Passion In The Sphere Of Instinct: How Anger Works In The Sexual Subtype

E1's passion is anger. However, anger is not just one simple trait among many; it can be considered the foundational root of this character’s structure. The sexual E1 is the subtype that shows the greatest access to this passion. In this subtype, the attitude of "pushing the river" is most manifest among the subtypes of anger: it seeks to modify the situation rather than adapt to it, driven by a sense of superiority that arises from this generalized maladaptation. This superiority takes the form of fiery energy that propels it forward. Here, the emotional aspect of anger is left aside, as the feeling is avoided to allow for direct action. In the case of the sexual subtype, all these tendencies are heightened, with even more heat and fire, making it the most ardent of the E1 subtypes.

As we see, it is crucial to distinguish between anger as passion—the motivational core of E1’s character—and anger as emotion, experienced as a feeling of resentment and injustice. For a simpler differentiation, we might call anger an emotional reaction, while anger as passion is an internal energy, a physical and irrational drive that confronts this character with an existential void caused by the "loss of earthly paradise." This loss compels them to see themselves as tasked with repairing this "mistake" through thoughtless action disconnected from emotion and reason.

Faced with this emptiness and the accompanying suffering and fear of loss, this character reacts with a sense of superiority, clinging to the certainty that their actions are "perfect," "just," and necessary to correct the mistake. This is their egoic strategy to escape pain, expressing itself with warlike fervor, impulsiveness, and often without a filter. Coupled with their strictness, perfectionism, control, and demands to "eliminate mistakes," their relationships become extremely challenging—especially since their perfectionism is predominantly other-focused.

"Since I was a little girl, I have felt immense anger about being born and being born a woman. I was angry at my parents for bringing nine children into a world my mother described as a vale of tears. Their reason was a fanatical religiosity, and their goal was to gain heaven. I felt anger toward a religion that preached love but, after two thousand years, continued with empty rituals, wars, and corruption." – Paloma Cervera

E1s are often forced from childhood to behave like adults, assuming responsibilities beyond their age. To do this, they must renounce play, spontaneity, and instinct. They grow up too soon, developing a special sensitivity—a radar to detect their parents' suffering—and adapt pathologically to their caregivers' needs, attempting to solve their problems. Through this relational dynamic, they come to see themselves and the world as needing improvement. This tendency is further amplified in the sexual subtype.

"When I was born, my parents were in mourning, immersed in deep sadness. Somehow, I felt it was my obligation to take care of them, to behave well, to get the best grades, to be a diligent student who didn’t cause problems or add to their suffering. My mother was always sad, and my life mission was to make her smile. My father was an authoritarian man who calmed his fears with rules, rigidity, and structure. He repressed anything in me that wasn’t related to studying or good behavior, though he allowed himself to have fun when he wasn’t home. He told me to take care of my mother when they argued. He forced me to attend Mass and take communion, though he himself never set foot in a church. I remember being afraid because I thought God would punish my father. As time went on, I realized that didn’t happen—God didn’t punish him, and my father allowed himself what he forbade me.

When I cried, I was told I did it with such anger that I couldn’t breathe for seconds. Anger enters my childhood memories as an inner force rebelling against my father’s commands, and as a desire to teach him to do things correctly, just as I did. As a teenager, this led to a war: my rebellion against him became my confinement. I passionately embraced everything he forbade, making it clear that I dictated the rules and that my code was absolute." — Rosa Picazzo

E1’s anger is typically expressed in a rationalized manner rather than through explicit outbursts, as one might imagine. In fact, much of this character’s behavior can be understood as a reactive formation against anger, particularly in the cases of Self-Preservation 1 and Social 1. These subtypes deny anger through seemingly well-intentioned actions, such as pursuing perfectionism via criticism and high standards, all while maintaining a controlled, disciplined, and dominant demeanor or an air of arrogance and imperturbability. However, Sexual 1 lacks this "sizzle": their anger is raw and undisguised. They explode with rage, attacking with fiery, disproportionate energy, often deeply wounding others with their provocations, criticism, and disdain.

Claudio Naranjo described E1 as imbued with intentional goodness, which he later referred to as perfectionism. This trait is characterized by rejecting what is—what one is—in favor of what one believes one should be. Consequently, E1 often appears to the world as virtuous rather than angry. Their anger is a "false virtue," placing them in the domain of being right, holding the truth, and knowing the only correct way to be. Their mission is to shape the world and others according to their vision, which they perceive as the only possible way.

Perfectionism dominates their life, becoming an obsession that often worsens their own and others’ lives.

On the other hand, Sexual 1 does not hold back expressions of violence—physical or verbal. They cross the taboo of aggression unapologetically and genuinely. Sexual 1 is described as being "angry with God" for not creating the world as it should have been, and they are unafraid to show it. Publicly, they can appear violent, mean-spirited, and quarrelsome, seemingly indifferent to the harm their aggression causes others. As "perfecters" of the world, they justify their behavior by deeming it necessary. Beneath this, however, lies a hidden drive: the desire to self-validate their wishes, placing them above all else, often imposing them on others as their standard of perfection.

