Booth's Escape Route

[My Name Is Kate]

(01-22-2013 05:40 PM)Linda Anderson Wrote:  I was introduced to the Enneagram a while back. It is based on an ancient way of describing people's personalities. There are nine basic personalities in the Enneagram.

I think Powell is a Type Six, which is a Loyalist/Devil's advocate. Those people work well "in a clearly defined chain of command." They are doubtful of their own capacity to take action so they may "project of great deal of their power to leaders." This has come about in part because as children "they remember being afraid of those who have power over them." "Sixes try to ease this insecurity by either seeking a strong protector or by going against authority in the Devil's Advocate stand." Enneagram: Understanding Yourself and the Others in Your Life by Helen Palmer

I don't know anything about the Enneagram, but I read somewhere that Powell's whole family had "terrible tempers." I'm assuming that also included his father. So maybe he had some fear of his father as an authority figure and a religious figure (preacher), and that could also help explain why he drifted away from his religious upbringing.