Strategy 6
Security-Minded Traditionalist
- Desire
- Security, support, and safety
- Fear
- Loss of support and guidance
Why People Confuse Them
This is a fairly common mix-up. Both strategies are warm, friendly and want to be liked. Both know how to win people over, and relationships matter a great deal to them.
What the Difference Is
The Six wants the support and approval of others; the Two wants to be loved and important. The Six wins people over with humour and playfulness, to bring out their protective side. The Two offers love, advice and help, giving from the position of someone who has something to give. The Six lets people in cautiously and selectively; the Two casts a wide net.
The Six wants a partnership that helps them stand firmly on their own feet, and gets nervous if they merge too much with the other person. The Two wants as much closeness as possible. The Six is full of doubt and seeks reassurance from trusted people. The Two doesn't doubt as much and over time becomes the authority others come to for advice. Under pressure, the Two acts more covertly, while the Six becomes volatile and confused about their feelings.
Subtypes: The easiest mix-up is between the self-preservation Two and the self-preservation Six; both are cautious, but the Two's fear is mostly about relationships, while the Six's is more general.
Three Questions That Settle It
Answer honestly, based on how things usually are, not how you'd like them to be.
- When you need advice, what do you do?
2More likely a Two if you tend to give advice rather than ask for it.
6More likely a Six if you ask people you trust and then still hesitate anyway.
- How do you feel when you merge completely with your partner?
2More likely a Two if it feels good and you want even more closeness.
6More likely a Six if you start to feel restless and need to keep some of your independence.
- What runs through your head most often?
2More likely a Two if it's thoughts about who needs what and how to help them.
6More likely a Six if it's thoughts about what could go wrong and who can be trusted.
Not sure? The test will tell you in 10 minutes. What's my strategy? →
How to Spot a Two →How to Spot a Six →How They Work Together in a Relationship →