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Good Omens MBTI

Spoilers for Good Omens ahead!

Aziraphale (ISFJ):

Aziraphale likes order and keeping things the way that they are. His primary function Si makes him hold onto small comforts found in the human world and which he doesn’t want to give up and value the life he has built for himself with his bookshop in London. Little comforts such as loving human food, and liking that people at restaurants all know who he is are what keeps Aziraphale attached to the human world (Si and Fe interacting). His second function Fe makes him feel for the human race and all its done in the world. Not just in a theoretical way, as in he only protects and cares about the humans because it’s his purpose to do so. He cares about them because he likes them and believes that they are good. And we see that because he can also be convinced that they are bad, and they deserved to be punished on an individual level. His 3rd function, Ti allows Aziraphale to keep up with Crowley. Although he generally prefers to deal with what he knows, Aziraphale can be very analytical and pragmatic such as when he leaves Heaven to go to earth in a creative way once his body disappears and finding a way to possess a body once he gets there. Finally, Ne is the last and inherently Aziraphale’s weakest function and it’s what Crowley primarily brings out in him. He struggles to come to terms with going against the status quo of Heaven but is convinced to see different ideas and perspectives from Crowley’s primary Ne function. While Ne is in conflict with Si and makes Aziraphale wary of going against the established order, once he really considers what good and evil means the choice is simple and the apocalypse must be stopped.

Crowley (ENTP):

Crowley’s primary function is Ne and he is full of ideas. He states quite clearly that he only fell because he hung around with the wrong people and asked questions. He sees multiple perspectives and questions to great plan at every turn, not necessarily because he believes it’s wrong but only because it’s limiting his constant flow of Ne ideas. Crowley’s second function is Ti and we see it in his multiple schemes and plots to make life easier for himself. The original plot of him and Aziraphale not having to work so hard and helping each other out by doing both miracles and temptations. However, he also finds a way to avoid Hastur for much of the later part of the season after his ‘traitorous’ actions are discovered. He uses his Ti to sort through his Ne ideas and this logical analysis is how he justifies his decision to avert the apocalypse to Aziraphale. His 3rd function Fe is where his interest in both Aziraphale and the human race comes from. His stream of ideas often comes up with sympathy for those around him and seeing the value of human people and their ideas. He also creates a strong bond with Aziraphale over time and seeing him be more than an angelic stereotype. He could have rejected Aziraphale outright as another angelic stereotype but seeing his seemingly contrary actions, Crowley analyzes his behavior through Fe and sees that Aziraphale is different. His final function Si is Azis main function and makes him uncomfortable with the status quo. He struggles with the old backwards ways of demons and while he attempts to do evil he does it with modern technology which other demons don’t understand. He however appeals to this Si value in Aziraphale when he sees how much the angel likes small comforts such as his bookshop, clothes and human food.

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Relationships in Fiction: Adam Groff and Eric Effiong - Sex Education

Rather than a relationship with any real chemistry, this one seems to be a product almost entirely of uncertainty. Adam is an untethered social pariah who is steadily becoming more and more entrenched in the feeling that he is trapped, and this feeling is soon compounded by a literal countdown until he is sent to military school and truly loses any autonomy and sense of self he might have gained. Eric on the other hand goes through a lengthy process of rebelling against traditional roots to the extreme, having his conviction shaken, and finding himself again through the support system his family and community provides. Either way, both characters are at critical moments in their development where they are trying to figure out who they are and their place in the world.

Adam bullies Eric long before he ever puts his feelings into action, and just like little boys pulling little girls pigtails on the playground its only an excuse to get Eric’s attention and be close to him. Regardless of actual intentions which could come from a place of power or a need to feel in control which his father never provided him, Adam subconsciously chooses Eric to bully and harass because he has unexplored sexual desires. 

This desire culminates when he sees Eric at the dance, unabashedly confronting his father and striding into the auditorium wearing makeup and African-inspired garb and realizes that Eric is being everything that he could never be. Regardless of the perceived control he needs to attain, like in the first episode, Adam really has no control over his own life. He could never be accepted by his father for being a different sexual orientation, or even be accepted for not being the perfect idealization that Mr. Groff had built up in his mind for Adam. These feelings are only really expressed when Adam directly confronts Mr. Groff at the dance. However, years of emotional abuse stall Adam’s confrontation and the fear of repercussions and the feelings of inadequacy stop him from actually taking steps to leave the situation. And Adam realizes with dismay that he will never have the same interaction with his father that Eric had with his. There will be no moment of relief and acceptance and kindness.

Eric on the other hand is confident in who he is and spends most of the series expressing his individuality by removing himself from his religious family and blazing a new trail with his own sexuality and self-expression. The beating in episode five made Eric reevaluate his lifestyle and rejection of being “normal” and made him close himself off to the rest of to the only support system he had to be genuine with and that was Otis. While his family was supportive and helpful, with Eric’s radical diversion from their version of normal they couldn’t understand in the same way that Otis did. Without him Eric is left untethered and feeling like his “living out loud” philosophy is false. Adam is disturbed by this sudden change in demeanor because he sees Eric as someone, though foolish, also brave because Eric is unabashedly himself in all situations. Adam sees him as someone who is not afraid of what anyone things and certainly not his father. Seeing it is possible to knock him down a peg and shake his self-confidence is jarring for Adam and it shows in the limited interaction they have together in Episode 6.

