How this Enneagram 8 categorizes people.
Soooooo since it's possible some may be offended by this post, I wanna make something clear before I get into it. People matter and have intrinsic value just for being who they are! This system is simply the basis for how I choose to prioritize my time in relationships with people. I use it to screen my social surroundings to determine how much I choose to invest myself in the people around me. It’s true that my 8 mindset, combined with my high Ti which adores systems, often views people as pieces of a machine and evaluates who has what power in what situations. However, that doesn't mean I let that define how I interact with people. Every weakness is a strength taken to far, and I recognize that myself and other 8's need to remember that while this method of prioritizing people is useful, we still need to treat other humans with respect, regardless of how they fall in our priorities.
With that said, here are the categories people tend to fall into in my mind:
Those to be Respected: These individuals have either considerable skill/knowledge and use it effectively, or they have earned my respect by demonstrating they are competent and considerate of other when in positions of authority. Treat these people genuinely and with respect. They can be useful allies and often have talents you yourself don't possess.
Those to be Opposed: These individuals often have considerable skill/knowledge along with authority/power but use these talents in a way that is harmful to others and/or for their own personal gain. The key here is that they cause harm to others or to myself. However, they must pose some kind of threat or hold power to be in this category, otherwise, they end up in the next category (those to be controlled). This is a situation in which an 8 thrives; we like to make a difference by opposing injustice. Be measured in your opposition, fellow 8s. Remember that you don't always need to take drastic measures to be effective. Also, remember you are the better person here, and act accordingly.
Those to be Controlled: These are either potentially dangerous individuals we need to assert dominance over, or they are useful and can be "recruited" to your cause. This is a nicer version of direct control, but it's still the same idea. The majority of people we encounter fall in this or the next category (Those to be Ignored). Treat these people with caution. They are not likely dangerous but don’t completely write them off because they can be useful.
Those to be Ignored: Individuals fall into this category for three reasons: the first is that simply they have nothing of value to offer or hold no power. The second is that they aren’t hostile to people. The third is that we do not interact enough and I don’t have enough interaction to determine how to interact with them. Many people I encounter fall into this category. Treat these people with consideration, but don't invest too heavily in them. They could grow into useful people if you help them along the way.
Those to be Despised: As you can tell, people this category arouse strong feelings of disdain for an 8. They could also fall into Those to be Opposed or Those to be Ignored, but they deserve their own category. These people likely don’t hold much power or authority but are cruel to those around them nonetheless. They are selfish, rude, and disregard others, seeking only their own gratification. Or worse, they have potential but are squandering their talents on trivial pursuits. We treat these people with distance. They are not worth your time.
Those to be Friends: On a much more positive note, this category includes individuals who we simply enjoy. Often they have some positive talents, knowledge, or hold a position of authority, but they don't have to in order to feel validated as a person. They are just people we have observed to be safe, meaning that they’re not a threat to us or others (very important), and we enjoy being around them. They are often not used for any purpose aside from enjoyable friendships. Appreciate these people. Friendships are one of life's great joys and as an 8 it can be very useful to have people by your side you trust.
Those to be Protected: This is the core of who an 8 is. There will be some people who are being oppressed or controlled by Those we Oppose or Despise. Individuals in this category are to be protected from those that are harming them in anyway we can. They are not nearly as important as Those we Treasure but we do feel motivated by our anger at how they are treated to keep these people safe or improve their lives.
Those to be Treasured: Having people who fall into this category is very rare for an 8. I only have four or so individuals who fall in it. These are people that the 8 protectors will go to the ends of the earth and burn cities for. These are the people who you deeply trust above all others. Treasure these people. They are true wonders in your life and you won't find many of them.
One more note: I don’t know if this is how all 8 types view or prioritize the people in their life; it’s based on my own experience and is likely heavily influenced by Ti-Fe reasoning (as an ENTP). However, I’m curious to see if this rings true for other 8s out there, and hope this may be enlightening for those of you who may not be a type 8 yourself but have a type 8 individual in your life.
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