Summary

• Explore the unique personalities of Friends characters by matching them with Myers-Briggs types for a fun connection game.
• Supporting characters like Janice, Judy Geller, and Ugly Naked Guy can also be analyzed through MBTI types for insights.
• Coincide Joey's ESFP, Chandler's ENTP, and Ross' ISTJ personalities with their on-screen behaviors for a deeper understanding.

Friends is an all-time favorite sitcom with an iconic ensemble which makes exploring the Friends MBTI personality types even more interesting. The Myers-Briggs® Type Indicator offers a set of sixteen different personality "types" and highlights the traits associated with each of these distinct personalities. Examining the breakdown of each category of personality type, it is possible to find connections to several of the Friends characters and see which ones fit into which category the best.

The heart of the show is, of course, the group of six friends, each of whom has an interesting, quirky personality that often gets them into all kinds of hilarious situations. Throughout the 10 seasons of Friends, fans got to know these personalities quite well through the characters' various ups and downs, their romances, and their interactions with their other friends. Along with the main cast, Friends also includes some standout supporting characters that can also be identified using the MBTI® types.

Janice - ESTP

Played By Maggie Wheeler

Janice can be categorized as a friend-adjacent and is certainly one of the most memorable supporting characters on Friends. She was involved with the group through all 10 seasons of the show. She was initially seen as Chandler's girlfriend in season 3, but would subsequently show up in the most poorly-timed situations, such as when Rachel was giving birth or Chandler and Monica were house hunting.

Brash and loud, the stereotypical New Yorker, she's also kind and loving. The reason for Janice's ESTP personality type is she's outgoing, action-oriented, and certainly dramatic, whether it be breaking up with Ross after a short fling or attempting to hold onto her relationship with Chandler. All of these fit her like one of her shiny jackets. Though the main gang may not enjoy having her around as much as she manages to be, she is always energetic and spirited to see them.

Judy Geller - INFJ

Played by Christina Pickles

As one of the many parent characters on Friends, Monica's mother is a woman of layers. She definitely cares and supports her children, with Ross the undeclared but obvious favorite. However, Judy's toughness on Monica could be due more to the fact that she is idealistic rather than meanspirited. She sees a future where Monica has a stable life with a good husband, beautiful children, and a house near hers on Long Island.

While this is a lovely sentiment, her delivery of this request is acerbic. This is why Judy's personality type is INFJ - The Advocate. In addition to being caring and creative, she also judges others without knowing them or hearing about their lives. These qualities help to make her a mother who can be frustrating at times, but is undoubtedly loving.

Christina Pickles was nominated for an Emmy for her performances as Judy Geller in season 1.

Ugly Naked Guy - INTP

Only Ever Seen From Behind

Though viewers only saw Ugly Naked Guy (UNG) once during the show, and that was only from the back, the gang's descriptions gave viewers a good idea of who he was. He was the unidentified neighbor in the apartment building across the street who was not shy about walking around naked with his windows open for all to see. Even with his life on the show taking place entirely in his apartment, his INTP personality shines through with his artistic endeavors, his attempts to stay active, and his surprising romantic side.

It's true he's introverted, but he also perceives others are experiencing his life remotely.

This is all observed by the gang as they see him attempting to exercise at times as well as seeing him playing the cello and dancing on his own. Though the gang has their own relationship dramas throughout Friends, Ugly Naked Guy was also seen romancing a partner on at least one occasion. It's true he's introverted, but he also perceives others are experiencing his life remotely. If not, he wouldn't have kept the windows open all the time.

Richard Burke - ENFJ

Played By Tom Selleck

Richard was Monica's season 2 boyfriend, played by Tom Selleck on Friends. While there were some uncomfortable moments in the relationship as Richard was not only a much older man but also friends with Monica's father, he endeared himself as a great partner. Richard was suave, passionate, and deeply in love with the youngest Geller. It seemed like he and Monica would experience a happy life.