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Relationships in MBTI: Jake (ESFP) & Amy (ESTJ)

This post contains spoilers for Brooklyn 99! These typings and explanations are a matter of personal opinion and if you have alternative perspectives I would love to hear them!

Opposites attract in this TV show pair and despite their differences the chemistry between them is obvious with Jake and Amy being one of the most supportive and loving couples on TV without falling into the trap of being boring to watch.

A small disclaimer here about MBTI and compatibility: while there are charts and theories about which types are more compatible than others, this is by no means an exact science. It’s merely an analysis of different functions and how they would fit together in a perfect world. It fails to take into account much of the nuance of a relationship such as common interests and life experience. So, when I discuss compatibility, I’m using the chart but also taking into account the experiences of individual characters so as to get a clearer picture of their internal dynamic.

As a starting point Jake (ESFP) and Amy (ESTJ) are listed in green and as an “one sided match”. I believe this is because Amy is incredibly future focused, using her Te and Si to create a detailed plan of every moment of her life, and Jake is very much in the moment and has little pre-planning skills to speak of. However, given the nature of the Brooklyn 99 which focuses heavily on character growth and development this discrepancy is not a breaking point for the two characters, but something that brings them closer together.

Take their two primary functions for example: Amy is a primary Te user which makes her very interested in advancing in the workforce, and her Si makes her a stickler for rules and regulations. While Jake is a primary Fi user who has a well-developed personal moral-code which makes him not as great at rule following, and his Se makes him more focused on having fun than following the rules. These two function combinations couldn’t be more different but they have unintended compatibility given the nature of the show. Amy has constant problems with her perfectionism and anal retentiveness that creates an enormous pressure on herself. This leads to shame smoke cigarettes and worrying obsessively about Holt’s approval. Jake is not concerned with Amy’s advancements in the workplace in the traditional sense (he is very interested in winning bets and competitions) in that he doesn’t feel the need to be “ahead” of Amy in career advancements. This is demonstrated through his support of her becoming a sergeant and constant bragging about having such a smart partner. He also creates an outlet for Amy to loosen-up, letting the more relaxed and fun-loving part of her personality shine through (despite her insistence of keeping a strict schedule). 

Jake on the other hand is incredibly bad at following rules and operating in the hierarchy of the NYPD. While he is incredibly good at his job he struggles to see the merits of rules and regulations and the need to see the nuances and details of bureaucracy. Throughout the show both Amy and Holt help him to see why tradition is important and can be useful when applied in the right way. Realizing Amy’s need for order and structure helps Jake to adjust his Fi and attempt to make life easier for her by going along with her schedules so she is comfortable. But also throwing a little bit of fun in the mix for his own, and Amy’s, amusement. This compromise is shown when Jake decides to buy a bed and do other adult things because he wants to show Amy she’s worth it and future planning, like purchasing a bed for the rest of his life, is the ultimate promise of being together for a long time.

As for third and fourth functions: Amy brings out Jake’s Te when they make many life decisions based on bets and competitions and strive to out-do each other. While Jake is constantly forcing Amy not only to think about what the rules say but also how she feels about a situation using her Fi, which she normally tries not to use since it takes longer and is less accurate than Te. Additionally, Jake brings out Amy’s more impulsive and creative side, and while he does not have an Ne function it is a very compulsive and idea-driven function similar to Jake’s overall personality. Ne is also the epicenter of much of Amy’s disastersizing of situations, such as her pre-test freak-out about the sergeant’s exam and Jake often acts as her voice of reason when Ne spirals out of control. Similar to Jake inspiring Amy’s N-based function, Amy also helps Jake activate his Ni which allows him to create some amount of pre-planning instead of just jumping right into things. He demonstrates this when he creates a binder about Amy’s dad in order to impress him (and than promptly decides to never prepare for anything ever again). Baby steps. 

Despite their differences Amy and Jake fit together really well and despite the challenges they face together in Season 6 their strong bond can get them through anything. 

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ENTJ and INTJ Women in Fiction - Agent Carter

This post contains spoilers for Agent Carter! These are just my personal typing opinions but I love Agent Carter and would love to hear any alternate theories you have!

