The 12 Archetypes and Their Sitcom Alter Egos
Dr. Mary Kate Roohan
Meyers-Briggs, Enneagrams, that personality test pop-up ad. Chances are, you’ve taken one of these quizzes in between your daily spreadsheet inputting and email responding. But their results can provide more than conversation fodder for the break room. Identifying one’s personality patterns can help us understand our own behavior and how it interacts with the behavior of others.
Analytical psychology, developed by psychologist and avid pipe smoker Carl Jung, uses the concept of archetypes to help us better understand the “why” behind our behaviors. According to Jung, archetypes are the building blocks of our mind - they are symbols of people, behaviors, and personalities that represent specific aspects of the human experience.
When we understand the archetypes at play in our lives, we get in touch with our own stories and the stories of others that have influenced our behaviors.
Jung’s work has been expanded in many ways (we even use it in drama therapy!). I’ve found that Carol S. Pearson generated a lovely way to break the archetypes down into a 12-archetype system. I will be using her work as a roadmap for this blog as I guide you in taking the first steps to learn more about YOUR archetypes.
As a psychologist in Pasadena, I work with clients to explore their archetypes and gain a better understanding of who they are. Sometimes this work can feel a bit vague and intangible, so I figured there was another way to better understand archetypes - through - sitcom characters!
Our loveable favorites are all prone to predictable attitudes and actions. Let’s take a look:
THE INNOCENT
Sweet, sweet innocents. These little baby angels wish for life to be easy and safe. Often personified as a trusting child, the innocent is optimistic and dependent. They find strength in help and support from others and falter when they feel abandoned in their times of greatest need.
GOAL: Happiness
FEAR: Punishment
CLASSIC INNOCENT: Buster Bluth, Arrested Development
OTHERS: Andy Dwyer, Parks and Rec; Michael Scott, The Office
THE ORPHAN
Grounded in reality and routine, the orphan relies on the predictability of everyday life to survive. They often keep their expectations low to avoid disappointment while desperately seeking the love and acceptance they lacked in their youth. It can be difficult for the Orphan to believe that the sun will come out tomorrow. If you identify with this archetype, it is likely that you’ve experienced trauma in the form of chronic misattunement. Working with an EMDR therapist could be helpful.
GOAL: Safety
FEAR: Exploitation
CLASSIC ORPHAN: Jan Levinson, The Office
OTHER ORPHANS: Maeby Bluth, Arrested Development; Ben Wyatt, Parks and Rec
THE WARRIOR
Give me liberty or give me death! The British are coming! Punch it, Chewy! The warrior is known for their bravery and mental toughness, no matter the obstacle. They see life simplistically -- win the battle and save the day. While their one-track mind can be inspiring in times of strife, it can also lead to the warrior feeling as though they lead a meaningless existence without purpose or worth.
GOAL: Win
FEAR: Vulnerability
CLASSIC WARRIOR: Dina Fox, Superstore
OTHER WARRIORS: Dwight Schrute, The Office; Ron Swanson, Parks and Rec
The Caregiver
If you forgot your lunch money, homework or even your reason for being, the caregiver is more than ready to jump in for the assist. They are generous and compassionate beings who thrive on helping those in need. But this strength is also their weakness as caregivers often let their selflessness go too far, putting them in harm’s way. Folks who identify with The Caregiver archetype also frequently possess the trait of emotional sensitivity.
GOAL: To Help
FEAR: Selfishness
CLASSIC CAREGIVER: Jerry Gergich, Parks and Rec
OTHER CAREGIVERS: Glenn Sturgis, Superstore; Charles Boyle, Brooklyn 99
THE SEEKER
Much like the Quidditch position of the same name, the seeker is on a quest of discovery. They are incredibly independent, always looking for new paths and answers. While their plight is admirable, seekers can also end up isolating themselves from others in their desire to solve the problems without assistance.
GOAL: A Better Life
FEAR: Conformity
CLASSIC SEEKER: Janine Teagues, Abbott Elementary
OTHER SEEKERS: Leslie Knope, Parks and Rec; Amy Santiago, Brooklyn 99
the lover
The lovers are an equal opportunity affection machine, searching for love in all forms: friendship, spiritual, romantic and puppy. While this way of life can bring heartbreak and sorrow, the lover is always hunting for intimacy and commitment. They are passionate and determined in their quest for love, and long for sustained loving relationships with everyone they care about.