The one thing standing in their way was that Monica wanted kids and he didn't. Despite this, Richard is clearly an ENFJ personality type, extroverted with the ability to bring people into his orbit, he has a strong value system. This is seen when he becomes friendly with Joey and Chandler and the two immediately try to start acting like Richard. Yet, he can also be judgy, as shown when he and Monica debate about children.

Leonard Green - ENTJ

Played By Ron Leibman

Certainly the most challenging parent character on Friends, Leonard Green is shown to be a hard man to please as he disapproves of Rachel's life choices but also doesn't feel shy about showing his lack of respect for her friends either. Rachel's caustic father has a rare personality type. In fact, it only accounts for two percent of the population. Known as The Commander, Dr. Green is an extroverted and intelligent individual who looks toward a successful future for his children, often feeling he should guide Rachel in her choices despite her being an adult.

On the other hand, his ENTJ personality type causes him to show poor traits. These include stubbornness, impatience, and aggressiveness. Whether it is regarding Rachel starting her life over as a waitress, her romance with Ross, her pregnancy, or his own failed marriage, Dr. Green is quick to throw blame around yet never takes any for himself.

Gunther – ISFJ

Played By James Michael Tyler

Gunther is often referred to as the seventh friend. The Central Perk manager/barista has been a permanent fixture in the everyday lives of the friends, but never entered the inner circle. While the show never reveals much about Gunther over the course of the 10 seasons – not even his last name – he is a unique enough personality to make an impression. Gunther is unassuming and often blends into the background, but at the same time, he’s easily found offering assistance, which are characteristics of ISFJs.

He is often in the background, going largely unnoticed until he somehow gets involved in whatever one or more of the friends are up to. ISFJs love to be of service and please people, which is all Gunther ever tried to do in order to cozy up to the main six friends, and especially his unrequited crush, Rachel.

James Michael Tyler was initially just hired as an extra because he worked in a coffee shop and knew what to do.

Mike Hannigan – INFP

Played By Paul Rudd

One of the defining characteristics of INFPs is their artistic nature and creativity. Self-expression is very important to this type and they will go out of their way to find a suitable outlet. Exploring new ideas is their specialty and they encourage others to do the same. Mike left a career as a lawyer to pursue music, his true passion. Like all INFPs, Mike bases his decisions on feelings, not logic. Changing his name to “Crap Bag” to prove a point certainly comes to mind as an example of his spontaneity.

Often unconventional, INFPs are accepting of others and flexible when it comes to seeing other people’s points of view. The reason Mike and Phoebe clicked immediately is that they’re both somewhat offbeat and they’re drawn to alternative lifestyles. Mike not only accepted Phoebe’s eccentricities without question, but he said that it’s one of the things he loves most about her. It helped make Paul Rudd's Friends role feel like one of the main cast by the end.

Joey Tribbiani – ESFP

Played By Matt Le Blanc

Often referred to as Performer personalities, ESFPs are defined by their contagious enthusiasm for life and love of the spotlight. These fun-loving individuals are energetic, down-to-earth, and spontaneous, which draws people in. Being around Joey is easy and comfortable because he knows how to take pleasure in everything around him (almost like a child), and he’s always open to all kinds of ideas to have fun, like building a fort, sticking his head in a turkey, and so on.

Joey's emotions regularly get the better of him, which sometimes leads to very poor decisions. He even ate all the food from his broken fridge and tried to save a sandwich from what he thought was a bullet. As for being spontaneous, this is the guy who’s gone through life as a struggling actor in New York, without a stable income or a plan B. Joey's ending of Friends also sees him as the only one to go out on his own and try a new life in Los Angeles.

Chandler Bing – ENTP

Played By Matthew Perry

ENTPs are sometimes referred to as Visionary personalities because of their passion for new ideas. They’re quick, innovative, encouraging, and open. They rely on their intuition to easily generate new ideas, and they prefer freedom to strict planning and organization. Chandler’s quick wit is his defining trait, it's why audiences love him so much, and it is what immediately marks him as an ENTP.