There is a persistent theme in fiction that depicts many of its female villains as ENTJs and female heroes as ESTJs. Perhaps this is a subtle way of breaking down a stereotype about women in strict, detail-oriented leadership position. Okoye is a great example of an awesome ESTJ character who is both complex and strong. But it could also be an indictment of the very nature of ENTJs which is outside the box thinkers and idea-driven innovators. ENTJs are very complex and multilayered. They are not just interested in power and leadership they are interested in respect and justice and their mind does not catalogue details like an Si user but is an expansive net of theories and future predictions. Portraying ENTJ men in fiction is hard enough, Lin Manuel Miranda having to use an entire Broadway musical to discuss the depths of ENTJ Alexander Hamilton’s thoughts and accomplishments. It seems to be the easy way out to place an ENTJ woman into the villain role because she is so complex, idea driven and perhaps most jarring of all is ENTJs do not function well in hierarchical environments and are constantly rebelling against the system in order to implement their own ideas. Perhaps this is too revolutionary of a stance for a woman in fiction to take, or perhaps a rebellion against an already established system creates a perfect foil to community driven and small-town superheroes like those in the golden age of comics. 

Peggy Carter as an ENTJ woman living in 1940s New York is already a rebellion in and of herself. She feels purposeless without the respect she received as a soldier and finds it hard to live a life getting coffee when she can see a million better ways to spend her time. Agent Carter is all about how Peggy chooses to take the difficult path because she is so driven for change. An ESTJ in a similar situation would perhaps not be able to survive the overwhelming lack of respect for their achievements. Given our modern values and ideals we know the way the other agents at the SSR treat Peggy is both wrong and downright humiliating for her. Therefore, to us Peggy is the valiant hero attempting to prove her worth and being stopped at every turn by a corrupt system. As in the old adage, every villain believes they are the hero. Other ENTJ women in fiction are rebelling against the hero, which represents our own modern ideals of right and wrong, and therefore they are the villains. This is of course not so clear cut. There are moments of masochism and other such nastiness so we know who to root for, but otherwise the stereotype remains the same. 

INTJ women receive much the same rap for being too rebellious and intelligent for their own good. Whitney Frost, who is relegated to a villain position, provides a perfect foil to Peggy Carter. As an INTJ woman because we see the parallels between the lack of respect both Whitney and Peggy receive and how they deal with it. They are very similar people, but only one is driven mad from the need to prove that she is worthy and in pursuit of the truth. Peggy escaped unscathed (somewhat) because of the emotional support she garnered from Howard Stark, Jarvis and Daniel Sousa throughout the first season. She also had a clear idea of who she was and what she stood for which was cultivated throughout the war and is continuing to be created in New York and later L.A. Whitney has no such moment of growth and any change in her personal power comes from being infected by zero matter, not from people seeing what a genius she actually is. We can’t help but feel bad for Whitney then when she is inevitably driven mad by her own search for power and consider what her fate would have been if she had had a chance to make a difference like Peggy had during the war.

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Sex Education and Vaginismus

It’s no secret to pretty much anyone who talks to me that Sex Education is one of my favourite shows. It tackles very serious issues in an accurate and lighthearted way that doesn’t make you feel like you’re being lectured to. One of those issues is vaginismus which I have some personal experience with.  

For those unfamiliar (or that need a refresher from the show) vaginismus refers to an “involuntary contraction of muscles around the opening of the vagina in women with no abnormalities in the genital organs. The tight muscle contraction makes sexual intercourse or any sexual activity that involves penetration painful or impossible” (1). Vaginismus can occur in a few different forms including the one represented in the show where Lily has been able to insert things before and now suddenly can’t as soon as she wants to have sex, known as secondary vaginismus. But it can also be a life-long problem that occurs long before someone attempts to have sex and is discovered when trying to insert a tampon or after sexual experimentation, known as primary vaginismus (2). And even within those two types there are various degrees of pain a woman can experience and sometimes that pain is so awful any kind of sexual touching is impossible. While it is not clear exactly what causes vaginismus there are several different theories that mostly revolve around events that create a fear of sex for a woman.

What Sex Education does brilliantly in all aspects is that it represents just how important sex is to the students on Moordale and to every part of our life. It is involved in almost everything we do, read, watch, and talk about and sometimes it can feel like it’s the end all and be all of being an ‘adult’. Lily, (a wonderful character who is one of my favourites), is the living embodiment of this rushed need to have sex. And she admits to Otis that she has trouble ‘giving up control’ and ‘doesn’t want to be left behind’. This is a very complex understanding of what makes us afraid as she is not necessarily afraid of having sex itself but afraid that if she doesn’t terrible things will happen. While it may be counter-intuitive to think that the fear of not doing something may make us unable to do it, it’s the same sort of pressure that makes things more difficult when a lot is on the line. In Lily’s mind her whole success as a functioning adult is dependent on her ability to do this one thing. That’s quite a lot of pressure to put on yourself and it’s only natural she feels the need to control the entire situation and make it ‘perfect’ so that her entrance into adulthood is exactly what she wants. And while the episode doesn’t deal with a lot of practical physical treatments that can help with vaginismus (and if you are looking for resources for that you can find them here) it does highlight that while it may seem as if the world is passing you by when it comes to sex, there really is no big rush. Everyone’s development is different and not always linear, which is almost always the takeaway from this show and one of the reasons it’s a great representation of high school on the whole.

