THE DEVELOPMENTAL VIEW OF THE CENTERS AND OBJECT RELATIONS
A Self-paced Online Course
with Josh Lavine & John Luckovich
Understand the Centers of Intelligence
In this class, Josh Lavine and John Luckovich present Josh's Developmental Theory of the Centers of Intelligence and Object Relations. This theory brings the Enneagram into alignment with infant development and gives a theoretical foundation for Trifix. It advances the mapping of Object Relations to the Enneagram by clarifying the Object and giving clear definitions of Attachment, Frustration, and Rejection (the "affects).
Overview
Body, Heart, and Mind — The Centers of Intelligence — are the basis of the Enneagram. Beginners learn that the 9 Enneagram types are sorted into 3 body types, 3 heart types, and 3 mind types. But the Centers are more fundamental than "categories of type." They are distinct dimensions of experience. For example, right now as you read this, you are having a sensory experience (Body). At the same time, you are feeling whether this content accords with your sense of self (Heart), and you are discerning whether these ideas are worth incorporating into your mental model of reality (Mind).
In this class, we explore how Body, Heart, and Mind develop during infancy and are stacked like “layers of self." We then combine this developmental view with insights from Object Relations to reveal the psychological blueprint of each of the 9 types.
This class has both content and practice and is most suited for intermediate and advanced students.
What's Included
- 6 2hr video lessons recorded with a live zoom audience, including lecture, slides, Q&A
- Inner work practices that target all 3 centers, to revisit anytime
- Downloadable PDF with visuals that illustrate key concepts
Kalla Mort
This class felt like a solid in a world of content that is constantly slipping through my fingers. I really appreciated the clarity and passion that both John and Josh brought to the "Developmental View of the Centers and Object Relations." It was evident that they truly respect one another and value the unique insights that each of them brings to the table. Their ability to allow for spontaneity and tangents, while still building on each other’s contributions expanded the material in an engaging way. Their content made the complexities of the type structures more accessible and provided so much clarity for me in my own inner work. It has allowed me to see the distinction in my own centers and has helped me gather some reminders and signposts for some much needed internal balancing and self-trust.
This Course Will Help You To...
- Understand why there are 9 types: See what gives rise to the types by phenetrating down to the layers of the psyche where types diverge
- Hone Your Typing: Stop hand-waving and get super clear and specific about how each of your fixes operates in your personality.
- See to the Bottom of Each Type: You already get that types are different — now understand why from a developmental point of view.
- Un-“woo“ the Enneagram: The Centers of Intelligence are often taught hazily, without theoretical rigor. Ground your understanding in developmental theory.
- Finally Understand Trifix: What does it mean when an 8 has a 3 fix? How do different operate together? Put it all together.
- Understand how your Centers of Intelligence Operate Together: See how the Centers “do each other’s jobs,” why this keeps the personality constricted, and how to free yourself.
- Isolate your fixes to work on them individually: Accelerate your inner work by being able to see what each of your Centers is doing
- Coach others more effectively: See others more clearly and make more precise interventions with your clients
Kristen Oberly
I was excited to participate in The Enneagram School's first class on the Developmental View of the Centers. It definitely didn't disappoint; Josh and John are fantastic instructors. The theory was explained in such a way that allowed me to really resonate within the enneagram as a living symbol, and it helped me understand my own development in my typing journey. These two teachers are so deeply involved in this work and it really shows, which inspires me to continue learning with just as much passion and curiosity for the inner spiritual and practical work.
FAQs
What is the Enneagram?
What are "Object Relations?"
How does this theory differ from previous Enneagram-based Object Relations Theory?
Teachers
Josh Lavine is a Co-Founder of The Enneagram School and hosts the Podcast / YouTube show What It's Like To Be You, where he interviews people of each Enneagram type and practitioners of inner work. He originated the Developmental Theory of the Centers & Object Relations. He also plays piano, coaches executives, and works with teams using the Enneagram.
John is Co-Founder of The Enneagram School, author of The Instinctual Drives and the Enneagram, and co-host on the Big Hormone Enneagram podcast. He also does private coaching, facilitates breathwork, and guides pilgrimages to Egypt exploring the roots of inner work.
