Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Phil Coulson (ENFJ)

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MBTI and Myers-Briggs related content

Phil Coulson from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is usually identified as some kind of FJ. Surprisingly, I saw theories for all four: ESFJ, ISFJ, INFJ, and ENFJ. After studying the character, I believe the case is strongest for Coulson being an ENFJ. I strongly considered INFJ for Coulson as well, but I think ENFJ makes more sense. Youโ€™re welcome to share your thoughts in the comments! If youโ€™re interested in other characters from this show, be sure to check out Grant Ward and Leopold Fitz.

Fe:

โ€œLook, I know you two like to work alone, settling scores that are personal to you, but thatโ€™s not how we work here at S.H.I.E.L.D. We work together to keep everyone safe.โ€

โ€œTry no strategy. Stop thinking like an operative. Start thinking like a person. Maybe Skye will let that person help herโ€ฆ Help her start thinking like an operative.โ€

โ€œI have faith in my team.โ€

โ€œI should have listened to you. Trusted my team the way you insisted.โ€ โ€“ Akela Amador to Coulson

โ€œTheyโ€™re good agents. Try to see it from their side.โ€

Phil Coulson focuses on the impact that his actions have on people. He believes that everyone has value and everyone should be saved. Coulson is willing to risk everything to save people, some of which donโ€™t even want to be saved. At one point, Ward disagrees with Coulson for risking everyone, including his team, for a โ€œnobodyโ€ who had become a threat to everybody. Coulson responds by saying, โ€œNobodyโ€™s nobody, Ward.โ€ This mentality of Coulsonโ€™s also creates conflict with May, on occasion. For example, in reference to Skye, she questions his actions, explaining that: โ€œโ€ฆyou are defending this girl at the expense of the team.โ€

Coulson is a team player, constantly emphasizing that they need to protect their own and trust each other. This is something he preaches during his early years, which is revealed by Akela who expresses regret over not trusting her team the way Coulson had always insisted. Similarly, he rebukes Daisy Johnson and Robbie Reyes for not being team players and always focusing on their personal scores. He informs them that โ€œthatโ€™s not how we work here at S.H.I.E.L.D. We work together to keep everyone safe.โ€ Coulson then essentially gives them no choice but to help, by saying: โ€œSo you may want to be solo, but forces beyond our control are driving us together. You donโ€™t need us? Fine. Right now, we need you.โ€

Coulsonโ€™s approach to his team causes him to naturally build close, emotional ties, which is why Skye becomes like a daughter to him. He easily expresses empathy, and often offers advice to members of his team. For instance, Coulson gives Ward insight on how to get through to Skye, telling him that he needed to start thinking like a person. He often pays attention to their emotional states or interpersonal issues, attempting to prevent any problems or help resolve conflicts.

Ni:

โ€œIโ€™m looking for an objection I havenโ€™t already anticipated.โ€

โ€œThis means something! It has to mean something!โ€

โ€œHe may seem lost at times, but heโ€™s always got a plan.โ€ โ€“ Antoine Triplett

โ€œThereโ€™s an idea, a symbol. That must continue no matter what. A shield.โ€

Coulson is future-focused. He strives to anticipate the future and prepare accordingly. Throughout the series, he often always has some sort of plan, whether or not he shares it with those around him. One of those ways this is demonstrated early on happens when heโ€™s arguing with Ward over bringing Skye on as a consultant. After Ward shares his various objections, Coulson essentially says that he had already anticipated everything that Ward had said.

Coulson tends to make unconventional decisions, that seem impractical or even risky. However, for him, they are often calculated and well-thought-out. For instance, there are many concrete reasons to view Skye as risk. As Ward points out, Skye is an unknown variable, a member of Rising Tide, and had hacked S.H.I.E.L.D. twice. However, Coulson sees the potential to turn her into an asset. In fact, he views the very things that make her a risk as advantages. The members Coulson chooses for his initial team also seem to defy logic, according to Maria Hill, who says, โ€œAnd itโ€™s not just Ward. Your whole roster is sketchy.โ€

When Coulson gets an idea in his head, he follows it wholeheartedly, no matter the risk. In other word, Coulson trusts his intuition, regardless of proof and no matter who around him is arguing against it. For example, when a few numbers on his S.H.I.E.L.D. badge light up, Coulson is convinced that theyโ€™re a message from Nick Fury, or more specifically, coordinates. In spite of the current crisis, he has them use the last of their remaining jet fuel to fly out to the middle of nowhere. The rest of the team questions his decision, essentially seeing it as a last ditch act of desperation.