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Brooklyn 99 MBTI

This post contains spoilers for Brooklyn 99! These typings are just my personal opinion, if you disagree or have comments about characterization I’d love to hear from you!

Rosa Diaz (ISTP): The lone wolf of the 99 squad, Rosa is intensely private and, at first glance, flat and unemotional. She is first and foremost a “badass” risk taker that seems to have no problem jumping into situations and making quick executive decisions when there is too much deliberating or dithering. This is her primary function, Se, at work and provides her with much of the outward personality we see throughout the season. However, we see throughout the series that she is analytically minded (this being her first, internal, function Ti) and uses that to not only remain private but also solve cases and catch bad guys. A combination of Ti and Se makes it seem as if Rosa is making impulsive decisions based on little logic, but she has in all likelihood thoroughly analyzed the situation before making a decision (throwback to Captain Holt’s comment about how he would jump off a cliff if Rosa did because he is sure that she did the proper calculations to make sure it was safe to jump). As for her 3rd function, we see it come out in mysterious ways she pulls together information from a variety of different tangible sources to come to solutions (such as her extensive and secret training in med school and pilots school). Pinning down Ni is more difficult as it is internal and even someone who has it has difficulty explaining it, but we see it in the increase of intuitive leaps she makes over time. The 4th function, Fe, is clearly Rosa’s greatest weakness and we see multiple examples of her frustration at social norms and expectations of intimacy. A good example is at Pimento’s fake funeral when she is expected to play the grieving fiancé in order to sell the ordeal, Rosa is reluctant and almost unable to do it. However, when she thinks about how she truly feels about Pimento and realizes that it may not be an act after all she is able to show her emotions honestly. 

Jake Peralta (ESFP): Jake’s primary function is Se and he lives almost entirely in the moment, absorbing information as it comes to him and having fun with it. His Se causes him to be bored with “work” aspects of policing and makes him turn almost anything he can into some sort of game in order to stave off the boredom and mundanity. His Se also detests anything that stops his impulsiveness and “flow” which is why Captain Holt’s sudden imposition of order on the precinct is so horrifying for Jake. His secondary function, Fi, is where much of Jake’s deeply entrenched moral code comes from. Fi as a secondary function means that while Jake may seem impulsive all of his decisions relate back to an intrinsic moral code which he spent a lot of time developing, as well as a healthy imagination and need to understanding people and their stories. For example, he takes fairly normal assignments, like tactical village day, and creates a persona complete with an accent and backstory in order to engage with the activity and make it fun. Fi is also the product of Jake’s “Gut Instinct” or things he knows to be right but its not based on any system of understandable logic. It is simply a product of the interconnectedness and “story”-esque nature of his thoughts where the eventual outcome is obvious, though not necessarily in a normal way. However, the third function Te provides the quick and logical problem-solving technique that makes Jake a good cop in high pressure situations. While he mostly relies on his own subjective moral code to make the best decision, his Te allows for more reality-based decisions-making. Finally, Ni is Jake’s weakest function and this is shown by his inability to pre-plan and see future consequences of his decisions. Throughout the series he gains the emotional maturity to use Ni to think about his future with Amy and the 99, but generally he prefers to believe the future will work itself out and deal with problems as they come.

Amy Santiago (ESTJ): As Captain Holt’s prodigy Amy sets high standards for herself as an officer and a person and her personality fits those high standards. Having Te as her primary function means that Amy is singularly focused on advancing her career. She thrives in the hierarchical system of the NYPD and takes any opportunity (including a wealth of seminars and other career-advancing programs) to cultivate those skills within the boundaries of what she knows. Te provides Amy with a way of maximizing efficiency and “being the best” – which can make her quite competitive. Si is the secondary function and explains her obsessive need for order, both inside her mind and out. Si works like a filing cabinet for information that can be brought out and used as needed by the Te, and allows Amy to learn rules and follow them quickly and efficiently. Similar to the way she adapted to Captain Holt’s new rules when he joined the 99. The third function, Ne provides the catalyst for many of Amy’s good ideas and interesting theories. While she primarily focuses on facts (Si) in a concrete system of logic (Te), Ne provides a way for new ideas to be created through what she knows. For example, the various binders, projects, and gifts given to Holt all came from interesting and fun ideas generated by the Ne. As well as innovative and new approaches to outsmarting both Jake and Holt during the Halloween heist. Finally, Fi works as Amy’s inferior function and is inherently her weakest. While she uses her Te, Si, and Ne to use creative ideas and concrete information to push herself to the top oftentimes Amy can get so wrapped up in the system she is working in that she forgets to consider her own feelings and opinions. This is exemplified when Holt asked her what she thought her greatest flaw was and she struggled to find it, eventually realizing that Jake (whose secondary function is Fi) unintentionally pointed it out to her. This was the Fi function at work, and it is shown more frequently throughout the series as Amy gets more mature and her relationship with Jake allows for more exploration of her inferior function.

