THE SELF PRESERVATION INSTINCT IN NINE: THE COMFORT SEEKER
In the average range, this variant is the pleasant, easygoing Nine who does not ask much from life. Self-Preservation Nines prefer simple pleasures that are readily available- eating at the nearest fast-food restaurant, watching a favourite rerun on television, or "zoning out" on a comfy chair. They are usually not ambitious, although they may be quite talented. They generally deal with anxiety by getting involved in busywork- puttering and routines -and may use small tasks to avoid dealing with bigger projects. They become increasingly attracted to minor rewards as compensation for not being able to pursue real desires- but always with some repressed underlying anxiety about not attending to their needs.
Nines' inertia shows up most clearly in this variant. Apathy and self-neglect can cause Self-Preservation Nines to have difficulty mobilizing themselves to obtain what they really want or to take care of their genuine self-preservation needs. Increasingly, they use food and drink to suppress feelings of anxiety or anger and often possess large appetites and a tendency towards addiction. They do not want their pleasant moods to be disturbed by other and often resist others simply by not responding to them, remaining stubbornly silent.
In the unhealthy range, Self-Preservation Nines fall into deep apathy about their lives and can become fatigued and ineffectual. They become the chronic couch potato, emotionally shut down and slowly wasting their health, relationships, and possibilities. Addictions are common.