When the Three goes to Nine

The Direction of Disintegration for the Three is to Nine. So when Threes are under stress or pressure they act out some of the behaviours of the average to unhealthy Nine. Threes are the most driven, goal-oriented type. Success is important to them and their need to achieve can become relentless. This creates inevitable difficulty when they are struggling because it doesn't allow them to admit to others or themselves that they are less than the successful person they are trying to be. As a result they put enormous effort into keeping up the appearance of success, investing in the image of themselves as a winner and as someone who has 'got it together'. In the first instance this leads them to be conciliatory and agreeable in order to be accepted. If this doesn't work however, their self-doubt rises which creates huge pressure because they simultaneously, and increasingly, need to convince themselves and others that they really are superior people in order to keep the illusion going. At times it all becomes too much and they suffer a sort of emotional collapse, becoming apathetic, 'flat' and disengaged from their lives. At this point, cut off from their genuine feelings, the normally productive and energetic Three is unable to galvanise themselves into action and becomes ineffectual and depressed.