Captain Raymond Holt (ISTJ): As the patriarch of the squad Captain Holt brought stability and focus with his stern demeanor and focus. As his dominant function Si colours Holt’s approach to almost everything, as he prefers to ponder all external decisions using his Si before coming to a decision. It provides him with impeccable memory for facts and dates that he seems to pull out of nowhere to make a point. Si is often described as being a filing cabinet where all relevant information is stored into their appropriate file in order to be pulled out later and Holt uses his Si to maintain a working knowledge of many different things that may be useful to him as a Captain. Holt uses his secondary function, Te, as a way to interact with the 99 and be the great Captain and leader we know and love. Te provides Holt with his ability to work effectively in within the government because he is focused on goals and maintaining momentum for positive results. Te allows Holt to see the outcome of plans and ideas even before they actually take shape. He uses this in all police work but is the most intensely on display during the Halloween Heist – his intense focus on detail and obsessive pre-planning shows a combination of Si and Te in order to outsmart Jake. Additionally, the stubbornness associated with Te is where Holt found the drive to work through years of racist and homophobic politics in the police department in order to slowly implement change. As the captain of the 99 we see the fruits of his many years of labour through programs like AAGLNYCPA.  Captain Holt is a mature ISTJ and often uses Fi to his advantage to understand what people are feeling and behave appropriately. But there are many moments throughout the series where he offers blunt critique or comment and hurts others without meaning to, such as telling Gina that she is not a professional dancer or failing to tell Kevin when he was (lightly) stabbed. These situations are rectified often through the input of others he trusts and through his use of Fi, which shows him the best solution whether it be an emotional or practical one. Fi also contains Holt’s values system, which is largely unaffected by those around him and creates many of the opinions and views that he is respected for. Fi is where his drive to blaze a new trail for black gay police officers came from, his other functions like Si and Te allowing him the follow through to do so. As Holt’s inferior function it is the least developed in the functional stack, and Holt often struggles with new ideas and experiences that he does not have time to meticulously plan for. Ne allows for an onslaught of ideas and perceptions of what will happen next and creates ideas for future projects all of a sudden and without much warning. Holt has mastered the art of taking these ideas and future predictions, combining them with his more dominant Si and Te and using it to execute those abstract plans.

Charles Boyle (ESFJ): Boyle is first and foremost an extroverted Fe user as he forcibly inserts himself into almost any emotionally turbulent situation and offer support and ‘interesting’ personal anecdotes. Fe is an information gathering function and Boyle uses that information to try and help the 99 with their problems, usually with novel (albeit gross) solutions. Fe also makes Boyle adverse to conflict and he often gives in at the first sign of anyone making a fuss, his divorce with Eleanor is a great example of how his desire for harmony got in the way of logic leading to him living in his ex-wife’s new husband’s basement. Boyle’s second function Si is, arguable, where a lot of the weird comes from. Boyle uses his Si to remember little bits of information (since Si is objective, he often remembers things differently than other people in a similar situation). Si and Fe in combination make Boyle a good detective as he gathers information through his Fe and then stores it in his Si, allowing that information to come out and be used later on in a case. However, his Si also values traditions and the Boyle family traditions can be quite strange and unusual from the outside looking in. He resists changes that Gina tries to make, such as going to Aruba, and initially resists Lynn and Darlene getting married at all. However, given his Fe and the insistence of his father, Boyle comes around on the last point and agrees to help get Gina’s blessing. Boyle’s 3rd function, Ne allows him to see future possibilities and although it is used less it interacts with his Fe and Si to imagine future possibilities and keep himself from becoming set in his routines. He uses his Ne in an unhealthy way when he goes “Full Boyle” and begins making impulsive leaps in relationships based on events that may be four or five years down the road, such as asking Vivian to marry him a few months into their relationship. His final function, Ti involves Boyle’s own internal logic and reasoning and could involve logically working through many different options and finding the best solution through reasoning. This is inherently Boyle’s weakest function and that is demonstrated through his reliance on other people’s opinions (Fe) and the “status-quo” (Si). However, Ti is important to Boyle so he can depend less on what the squad wants of him and more about what he and his family wants – using Ti logic to make decisions that are best for him and not for other people.

