Top Gun: Pete Mitchell [Maverick] (ESTP)

Ryan and I watched the newest Top Gun movie just recently, so I decided to write up a quick analysis of the main character. Of course, I don’t think anyone doubts that Maverick is an ESTP. He’s definitely a clear example of dominant Se and inferior Ni. Regardless, see below for our evidence on why Maverick makes the most sense as an ESTP. I hope it makes sense!

Se:

“You don’t have time to think you there. If you think, you’re dead.”

“Trust your instincts! Don’t think, just do. You think up there, you’re dead.”

“He’s a wild card. Flies by the seat of his pants. Completely unpredictable.” – Jester about Maverick

Maverick might as well be the embodiment of Se. A phrase he’s well known for is “don’t think, just do”. This style of thinking perfectly describes Se’s action-oriented, instinctive nature. Maverick constantly insists that there’s no time to think while up in the air. Essentially, it’s either do or die. He encourages others to do the same, and gets incredibly frustrated when they’re unwilling to do so. Maverick takes it even a step farther, though, and struggles to hold himself back when he believes action is necessary. There are times when everyone is telling him to stay put, but he sees a course of action to take and can’t help himself.

Maverick excels at making split second decisions, and reacting instantly to whatever is going on in the present moment. This makes him an excellent pilot, because he can immediately adapt to any situation. However, it also makes him reckless and prone to making impulsive decisions, not only in the air but in his personal life. (For instance, sleeping with the admiral’s daughter.) Of course, this is also why he has so many disciplinary actions recorded in his file.

Maverick is also prone to a certain degree of thrill seeking, which is partially what drives some of his more reckless decisions. This can lead to him unnecessarily showing off while flying, like the time he flips the plane upside down and flies directly above the MiG-28, cockpit to cockpit.

Ti:

“I had Commander Heatherly in my sights, he saw me move in for the kill. He then proceeded below the hard deck. We weren’t below 10,000 for more than a few seconds. I had the shot, there was no danger, so I took it.”

“The F-18 NATOPS. Contains everything they want you to know about your aircraft. I’m assuming you know the book inside and out…So does your enemy, but what the enemy doesn’t know is your limits. I intend to find them, test them, and push them beyond. Today, we’ll start with what you only think you know.”

Maverick follows his own sense of logic or order, regardless of what anyone around him thinks. It often leads him to coming up with unconventional ways to solve problems or handle situations in the moment. This ability plays a major role in his skill as a pilot. However, it also leads him to break regulations and standard procedures without a second thought, because it makes sense at that moment. When questioned, he’ll rationalize away this decision as being the most effective decision to make given the circumstances.

For example, he does exactly this when questioned about going below the hard deck in the original movie. It’s also worth noting that while his actions are instinctive, they are not without rationale. In other words, in spite of constantly telling everyone that there isn’t time to “think” while flying, Maverick’s decisions have a clear rationale to them, which he shares when prompted to.

Maverick is effectively the anti-thesis of Te. After being introduced to his students in the newest movie, Maverick starts off by throwing the rule book in the trash. He basically makes it his goal to make them learn how to think and fly in an entirely different way: his way. In addition, he has no desire for status or rank. For his entire life, he simply continues finding ways to keep doing what he enjoys and what he’s good at. In the newest movie, it’s mentioned over and over again that he could have been a high ranking officer by that point, but that possibility never interested him.

Fe:

In addition to his pure skill, Maverick relies on his charm and social connections. He’s convinced he can win anyone over, given enough effort and time. Of course, a lot of this surfaces in his romantic exploits, but it’s also seen in his career and his personal connections. Maverick is often leading the charge with Goose, and convincing Goose to go along with things that Goose is naturally more hesitant about. Furthermore, by the second movie, it’s clear that Maverick’s career is only alive because of Iceman, whom Maverick has become close friends with.

Tertiary Fe often surfaces in playfully antagonistic behavior, which Maverick indulges in often. An obvious example would be his constant need to do a flyby and shake the tower, in spite of the trouble it gets him into.

Ni:

Maverick’s gaping weak point is his inability to perceive the long term implications of his actions. His constantly reckless behavior speaks to this. He’s repeatedly indulges in the same negative behaviors, in spite of the risks to his career. Similarly, he’s unable to recognize that being a Top Gun instructor isn’t a good fit for him. In the second movie, we learn that he lasts a grand total of two months.

Maverick enjoys his present existence so much that he’s unable to form a realistic, long term vision for his future. While some types struggle to move on from the past, Maverick is literally clinging desperately to the present. He spends his entire career avoiding any kind of advancement or promotion so that he can remain a pilot. By the second movie, Navy officers are trying to force him into retirement. Time and age are his enemies, and will inevitably win, but he refuses to accept that and change his situation in order to keep his career alive in the future.