"Impatience gets the better of me. It's something I haven't been able to change in my 70 years of life. I can't stand having my time wasted anymore. I still see it as a denial of efficiency. I love to do nothing, and now that I have achieved that, when my time is stolen from me, I get very angry because it is time stolen from contemplation, from amazement. The feeling of wasting time has to do with feeling surrounded by inept people or being a victim of an inefficient and bureaucratic system. I don't like to relate to inefficient people or structures." — Patrick Genard

This connection with desire and strength gives this subtype an extremely dominant character, with a special intensity in their desires that makes them exert pressure, especially in intimate relationships, couple dynamics, and close ties. This tendency also manifests, perhaps even more intensely, when they are in positions of authority, such as managing workers or leading teams. Their zeal lends their desires an urgent character, driving them to satisfy themselves strongly and directly. As a result, they appear to the world as strong, conquering, and dominant.

"At the age of 20, I remember working on the camper my girlfriend and I were taking on vacation. A plate had to be cut to fit a window. I corrected the cut several times, but it still didn't fit. The fourth time, I couldn't take it anymore—I grabbed a gigantic hammer and broke the plate. I couldn't stand making mistakes in my calculations any longer." — Patrick Genard

As described above, this subtype feels especially entitled to satisfy its desires, even when it might involve exploiting others. Additionally, they tend to exonerate themselves easily, blaming their victims and justifying aggressive acts as necessary for fulfilling their desires. Claudio Naranjo reflects on this phenomenon: "We live in a culture that represses desire. But for a Sexual 1, the force of their impulse is enough for them—similar to the lascivious Enneatype—to be more willing to question the censorship of authority than to restrain the strength of their desires."

What differentiates E1 from E8 is the underlying motivation for their actions: E1's drive arises from an angry perfectionist need to intervene in reality and in the lives of others, directing them towards what they perceive as just or appropriate. E8, on the other hand, is driven by a desire for the immediate satisfaction of their needs and wants, making their drive more self-centered.

"I can clearly feel this strength, this desire, in my body. I visualize it as a volcano in the belly region that erupts and rises, spreading throughout my entire body. This lava takes two forms. The 'good' form, for me, is enthusiasm, initiative, leadership, sensuality, dance, and playfulness. The 'bad' form, on the other hand, is an aggressive rage—short-lived but intense. In those moments, I feel like a panther about to attack… or sometimes already attacking." — Rosa Picazzo

This destructive anger is difficult to control—it hurts both others and oneself. The damage is especially evident in couple relationships, where there is a tendency to subjugate and mold the partner at will, unable to accept them as they are. But how can one accept another as they are if they cannot accept themselves as they are? In this madness of trying to shape others into their own vision of correctness, the Sexual 1 becomes angry, critical, demanding, and censorious. These behaviors are driven by a sense of superiority, apparent virtuosity, and an overwhelming ability to intimidate. Their dominance and conviction in their own "absolute truth" can make them difficult to endure in intimate settings, let alone in hierarchical relationships. Even when tempered with charisma, sympathy, and protection, their desire for control remains prominent.

"In the sphere of sexual instinct, I felt sex as power, with a desire for domination. Striving for perfection in lovemaking techniques would make me an unforgettable lover. I couldn’t imagine anyone falling in love with me for my virtues—perhaps because I believed I didn’t have any. My instinctive relationships were disconnected from emotion. I had significant difficulty with physical contact: I didn’t like to be touched; it made me rigid. One of my teachers once told me, early on: 'You go out into the world in search of love, protected from feeling it.' I think that perfectly describes how I relate to others." — Rosa Picazzo

In terms of attachment, this search for love transforms into perfectionism—a desire to be fair, respectable, and just—that hardens the Sexual 1's demeanor and distances them from their repressed tenderness.

Not only is this type prone to anger, but their rage has an intensity that grants them a ferocity and aggressiveness that amplify the force of their words and actions.

How Wrath Acts in the Sexual Instinct:

"How can you have loving and affectionate sex while accepting the other as they are? I was only able to experience moments of tenderness—briefly, and only in the beginning—during post-coital moments. Later, with more maturity, I was able to access tenderness from a slower, less passionate sexual approach, enjoying greater sensitivity." — ANONYMOUS

When approaching their partner with a desire to perfect them, coupled with a competitive impulse and a strong need for superiority, the Sexual 1 reveals themselves as a character far removed from tenderness when acting neurotically. Tender impulses connect them to vulnerability, which in turn brings them into contact with fragility—triggering vehemence as a defense mechanism.

In short, vehemence manifests as a hyperdesire that drives impatience, aggression, dominance, and hyperassertiveness. Their anger brings with it an excessive power for action and a marked difficulty with self-restraint.