GOAL: Bliss
FEAR: Loss of Love
CLASSIC LOVER: Jonah Simms, Superstore
OTHER LOVERS: Terry Jeffords, Brooklyn 99 ; Jim Halpert, The Office
THE DESTROYER
Also referred to as The Terminator (by the writer of this article), the destroyer embodies the rage one feels when a system or structure no longer serves the community. This anger may at first be off-putting, but it allows for old norms to be retired and new ideas to grow in their place. They desire change, no matter what is sacrificed in the process, but their motives are always for the greater good.
GOAL: Rebirth
FEAR: Ineffectiveness
CLASSIC DESTROYER: Rosa Diaz, Brooklyn 99
OTHER DESTROYERS: Lindsay Bluth, Arrested Development; April Ludgate, Parks and Rec
THE CREATOR
Not always named Tyler, the creator is known for their constant generation of ideas. While they are often artistic and imaginative, they can get overloaded with too many projects and inevitably burnout. But the creator pushes forward, as their search comes from their desire to find and accept themselves and discover how they fit in the world around them.
GOAL: A Vision Coming to Fruition
FEAR: An Inauthentic Product
CLASSIC CREATOR: Tom Haverford, Parks and Rec
OTHER CREATORS: Jacob Hill, Abbott Elementary; Ryan Howard, The Office
THE RULER
Napoleon. Alexander the Great. Taylor Swift. All rulers in their own era. Rulers are always thinking about the greater good and promoting a society in which all are thought of and cared for. But rulers can fall victim to their own controlling nature, dominating others and thereby squandering their power.
GOAL: Order
FEAR: Chaos
CLASSIC RULERS: Captain Raymond Holt, Brooklyn 99
OTHER RULERS: George and Lucille Bluth, Arrested Development
THE MAGICIAN
Whether a Penn or a Teller, magicians seek out the truths of the physical and mental world. They hope that by understanding the laws of the universe, they may be able to influence people and make visions into realities. While some may be prone to manipulating others, the magician’s true goal is to transform themselves and achieve a higher plane of existence.
GOAL: Make Dreams Come True
FEAR: Powers Being Used for Evil
CLASSIC MAGICIAN: G.O.B., Arrested Development
OTHERS: Adrian Pimento, Brooklyn 99
THE Sage
Sages believe that truth and honesty are the most important virtues. They consider themselves to be wise and unbiased, seeing the world purely in right and wrong. Their journey in life is to gain knowledge, which they hope will bring clarity and peace to their existence.
GOAL: Truth
FEAR: Deception
CLASSIC SAGE: Angela Martin, The Office
OTHER SAGES: Barbara Howard, Abbott Elementary; Chris Traeger, Parks and Rec
THE JESTER
The Jester’s mission in life is simple: Have a good time. They live their lives searching for personal gratification, which can lead others to perceive them as lazy or uninspired. But the jester is able to make any situation fun as well as look beyond life’s complications and enjoy it for what it is, which not all types are able to do.
GOAL: Enjoyment
FEER: Boredom
CLASSIC JESTER: Ava Coleman, Abbott Elementary
OTHER JESTERS: Jake Peralta, Brooklyn 99; Garrett McNeill, Superstore
Reflections for a Psychologist in Pasadena
Which archetype do you identify with? What does this tell you about your strengths and your areas of growth?
Archetypal exploration is an avenue for growth because the process helps you understand how you relate to others and gives you some information about why you do what you do. If you want to dig a little deeper, I encourage you to check out Carol S Pearson’s resources.
Interested in therapy?
If you’re interested in doing more archetype exploration in the context of therapy, schedule a 15-minute consultation with me. My name is Dr. Mary Kate Roohan, and I am a licensed clinical psychologist in Pasadena, a registered drama therapist, and the founder of Thrive and Feel. I am formally trained in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (EMDR), and Eye-Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), and I utilize concepts from these modalities to help my clients heal. discover what your therapeutic needs are.
