The Oscars MBTI: Olivia, ENFJ, “Boyhood”

Best Supporting Actress of 2014, Patricia Arquette

ENFJ, the Giver, the Mentor, the Believer

Boyhood skips ahead a year at a time for 12 years, and though Olivia is a constant presence in her son’s life, he’s kind of aloof to her.

What we see of her, a few minutes at a time once a year for twelve years, raises more questions than it answers. She’s obviously trying really hard to raise her kids right and provide for them while pulling her own life together. Patricia Arquette communicates deep feeling in every moment she has on screen, but we don’t always get to see what she’s thinking.

It makes me think about how we’re all the supporting characters in other peoples’ lives, and how they might type us if they only have the handful of interactions with us to go by. I think that whatever type Olivia is, she’s caught in an Extraverted loop, but from there I think you could theorize two or three different personality types. I might not have this typing right, is what I’m saying.

But here’s my best guess for Olivia.

Dominant Function: Extraverted Feeling (Fe), “Relate to the Experience”

Olivia very much wants to do some good in the world. She sacrifices her comfort and freedom in order to raise her children, Samantha and Mason, and to make sure they have a future. She argues with them a lot, but it’s mostly to wrangle their misbehavior and guide them to being better people.

Olivia pursues a psychology degree, and her empathy for others is evident. She encourages a construction worker who’s doing repairs on her house, and he re-appears years later to thank her for inspiring him to go to college. Once she finishes her degree, she becomes a professor, teaching eager young minds and apparently becoming that “cool teacher” whose house everyone goes to for parties.

ENFJ: Edith Keeler, “Star Trek: The Original Series”

ENFJ, the Giver, the Mentor, the Believer

portrayed by Joan Collins

Season 1, Episode 28, “The City on the Edge of Forever”

(Note: It should go without saying that every profile I write is a spoiler, since I’m analyzing a character from the beginning to the end of their arc. But in this case, if you haven’t seen the episode, you need to stop right now and watch it first before reading. You’ll not only save yourself from spoilers, but you’ll also witness what is consistently held up as Star Trek’s finest hour.)

Previously on Heroes and Villains, we visited with one of Star Trek’s most villainous ENFJs. Now it’s time to meet one of its most saintly. Both Khan and Edith Keeler are visionaries who want to do the most good for the most people. Khan’s problem is his ego, and his unhealthy Fe desire to dominate everyone—for their own good, of course. While Khan believes he’s the pinnacle of human evolution, Edith sees potential for greatness in every person. She’s driven to make the world a better place by lifting people up, and pointing them toward a shared future.

Dominant Function: Extraverted Feeling (Fe), “Relate to the Experience”

Edith Keeler runs the 21^st Street Mission in 1930s New York, in the middle of the Great Depression. She says that she considers her work “necessary.” There’s a need, and Edith Keeler must meet it. She has a big heart and wants to reach out and help everyone she can.

Though she immediately calls Kirk out for lying to her when they first meet, she nevertheless has compassion on him and helps him out by giving the captain and Spock a job. She bonds easily with them, and later with McCoy, caring for them and befriending them. She also sets rules for good behavior at her mission, and when Spock breaks those by stealing tools for his work, she directly confronts him.

Later, still trying to figure out what their story is, she asks Kirk, “Are you afraid of something? Whatever it is, let me help.” Kirk observes that the three words “let me help” can be greater than “I love you.” It’s those words that spur Edith’s mission. When McCoy intrudes on the timeline and saves Edith’s life, she goes on to become one of the most celebrated social activists of her time.

ENFJ: Khan Noonien Singh, “Star Trek: The Original Series”

ENFJ, the Giver, the Mentor, the Believer

portrayed by Ricardo Montalban

Season 1, Episode 24, “Space Seed,” and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

Khan remains one of the greatest movie villains of all time to this day, so it’s only right that I should add him to the pantheon here at Heroes and Villains. I must confess, I’d somehow never seen the episode “Space Seed” until a few days ago, despite how many times I’ve watched Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. If your only exposure to this character is the 2013 reboot version, you owe it to yourself to take an evening and watch the whole Khan saga, beginning with his appearance in the original TV series and ending with his tragic finale in Wrath.

Dominant Function: Extraverted Feeling (Fe), “Relate to the Experience”

Khan leads with dramatic charisma, an expressive man of great passion. Even when they don’t like him, his enemies are forced to admit they admire him (Spock finds this confession from Kirk and the others horrifying and illogical). In the past, he was a prince who led millions—over a quarter of the Earth’s population—and by his accounts, he was beloved.

Khan plays the crew of the Enterprise cunningly when he first awakens, earning enough of their trust to gain access to technical information and to remain free of suspicion. He easily manipulates Lieutenant McGivers, tapping into her awe of him to control her and win her to his side. He plays emotional games with the crew by threatening Kirk’s life, trying to bully them into following him. Years later, he similarly controls Captain Terrell and Chekov, though with the use of some brain slugs. Still, he treats his two captives in a warm, condescending manner, praising Chekov for following his orders like a pet.

Khan earnestly believes that he can do the most good for the most people by being the man in charge. He believes in his superiority and that his rule will benefit everyone. “We offered the world order!” he declares when Spock questions his motives.

Khan feeds off the respect, admiration, and love of his followers and enemies. He needs to be appreciated, and his ego is hurt when he is not. He’s bitter over being rejected by the world he once led, and he can’t understand that the people of the new era he wakes up in would not want him to lead them, either. And of course, he hates that Kirk bested him and disrespected him.

“I wish to go on hurting you,” he tells Kirk when he leaves the captain trapped underground. Khan takes the bait when Kirk taunts him, and grows even more melodramatic and florid, and intent on inflicting harm. His unhealthy Fe rage against Kirk eventually sends Khan into an Fe-Se loop that leads to his destruction.