Praise
Sam Leuenberger
The kind of people drawn by the level of teaching offered by The Enneagram School are, in many cases, the kind of people that actually make you kind of glad that the Internet exists.
Josh Lavine & John Luckovich’s class on The Developmental View of the Centers & Object Relations unearthed a deeper understanding of how and why type is, on a moment-to-moment human level, real.
The originality and depth of Enneagram content that is the School’s bread and butter testifies to Lavine & Luckovich’s significant and ongoing contributions to an active wisdom tradition.
Being in the class I got to talk to people who are not only fluent in advanced Enneagram concepts and theory but also— thank goodness—their humanity.
Jason Chow
TNE Enneagram Coach
Josh and John strike a balance between didactic training and hands-on immersive exercises that allow for deep and meaningful exploration of the enneagram. Time management was impeccable, and I found their expansive knowledge base to be concisely and efficiently delivered. I was amazed by how much ground they were able to cover! Their passion for this work is palpable, and the class about object relations offered the ideal balance between structure and freedom for deeper inquiry. They did a great job of integrating the group into their teachings and soliciting questions. 10/10.
Kathy McDonald
The Developmental Theory of the Centers course through The Enneagram School is a must! Josh Lavine’s take on Object Relations and the Centers of Intelligence, which he and John Luckovich flesh out in detail during this course, is not only one of the most practical, crystalline approaches to this material I’ve encountered but also something I return to often in my own inner work journey. The descriptions of the Centers and how they impact Enneagram type are so clear and concise. The understanding I gained from this course definitely led to a better understanding of myself, and the descriptive language is now part of my everyday lexicon. I also find Josh’s theory to be one of the best tools for landing on someone’s trifix. John and Josh are a great teaching duo, with their mutual respect for each other shining through and their different styles balancing each other out. And the course has a great format, including meditation and sensation practices, useful handouts, and informative Q&A segments.
Marika Litz
Josh and John's Developmental View of the Centers and Object Relations class completely upgraded my understanding of the Enneagram. I've been learning and using the Enneagram for about 13 years now, and this class added so much more texture to everything I already knew. The content was fresh--not regurgitated Enneagram language--all while being rooted in historic, studied psychological theory. This new, working Object Relations theory made it easier to deduce my own trifix by having clear examples of how the Centers of Intelligence and the emotional affect interact.
I loved the ping-pong teaching style between both Josh and John. They each bring something different, and it's nice to get both flavors over the course of a class. Josh's skill of using simple metaphors and masterfully articulating complex concepts combined with John's breadth of Enneagram and Fourth Way knowledge lead to a very thorough teaching. Josh has an inviting, approachable style to his teaching, while John feels like he's making sure the integrity of this ancient wisdom is never lost; and together they offer a high-quality Enneagram class.
Tessa Anwyll
The Enneagram School and its teachers present content that is rooted in a deep contextual understanding of the Enneagram. One thing I’ve always loved is that the Enneagram works well in almost any system people find meaning in. The class about the Developmental View of the Centers and Object Relations is another example of this, and I loved seeing Enneagram content rooted in concepts of modern psychology. The class provided opportunities for questions, discussion, practice, and teaching and provided valuable information I have returned to multiple times since taking the course. I’ve taken other courses through the Enneagram School since then and absolutely loved every single one of them, for anyone who is looking for high-quality, applicable Enneagram instruction, this is the place to go!
Renée Heitman
Josh and John present complex topics with such elegance and clarity that absolute beginners can grasp the concepts. Their theoretical work on the centers of intelligence provides a stable foundation for understanding the enneagram that allows for much deeper exploration of the types than rigid and simplistic behavioral profiles. For beginners, this is the place to start; for the experienced, I recommend taking in the new perspectives offered by the Enneagram School.
Course Format
The 6 sessions in this course were recorded live in front of a Zoom audience. Each session includes a lecture that draws on real life examples, an inner work practice, and Q&A from participants.