Terry Jeffords (ISFJ): Terry mirrors Captain Holt’s primary function, Si, but he uses it in a slightly different way. While his mind categorizes facts and ideas quite easily, those ideas are organized in a subjective way that is very much dependent on how those facts are related to the people around him as his secondary function is Fe. However, Terry can operate very well in an organized system and highly values his routine (hence his strict exercise and diet, Terry loves yogurt). Si used in such a way makes Terry a great police officer as he notices details not only about cases he is working, but also about the squad in order to deal with the day-to-day nitpicky problems that plague the precinct. As a data-gathering function Fe is responsible for Terry’s knowledge of what everyone on the squad is feeling and warm approach to trying to help them. This is also the root of Terry’s protectiveness of those that he deems to be in his “inner circle”. This includes obviously his children who he has many crises about making sure they are going to a good school and being taken care of appropriately. He also applies his Fe to others on the squad such as his protectiveness of Rosa when her and Pimento are getting married. His disapproval of Pimento coming from both Si evidence that Pimento is unstable, however, he eventually comes around based on Rosa’s genuine feelings of love for him. As a developed ISFJ Terry uses Ti to be a great sergeant as his problem-solving skills is intensely focused on other people. A good example of Ti at work is when Holt and Terry attempted to make the office more efficient using Terry’s observations of previous times when the office was inefficient (using Si) and took steps to curb those instances through logical analysis (Ti). This also is the root of Terry’s stubbornness as once he comes to a decision about something it is very difficult to change his mind, as he has already solidified his personal logic about it. With his last function being Ne Terry has problems going too far out of his comfort zone and taking risks and he is happy to have the same routine and live within it. This is demonstrated by his love of being a father and the mundanity of tasks related to his children’s routine. Terry channels his Ne by doing small things within his normal routine that are thrilling, and yogurt is actually a good example of this as he uses it as a thrilling reward for fulfilling tasks and goals. When faced with uncertainty Terry’s instinct is to try and figure out what is going to happen and since he is not adept at using Ne that can lead to a rabbit hole of worst case scenarios that lead to panic. This was especially true when Rosa responded to the active shooter and he was unsure whether she would be back, leading him to try and plan for the future by getting new health insurance in a frenzy.

Gina Linetti (ENTP): As Gina’s primary function, Ne is where all her crazy ideas come from. Ne provided us with the name of her fragrance line and game show, all of which were shared with Captain Holt and anyone else who happens to be nearby. She is also there to provide commentary and her own opinions into a conversation that may seem disjointed and crazy but are actually just products of her mind jumping around so quickly between topics and her voicing those mental leaps without explaining the thought process that went into them. A good example of seemingly disjointed mind leaps is when the 99 is looking for a new IT person and Gina vets them using novel methods that Terry finds unnecessary and disruptive. She eventually explains her method and how she arrived at the best conclusion (using her Ti to logic it out and explain her thought process) and the leaps make more sense. This function helps Gina actually logic out her ideas and put them into focus. She uses it to sift through ideas that may or not help her move forward with them. Another example of her Ti at work is when she bests Holt, Amy and Jake by winning the bet by matching their planning ability through the combination of the Ne and most especially by using her Ti. The Fe side of Gina is very developed and she shows it in many ways that we may not traditionally associated with a “feeling” function. She uses Fe in order to build a huge social following (the G-Hive) and also uses her unique understanding of social hierarchies to influence and manipulate other people in the precinct (her relationship with Pimento is a great example of this). This is also the epicenter of many of Gina’s more tender moments in which she refuses to give Boyle Sr. her blessing because of worry about her mom and her loyalty to Captain Holt when he is transferred to Public Relations. Since Si is Gina’s weakest function, she has trouble actually getting started on projects even though she has many ideas. Gina often fails to reliably do her job as a secretary as she doesn’t want to remember small details that are the core of secretarial work and is often making mistakes (filing documents by perp hotness, for example) which are the source of comedy and her reason for leaving the 99.  

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Sex Psychology in Sex Education - Adam’s Sexual Dysfunction

Please note this post contains spoilers for Sex Education!! This analysis is just my personal opinion of the issues talked about in Sex Education and I am always open to hearing alternate perspectives and opinions!

Sex Education does a really good job of exploring psychological issues without losing sight of the reality of characters. This is best displayed in the first episode when Otis helps Adam with a sexual dysfunction problem. It seems that Adam is suffering from a combination of erectile dysfunction and some sort of ejaculation disorder, as it is not made clear whether or not he can maintain an erection previously. As is the case for many sexual disorders, once the problem appears, regardless of the cause, the problem itself compounds the anxiety that the sufferer already feels and Adam takes drastic measures by swallowing two Viagra. This causes a prolonged and painful erection followed by a lot of panic and rash decisions, and this is where Otis and Meave come in. 

Here is where the show really demonstrates the depth and breadth of sexual issues and how our sex lives can affect our self-esteem and self-image. When he is in the abandoned bathroom buildings with Otis and Meave, Adam is desperate to find the root physical cause of his sexual dysfunction but is instead confronted with an emotional cause: his fear of inadequacy. This is what he feels in regards to not being able to ejaculate, but also how he feels in regards to other aspects of his life which is what started the whole situation in the first place. He feels there is an enormous amount of pressure put on him to “perform” both sexually and in the eyes of his father who demands perfection on a level that Adam can’t provide. And he wishes that pressure could be alleviated so he could be “normal” and have a fun childhood and life he so wants. This focus on “normalcy” is foreshadowing Adam’s later revelation of being bisexual and entering into a relationship with Eric, and while it may not be the reason for his sexual problems it could definitely be an issue he has been mulling in the back of his mind. Conflict around sexual orientation can have a profound effect on arousal and sexual performance, especially with the pressure of being “normal” already becoming overwhelming.

