.

Way
Redemption. The final act of justice of one’s life. Becoming liberated and reunited with the Divine through the Transcendental Way of Redemption.

Divine Form (Mind Catalyzer)
Truth. Must acquire the transcendental status of Divine Truth to catalyze their process of Redemption, leading to contemplation of the One, True and Eternal God.

Divine Principles of Consciousness

The Virtue of Serenity and Ethical State of Loyalty open the Way of Redemption through the Form of Divine Truth. This transformation is sourced in the Divine Principle of No Time (the Mind of the Light of Immateriality), which opens the state of Eternity and unchangeable Truth.

NOTE: For Enneagram-related pages, along with original content, this website utilizes much of its theoretical principles and applied material sourced from Ichazo, Naranjo, and Enneagrammer. We do not claim ownership over the provided materials, and we do not profit from the materials provided. Application of materials may not align with the conclusions of the primary sources.