Criminal Minds first aired in 2005 on CBS and it didn't take long for the show to gain a cult following. One of the main reasons viewers found themselves fascinated with Criminal Minds had a lot to do with the unique characters rather than their unique investigations.
With characters like the lovable Penelope Garcia and all her bejeweled, fuzzy-pen glory, the intellectual who brings humanity to the criminals, and Derek Morgan, who has charm for days, the cast is full of very different personalities. With the help of the Myers-Briggs® personality type categorizations (extraverted vs. introverted, feeling vs. thinking, etc.), the audience can even better understand these characters.
Updated on May 26th, 2022 by Amanda Bruce: Though the original Criminal Minds series is over, fans never seem to tire of the cases from the show or the distinct characters offered up by it. With the show available on streaming sites, and talk of a revival persisting, fans will likely remain invested in the series for a long time as new audience members discover the series and old audience members rewatch their favorite storylines. Rewatching the show allows the audience to pick up on things they might have missed about their favorite characters and discover new aspects of their personalities.
Kate Callahan - ENFP
Kate Callahan joins the team late in the series, and she doesn't stick around for long. Kate, however, is a great addition during her time. She's a maternal figure, not unlike JJ, but she's also got the creativity and imagination of someone like Garcia.
Kate is very much like an ENFP, or "the campaigner." This particular personality type is a social butterfly, someone who easily makes friends and someone who looks for connection in everything around them. Kate sees her job as an FBI agent not just as a responsibility, but also as a way to connect with people, and as a way to keep her family safe.
Erin Strauss - ESTJ
Erin Strauss becomes the person in charge of the Behavioral Analysis Unit, and at times, the team resents her interfering in their investigations. Her interference, however, is because Strauss wants things done by the book to make sure that the team's work is beyond questioning and that her job is safe.
Strauss is an ESTJ, "the executive." This personality type is a natural leader, so it's no wonder she's in charge for multiple seasons in Criminal Minds. They value honesty and order, and they take charge to make sure those values are upheld.
Elle Greenaway - ESFP
One of the agents at the start of the show, Elle Greenaway leaves the team when her own actions on a case step over the line. She's someone who is all about action. She wants to do something, not waste time talking about doing those things, and she wants to make sure she has the attention of those she cares about when she does.
As an ESFP, Elle is an "entertainer," a great commander of attention. She has a zest for life that manifests in her ability to gain a suspect's ire or plan a great vacation.
Tara Lewis - ISFP
While Tara Lewis and Elle Greenaway have a lot of similar aspects to their personalities, which is why they only truly differ in the extroverted and introverted aspect. Tara is the "adventurer" to Elle's "entertainer." They share passionate natures and creative minds but differ in how they approach problems.
Tara is more likely to form a plan than jump right in, for starters. She also is less likely to create a spectacle to get the job done, like her ability to linguistically mimic the unsubs she interviews to make them more comfortable in interrogation, one of the earliest skills presented in the show. It tends to be more effective than Elle, who would often resort to being the "bad cop" to another teammate's "good cop."
Derek Morgan - ESTP
Derek Morgan is known for being the doorbuster of the group, always being the first one to take physical action in order to catch an unsub. He's playful, suave, and extremely charming. These qualities make him the perfect ESTP.
ESTPs are known as "entrepreneurs" and are often doers rather than thinkers. They're always up for what's next. Though Morgan is perfectly capable of going through the evidence and building theories for cases, or bantering with Garcia while doing it, he prefers to be taking action instead, a sure sign of an ESTP.
Jason Gideon - INFJ
Jason Gideon is played by well-known actor Mandy Patinkin. Although Patinkin's character wasn't on for as long as fans would have liked, he still was able to leave a big impression.
Gideon is a gentle soul with great care for the world around him. He gives the impression of being a counselor to the rest of the group, a person that the other team members feel as though they can confide in. He is introspective, empathetic, sensitive, and selfless. All of these traits point to Gideon being an INFJ, or, "the advocate."
Penelope Garcia - ENFP
Penelope Garcia is played brilliantly by actress Kirsten Vangsness. Penelope Garcia brings color, animation, and humor to Criminal Minds. Adding a sense of light-heartedness and whimsy is extremely necessary on a show that centers around very dark criminal cases. Because of Garcia's colorful nature, she is one of the most beloved characters on the show.
Garcia is creative, warm, energetic, and friendly. There is a certain quirky pep to her that reads like a classic ENFP. This particular personality type is a free spirit and someone with a truly open heart. Fans agree that her energy and artistic flair make Criminal Minds unforgettable.
Spencer Reid - INFP
Some fans might interpret Spencer Reid as an INTP because of his academic leanings. Yes, Spencer Reid is one of the most intelligent characters in television history, but just because he is a brilliant thinker doesn't automatically make him a "T". Reid, out of all characters, is the most emotionally invested in the cases.
Rather than seeing all of the unsubs as monsters, Reid digs deeper in an attempt to understand them as human beings. He is open-minded and wants so badly to believe in the good of all people - even the criminals. His values come before everything, including his career. This has been shown many times when he somehow is able to empathize with the criminals and cannot complete certain violent tasks that he is required to do for the sake of his career. His compassion for all those around him and his emotional intelligence makes him an INFP, "the mediator."
Jennifer "JJ" Jareau - ISFJ
JJ begins her time on the series as more of a public relations officer than an active agent. She grows to become a field agent early in the series. JJ is observant, logical, and supportive. She isn't the most energetic of the bunch, but she is very friendly and reliable. She seems to have all the traits of an ISFJ, "the defender."
"Defenders" are incredibly hard-working and dedicated to the people around them. They might keep their feelings under wraps, but they show how they feel in what they do for those they care about.
Emily Prentiss - ENFJ
Paget Brewster's Emily Prentiss joins the series after Elle Greenaway leaves the team. Her experience as the daughter of a diplomat gives her a very different background compared to the rest of the team. Well-traveled and inquisitive, she very quickly earns their respect as she jumps right into investigations.
Prentiss is a passionate team member with excellent communication skills. Her ability to bring out the best in others and take the lead when necessary makes her a likely ENFJ, or "the protagonist."
David Rossi -ENTJ
Rossi is constantly on his feet and always ready to play by the book. He is drawn to all the challenges the team faces and is able to work without the risk of putting too much emotion into each case. Rossi can't stand the idea of not having work to do which is apparent when he is given vacation days and he is uncomfortable with the downtime or when his time off is used to write books about his experiences.
He is stubborn while at the same time charismatic. He is a clear ENTJ, "the commander," someone who sets goals for himself and inspires the group to help follow through on them.
Aaron "Hotch" Hotchner - ISTJ
Original team leader Aaron Hotchner is one of the easiest Criminal Minds personality types to determine. Hotch is a nearly textbook ISTJ, or "logistician."
He is the most focused of the group, constantly playing by the rules. Reid even claims that he has never seen Hotch blink once because he is so serious. Yet despite his strict nature, Hotch is loyal, protective, and will always work for the greater good.