6 two-hour Sessions
Session 1: The Development of the Centers
In this session, we present an overview of the theory of how the Centers of Intelligence and Object Relations come together in a 3x3 grid to form the 9 Enneagram types. First, we explore how body, heart, and mind develop sequentially during infancy and stack like layers of self, each situated in a different layer of reality. The body is situated in sensation. The heart is situated in gaze. The mind is situation in orientation, or the layer of symbol. Then, we explore how within each center, we can relate to the respect field in three different ways: Attachment, Frustration, or Rejection.
Session 2: Body & the Field of Sensation
In this session, we explore what it means for the body to be "intelligent." We define sensation and understand how the body distinguishes good sensation and bad sensation, and how bad sensation causes rage. From there, we explore how the Body Center tries to protect itself from overwhelm and violation, and how it does this via Attachment, Frustration, and Rejection, giving rise to the strategies of Types 8, 9, & 1.
Session 3: Heart & the Field of Gaze
In this session, we explore heart intelligence. We define Gaze and understand how the heart center distinguishes good gaze and bad gaze, and how bad gaze causes shame. From there, we explore how the Heart Center develops a self-image that it wants to be "seen" as, and how it does this via Attachment, Frustration, and Rejection, giving rise to the strategies of Types 2, 3, & 4.
Session 4: Mind & the Field of Orientation / Symbol
In this session, we explore mental intelligence. We define what a Symbol and Orientation are, and we understand how the mental center distinguishes between good orientation and bad orientation, and how bad orientation causes fear. From there, we explore how the Mind Center attempts to stay alert and keep its orientation up to date, and how it does this via Attachment, Frustration, and Rejection, giving rise to the strategies of Types 5, 6, & 7.
Session 5: Attachment, Frustration, Rejection -- the Object Relational Affects
In the last 3 sessions, we looked at this theory in "horizontal" slices -- examining how Attachment, Frustration, and Rejection function in the same Center. In this session, we look at the theory in "vertical" slices -- examining first how Attachment functions in all 3 Centers, then looking at Frustration and Rejection in turn.
Session 6: Trifix
Trifix -- short for "Trifixation" -- is the idea that we have a "fix" (or type) in all 3 centers. For example, if you're a Type 3 -- that's a heart type. But you also have a body and a mind, and a fix in each of those centers.The combination of all three of your fixes is called your Trifix. Your body fix will always correspond to 8, 9, or 1; your heart fix to 2, 3, or 4; and your mental fix to 5, 6, or 7. In this session, we explore how the Developmental view of the Centers and Object Relations clarifies Trifix, giving you a precise view into "what you're doing" in each center.
For example, let's say your trifix is 837. Your body fix being 8 means that you are doing "rejection" in the layer of sensation. Your heart fix being 3 means that you are doing "attachment" in the layer of gaze. And your mind fix being 7 means that you are doing "frustration" in the layer of orientation.
Fee
The fee for this program is $150. A payment plan is available.
Lee Milligan
TNE Certified Enneagram Teacher
Taking the Development of the Centers & Object Relations class with Josh and John at The Enneagram School was a fantastic experience. From day one, it was clear how knowledgeable and passionate they are about the Enneagram. The course content was insightful and engaging, and I loved connecting with other class members to hear their perspectives and lived experiences with their types. Josh and John have a unique way of presenting complex ideas that made the learning process enjoyable and thought-provoking, and their centering practices at the start of each class set a calm and focused tone. I especially appreciated how the class was spread over multiple dates to accommodate the nuances of this complex subject matter, allowing time to explain and expand upon their ideas thoroughly. They always left plenty of time for Q&As, and no class ever felt rushed. Josh and John, thank you for your dedication and for creating such a welcoming and dynamic learning environment. I highly recommend this course to anyone interested in deepening their Enneagram knowledge
Karrie Brandt
Josh and John are cutting-edge Enneagram experts who I deeply respect because of how they each have digested the information about the system in their own, individual way. They bring themselves, their essences, to their teaching, and all of the students can feel this.
Even though I took the first class offered by The Enneagram School over a year ago, I still think about the ideas and concepts presented by Josh and John. They have both digested the layers of the Enneagram framework at a deeper level than most other teachers and practitioners I have encountered.
Josh's new theory surrounding the Centers of Intelligence and Relational Styles is crucial information to better understand the Enneagram as a whole.