He’s usually the first one to point out the elephant in the room with a sarcastic remark, regardless of whether it’s appropriate or not. He gets the most zingers because the jokes are his way of coping with problems, keeping the upper hand, and just simply going through everyday motions. In "The One with All the Resolutions", he almost lost his mind when he tried to go a whole week without making jokes. Once he finally quit his boring job and found his calling, Chandler put his talents to good use in the advertisement business.

Ross Geller – ISTJ

Played By David Schwimmer

The only introvert among the six friends, Ross is an ISTJ. Rather than deriving energy from group activities, introverts need some alone time. Ross, especially in the earlier seasons, comes off as rather shy and reserved. He feels fulfilled when he’s engaging in intellectual activities, namely thinking and talking about dinosaurs. Fact-based, detail-oriented, and relying on logic and reason when making decisions, ISTJs are sometimes called Inspector personalities.

For Ross, setting the record straight is extremely important, as seen with the whole “we were on a break” conundrum on Friends. Ross is all about facts and will go to extreme lengths to prove his way is the right way, like when he argued with Phoebe about evolution. ISTJs like to keep things organized and will often volunteer to plan activities. Ross is adamant about getting things done right to the point of becoming very irritable and forceful when things go according to his plan, as in the famous episode "The One Where No One's Ready."

Phoebe Buffay – ENFP

Played By Lisa Kudrow

Phoebe Buffay is a classic example of an ENFP and it makes her the Friends cast member who is the easiest to categorize by her personality. Imaginative and original, these individuals are often very artistic, even in appearance. They are unconventional and tend to develop a distinctive and quirky personal style, all traits fans recognize in Phoebe.

ENFPs have an uncanny ability to craft engaging stories, and Phoebe has told some of the most imaginative and at times outrageous stories on the show.

Attracted to novelty, ENFPs often have a wide range of interests. Phoebe is a singer/songwriter, a masseuse, can speak fluent French and some Italian, and has shown a keen interest in animal rights, environmental rights, and spirituality, and has displayed all sorts of other unusual talents over the years. ENFPs have an uncanny ability to craft engaging stories, and Phoebe has told some of the most imaginative and at times outrageous stories on the show.

Monica Geller – ESFJ

Played By Courteney Cox

Extraverted, Sensing, Feeling, and Judging, ESFJs like Monica love spending time with others, often obsess over details, make decisions based on feelings and personal values, and must have everything organized and planned out. Sometimes referred to as Provider personalities, ESFJs have a keen interest in caring for others. Monica Geller is a textbook example of an ESFJ if there ever was one.

Monica loves being the hostess (see: “The One with Rachel’s Crush”) and she loves taking care of her friends and stepping into a maternal role. Case in point, making three kinds of potatoes to give everyone the Thanksgiving they want. Monica's organization skills are unmatched, as evidenced by her Wedding Book, a total of 11 towel categories, and numbered mugs. Obsessing over seemingly insignificant details, like which way the tag on the duvet is facing, is what Monica typically does.

Courteney Cox is the only main Friends cast member not to receive an Emmy nomination for her role on the show.

Rachel Green – ESFP

Played By Jennifer Aniston

Monica and Rachel are much more alike than it may seem at first glance. Like her friend and roommate, Rachel too enjoys spending time with others. She prefers to rely on facts and makes decisions based on feelings and values rather than logic. However, unlike Monica, Rachel is spontaneous and flexible. Walking away from a secure future to start anew takes courage, and Rachel actually adapted to the change rather easily.

Her energetic and playful nature is what draws people in, and because of it, the ESFPs are often called Performer personalities. Rachel loves putting her people skills to work, which even helped her establish a successful career in the fashion industry. While Rachel may get teased for being a pushover from time to time when she feels strongly about something there’s no stopping her. After all, she bravely quit her waitress job to pursue a career she felt passionate about.