Coulson values symbols, which is what he sees S.H.I.E.L.D. as. He explains to Fitz that symbols are important because people need something to believe in. Just prior to this, he tells Daisy that S.H.I.E.L.D. is an idea, a symbol, that must continue no matter what.

Se:

โ€œSometimes you have to just jump in and figure things out.โ€

โ€œBut right now the reality is this, Eli Morrow just wiped out an entire S.H.I.E.L.D. TAC team with a few shards of carbon that he created out of thin air.โ€

Coulson doesnโ€™t struggle to improvise when necessary. While he often plans ahead, heโ€˜s also able to adopt a present-oriented focus, for the sake of solving the current problem. In other words, while heโ€™s aware of the future problems a decision might create, heโ€™s willing to take things one step at a time, in an attempt to prioritize the most pressing issues. For instance, Director Mace dislikes the idea of working with dangerous criminals and known vigilantes, pointing out the potential future issues and risks. However, Coulson responds by explaining how critical things were in the present, and that theyโ€™d deal with future issues as they happened.

While I did seriously consider INFJ for Coulson, I canโ€™t rationalize inferior Se, because of his willingness to improvise. Of course, any experienced agent would learn how to handle himself in the field. However, at one point during season 4, a flashback is shown of Coulson during his younger years as an agent. Coulson had been sent to a Russian mining base to get an 084. May shows up and then mocks him when she realizes that his plan was merely to persuade the guard to let him in. Of course, Coulson states, โ€œYou know how persuasive I can be.โ€

Ti:

โ€œWhen it comes to May and Daisy, you canโ€™t be objective.โ€

โ€œYouโ€™re gambling with our lives because of one agent. The security of S.H.I.E.L.D. far outweighs the safety of Skye.โ€

โ€œI pull the trigger because you order me to. Youโ€™re the Director. I didnโ€™t ask for the kill switch to Lincolnโ€™s vest. You gave it to me. Because somehow sacrificing him is okay with youโ€ฆ Iโ€™ll do your dirty work, Phil, but donโ€™t you dare pretend your hands are clean.โ€ โ€“ Melinda May

Coulson possesses a never-ending loyalty to S.H.I.E.L.D., becoming whatever he needs to for the sake of it. When he first takes them to the Hub, Coulson adopts a completely different persona, based on whatโ€™s expected from his as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. Skye continually mocks him for this, calling him a robot version of himself. Meanwhile, Coulson continually emphasizes to her that she needs to trust the system. This all indicates an inferior identity function, like Ti, due to basing his identity on an external group like S.H.I.E.L.D.

Coulson prioritizes protecting his team to the extent that his thinking will become inconsistent, warping to support his Fe goal. For instance, when Hive turns Daisy, Coulson prioritizes saving her, almost to the detriment of others. Before embarking on a mission, May asks whatโ€™s expected of her, implying that she might come across a situation in which she has to shoot Daisy. Coulson then accuses May of being trigger-happy. However, May points out that she kills only on his orders, and that while heโ€™s unwilling to consider eliminating Daisy, heโ€™s willing to put a suicide vest on Lincoln.

Generally speaking, Coulsonโ€™s focus on people can make it difficult for him to make decisions in which he has to sacrifice others. This is why, in spite of knowing that the Fridge escapees are a distraction, Coulson states that itโ€™s their duty to recapture them, and that this wasnโ€™t the time to stand on protocol. Similarly, heโ€™ll put everyone at risk for the sake of one person, refusing to walk away until circumstances give him no other choice.

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