What Otis points out is that Adam can have this life that he wants because all this pressure that is being put on him is only constraining because he allows it to be. Once he decides that that pressure means nothing to him than he is in control again and has nothing to feel inadequate about. Unfortunately, Adam uses this opportunity to flash the entire school which, although restores the feeling that he is no longer inadequate because he is in control, lands him in more trouble than he was in before. This also eventually leads him to becoming a social pariah and makes Adam consider even more deeply his status as someone “normal” when what seems to be his only friend abandons him and his girlfriend leaves him. All these factors pave the way for earnest character development with a touch of humour for good measure and allow for a real look into what sexual dysfunction looks like and how your mental state can profoundly affect all aspects of your life.  

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Sex Education MBTI

This post contains spoilers for Sex Education! These typings are just my personal opinion, if you have a different opinion please feel free to let me know as I’m always looking to improve!

Otis Milburn (INTP): Otis fulfills the INTP stereotype almost to a T, with his stuttering nervousness and his mental acuity he easily keeps up with Meave and despite his struggles in how to approach working as a sex therapist once he finds a way to make it sustainable, he excels. Otis is first and foremost logical, a product of his primary function Ti, and he uses that logical analysis in research about the various problems pupils are having at Moordale Secondary School. Ne, the secondary function, complements this and helps Otis make connections between his research and real-life situations so as to apply ‘treatments’ and get results. However, when he gets stressed, he has a tendency to overthink the situation, his Ti becoming focused on logically picking apart every aspect of a situation and his Ne trying to find patterns and coming up with crazy ideas all at once to overwhelm him – this is exemplified after Meave asks him to go to the abortion clinic and he goes for ‘Casual Hamm’. His third function, Si, helps him store a wealth of information which his Ti and Ne uses to make logical connections. This wealth of information makes Otis able to articulate himself well, when he’s not nervous, and gives him the boost of confidence he needs to confidently give sex advice at the clinic. Having Fe as the last function means that Otis is oftentimes overwhelmed with guilt or other emotions when there is a problem that he has caused. It is the root of his fear about hurting someone doing the sex clinic and fuels his desire to stop Jackson when he goes to ask Meave out based on Otis’ advice. Additionally, this is the underlying cause of his general social awkwardness. When Otis is talking to someone he is comfortable with about subjects he likes he is easily able to be himself but trying to function in the social hierarchy of Moordale, he flounders and becomes awkward and uncomfortable. This is a trait often associated with other INTP characters and can make them very relatable leading teen characters as their personal struggle to be social is very evident.

Meave Wiley (INTJ): Much of Meave’s thought processes take place internally, but we learn early on through those around her that she has a complex and deep internal world. Her Ni is put to use analyzing literature, which she has read extensively on her own time and then applied to writing essays that are good enough to be recognized by the school. However, Meave is also pragmatic and resourceful given her situation and uses her secondary function, Te, demonstrated by her quick implementation of the sex clinic as soon as her Ni seizes onto an opportunity to make money on it. While she is not outwardly social she can thrive in the social hierarchy of Moordale because she is so pragmatic and resourceful. With Fi being her third function we see Meave being reluctant to reveal her own feelings and thoughts to those around her. Although she plays the role of the outcast and ‘punk’ she has a very well thought-out internal moral code which comes out in many different ways. Such as in her drive to help Ruby despite how terrible she is because she doesn’t believe anyone should be gossiped about. Finally, Meave does not like to be spontaneous. She wants to be in control and resents her brother’s ability to abandon his responsibilities at a moment’s notice. Much of her character arc is her taking the leap and being spontaneous, even if that means abandoning some of her previously contrived rules. 

Jackson Marchetti (ENFJ): Jackson is a different breed of popular kid at Moordale as he is popular with almost everyone, unlike the Untouchables. Using his primary function, Fe, Jackson easily and adeptly forms relationships and gets people to do what he wants, sometimes without them even knowing it like Otis accidentally giving him advice about Meave in the locker room. However, in conjunction with their secondary function, Ni, Jackson can be very insightful and thoughtful. Which is demonstrated by his genuine interest in female authors and punk music after getting into it to go on a date with Meave. His third function, Se, is where Jackson’s physical prowess comes in and actually gives him an outlet to focus and center him in his reality. However, his moms’ focus on his swimming and the social pressure to ‘please’ them with success ruins whatever Se enjoyment swimming had at times. This leads to the breakdown in his and his parents’ relationship after the party where he attempts to have a necessary Se experience (drinking) and his parents get angry. Finally, Ti is the inferior function and oftentimes a weakness for Jackson since most of his decision-making doesn’t involve sweating the details which is why he contracts Otis (a primary Ti user) to help him logic out the best way to get Meave to date him as his regular, Fe-based approach no longer works.

