[Persephone]

It seems to me that each MBTI type has a frequently occurring "role", almost like a trope, in popular entertainment. Taking my own type for instance, I can think of (common ones anyway):

- Evil Mastermind: Palpatine, Moriarty, Hannibal Lecter
- Byronic/Tragic/Flawed Hero: Snape, Darcy, Eugene Onegin
- Depressed Philosophizing Junkie; not that they're all junkies: Raskolnikov, Ivan Karamazov, Andrei Bolkonsky
- Independent Badasses: Clarice Starling

And then you get more unusual INTJs like Gandalf.

I don't mind these tropes but sometimes I wish we'd be shown in a more "human" light. It seems that a lot of mistypes happen because INTJs are glorified as badasses or masterminds; even many actual INTJs swoon over their personal fictional heroes. Of these tropes I think I relate to the flawed hero and depressed philosophizing junkie the most. I can "mastermind" but it doesn't characterize me, and I'm not much of a badass, as uncool as that is.



These evil masterminds and badasses almost seem unreal. I can certainly see that they are solidly grounded in the INTJ functions- they just take the Ni-Te to the extreme, and sometimes give the character physical prowess. Many INTJ masterminds are given very warped world views that only make sense if you do a quantum leap in your logical framework, become scary Level 9 Enneagram 5-8-4 (or something similar) and are the most close-minded. I can see how they might get their motivations but for the life of me, I can't relate.

What are some tropes you notice in your type, do you think they accurately depict your type, and what are your feelings toward them?

[firedell]

ISFP's are usually the protagonists, that you don't generally expect.

[Ellis Bell]

Well, not my type, but the female villains are usually ESTJs or ENTJs. If you've ever seen the show Ugly Betty, which was on a few years ago before they killed it, the character of Wilhelmina Slater is textbook ENTJ (creative director of a fashion magazine looking for power by taking over the whole company).

INTPs usually follow the stereotype of the computer or science geek, such as the character of Gil Grissom in CSI a while back (introverted nerdy type with a microscopic interest in bugs who's a supervisor yet has no interest in or understanding of office politics).

Keep in mind, though, that characters from fiction are not three-dimensional; that's why they fall into these archetypes.

[sts06]

ISFJs tend to be the nurses, caregivers etc and are generally in the background. You don't often find them in main character roles. They will sometimes be the 'shoulder to cry on' sidekick for the main character as well.

[idntknw]

What about the character that usually has a plan for themselves, but works in a group. Half way through they go independent only to reappear for their own good and occasionally to save someone they like or pity.

There is also the guy who just plain have a plan that they keep to themselves and most likely will not stray. Riddick comes in mind for that one.

[Arrow]

INFP's tend to in my opinion be the fawn-eyed idealists but also have a bit of a broken-bird quality to them as well. There dreamy side kicks that end up needing to be protected but also have the capacity for true power when they are broken. These webpages kind of come to mind when I think about it. INFP's aren't generally thought to be evil, they always seem to have a good underlying idealistic goal, even when pained and obviously going about it the wrong way. They are still seen to be as rootable even when they are arguably bad:

Woobie, Destroyer of Worlds - Television Tropes & Idioms
Anti-Villain - Television Tropes & Idioms
The Messiah - Television Tropes & Idioms

[nonnaci]

INFP's tend to in my opinion be the fawn-eyed idealists but also have a bit of a broken-bird quality to them as well. There dreamy side kicks that end up needing to be protected but also have the capacity for true power when they are broken. These webpages kind of come to mind when I think about it. INFP's aren't generally thought to be evil, they always seem to have a good underlying idealistic goal, even when pained and obviously going about it the wrong way. They are still seen to be as rootable even when they are arguably bad:

Woobie, Destroyer of Worlds - Television Tropes & Idioms
Anti-Villain - Television Tropes & Idioms
The Messiah - Television Tropes & Idioms

That website is full of win. *spends a morning reading

[FreeSpirit]

ESTP/ISTP- criminals and cowboys. sometimes psychotic, sometimes with
'heart of gold' (Wolverine, Tank Girl, Dirty Harry, Han Solo, Athos)

ENTP- offensive know-it-all. sometimes endearing, sometimes a jerk.
(Tryion Lannister, Tony Stark, 10th Doctor, Masuka from Dexter)

ENFP- traditional romantic hero. fearless, rightcheous, chasing
bad guys. (Captain Kirk, d'Artagnan, Debra Morgan, Marty McFly)

ESFP- funny retard. sometimes cool, sometimes pitiable. (Homer Simpson, Bert
from Mary Poppins, Goku, Angel from Dexter)

INFP- dreamy hippie. sometimes a wacko, sometimes angsty. (Angela from My
So Called Life, Luna Lovegood, Wesley Crusher, Donnie Darko)

ISFP- traditional modern hero. gentle, humble- tough, fierce. (Harry Potter,
Buffy Summers, 13 from House, Bella Swan)

INTP- traditional mad scientist. Of the 'I just cured cancer, but I can't find my
shoes' variety. (Doc Emmett Brown, Ian Malcolm from Jurassic Park, Beakman
from Beakman's World, Seth Brundle from The Fly)

INTJ- traditional mad scientist. Of the 'overlord' variety, whether good or evil.
(Dr. Frankenstein, Dr. Evil, Gru from Despicable Me, Magneto, Hannibal Lector)

ISTJ- fatherly saint. sometimes too strict, always misunderstood. (Mr. Darcy,
Ned Stark, Dexter, Mr. Spock, Harry Morgan)

ISFJ- motherly saint. doormat. always overlooked (Watson from Sherlock Holmes,
Samwise Gamgee, Rory Williams from Dr. Who, possibly Captain America, Rita from
Dexter)

ENTJ- crack pot dictator. (Eric Cartman, Lex Luther; Romans from classic movies:
Quintas Arrius from Ben-Hur, Crassus from Spartacus 1960, etc)

ENFJ- charismatic hypnotist. most usually at least a little insane. (Mayor Wilkins
from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Jordan Chase from Dexter, Leon Bronstein from
The Trotsky)

INFJ- psychic savior or destroyer. (Yoda, Professor X, Jean Grey, Carrie from
well Carrie...)

ESFJ- fussy mom. (Dr. McCoy aka Bones, Donna Noble from Dr. Who, Cordelia
from Buffy the Vampire Slayer)


ESTJ- domineering dad. (Tywin Lannister, Queen of Hearts, Judge Dredd, Vageta,
James Doakes from Dexter)



out of these, I am probably 'crack pot dictator'
and this makes me think House might more correctly be an ENTJ,
taking the average of all the ways he is portrayed in the show.
also makes me that Sherlock Holmes is like the Doctor in having
conflicting portrayals. Explains why everybody has such a hard
time agreeing on these characters' types.

[Extraverted Delusion]

ENTPs are usually full of witty, wreckless, charming sociopathic axe murderers who go about their business as regular people in their day to day.

Truly this is a misunderstanding...

My favorite "type" of ENTP would be somebody like John Cleese (Q) via the 007 flicks. A little bit in his own bubble of "aha!" due to his sharpness, but also incompetent with keeping this stable within his facility (thanks to James).

[FreeSpirit]

Watched Captain America again.
Decided I believe his movie incarnation is definitely an ISFJ.