Jean Milburn (ENFJ): Jean is the ultimate therapist and often both Otis’ guiding light and constant annoyance throughout the show. Her primary function, Fe, makes Jean very good at understanding the emotions of those around her. She is easily able to see the intentions and feelings that her patients (and many lovers) may be experiencing and help them work through those issues. In conjunction with her secondary function Ni, Jean is able to combine what she has learned through her years of sex therapy and create accurate diagnoses and informative novels about her area of specialty. Her third function, Se is well developed and oftentimes comes out in her enjoyment of un-attached sexual relations and the other, seemingly ‘fun’ things that she does, like smoking weed with Adam in the first episode. Finally, her Ti is the least developed function, which often puts her at odds with her Ti-dominant son. She is constantly stepping over boundaries in the interest of ‘understanding’ Otis and ignores the more analytical side of herself that Otis is constantly advocating for. However, over the course of the series she comes to understand that some things she can’t fix and a violation of privacy is a violation of privacy regardless of how well-intentioned.

Eric Effiong (ENFP): Throughout most of Sex Education Eric is decidedly a free spirit and as one of the only gay students at his school he leans into the stereotype and stands out. With Ne as his primary function Eric is constantly finding new ideas and voicing them to whoever is around, which is usually Otis. However, many of these ideas are only half formed and are being thought out even while he’s saying them. This becomes a problem in the series when Otis, with a primary function Ti takes Eric’s idea about giving Jackson bad advice to ask out Meave. Eric even voices his concern, stating that he “says lots of things but [Otis] is not supposed to listen” to him. That’s because those ideas are from his Ne where ideas shouldn’t be put into action until he thinks them all the way through. Bringing us to his secondary function, Fi, where many of Eric’s internal beliefs and ideas come from. Eric has a fun and colourful personality and has a good grasp on who he is and his morals, despite the restricting elements of high school that he battles throughout the series. That part of himself is developed in his Fi and is fairly stable up until he is attacked while wearing drag. This violent and overwhelming assault changes his inner moral compass and makes him retreat into himself not just fearing another attack, but having to re-evaluate his whole subjective Fi make-up in order to fit with this new experience. Te is how Eric makes decisions quickly and efficiently, and while this function is less developed than other areas he can come to conclusions and is not constantly stuck in his Ne and Fi loop. His final function is Si which means Eric may struggle to be consistent and organized, however he can remember many details when they relate to people around him and social situations.

Adam Groff (ESTP): Adam lives in the moment, with his primary function being Se and is constantly searching out new ways to have fun in any situation. He resists the order his father and the school tries to impose on him because he can’t find anything enjoyable or otherwise useful about the mundanity of schoolwork. Ti works in conjunction with Se where all the experiences he receives internally are processed to see what is useful to him, and that mental process is barely ever voiced on the show but can be seen through his evaluation of Eric’s behavior and relationship with his dad. The third function, Fe, is responsible for much of Adam’s problems in the series as he makes himself into a social pariah in the first episode and from then on is unable to interact with a close friend and loses his girlfriend, both of which he obsesses over to the point of breaking into Aimee’s house. Finally, Ni is the fourth and inherently the weakest function. Adam struggles with making long-term plans or goals and even with his father’s intense focus on creating a future and that causes much of the friction between him and his father.

Mr. Groff (ISTJ): Given that his dominant function is Si, Mr. Groff is incredibly detail oriented, taking time to see and categorize a wealth of information into proper boxes before proceeding to make a decision. In conjunction with his secondary function, Te, which thrives on the hierarchy and rules of Moordale, Si makes him a stickler for the rules and motivated to make sure the school is running efficiently. This is also what makes him more concerned with the success of the schools sports program than an individual student, such as his prioritization of Jackson over Meave after the dance. Fi, his third function is what creates the personal expectations he has for his son, which are heavily influenced by the social structure his Te thrives in. Hence his endless frustration in Adam’s inability to focus on long-term planning and success. His final function, Ne is also quite underused and Mr. Groff tends to be quite stagnant in his routines and rarely strays from the life path he is on. This is clearly making him somewhat unhappy in his position and he is shown trying to stave off the boredom by dancing through the halls and eating what seems to be an entire desk drawer full of candy bars. 

Aimee Gibbs (ESFJ): With Fe being her primary function, Aimee is very outwardly focused with most of her efforts focused on being ‘helpful’ to her cruel and popular friends. She gathers information about other people at school and easily keeps tabs on the social happenings at Moordale in a way that Meave and Otis often fail to do. However, with Si being her secondary function it makes Aimee fairly stagnant and traditional, preferring to stick with the comfortable social circle of the Untouchables despite the way they treat her in order to feel helpful. She defies this part of herself later on when she leaves them behind for Meave and forms a new relationship system with Meave at the end of the series. Ne, her third function allows Aimee to see future possibilities, usually in an idea-filled spiral that comes out in a disorganized mess. This would explain her love of mind-maps as a way to organize what would usually be a mess of ideas and theories that have no clear connection until they are organized by her primary and secondary functions. Finally, Ti is Aimee’s final function and Achilles heel. She is generally not very interested in logic-ing things out simply for the sake of it and when she does make logical arguments, she does so about people in her social circle or the school at large instead of about things that do not interest her like school subjects.