Character Source Material: Breaking Bad (TV Series, AMC)
Skyler is the wife of Walter White. Throughout the series, she plays a significant role in the story as she discovers her husband's involvement in the illegal drug trade and becomes increasingly embroiled in his criminal activities. Her character undergoes significant development throughout the series, as she grapples with the moral and ethical implications of her husband's actions and attempts to protect her family.
Skyler is a strong and intelligent woman, who is not afraid to stand up for herself and her family. She is also fiercely protective of her children and will do whatever it takes to keep them safe, even if it means making difficult choices. At times, she can be controlling and manipulative, particularly in her attempts to protect her family from the dangers of Walter's drug empire. Her moral compass is a significant aspect of her character, and she struggles to reconcile her love for her husband with his increasingly immoral and criminal behavior. She often finds herself torn between her loyalty to her family and her sense of right and wrong, which leads to many difficult and emotional moments throughout the series.
Trait | Percentile | Trait Disposition |
---|---|---|
Neuroticism | 95.74 | High |
Agreeableness | 17.93 | Low |
Extraversion | 12.09 | Low |
Conscientiousness | 91.02 | High |
Openness | 16.97 | Low |
This section displays the detail item responses that were used to generate the above personality summary. The methodology for selecting the item responses for this fictional character involved using research from a generative artificial intelligence tool to summarize a descriptive response to a question related to each item. The research was reviewed and a judgement was made on the most appropriate response on that item. You can view an example script for collecting these responses (see: Script for Automated Five Factor Assessment)
Trait | Item | Item Response | Item Score | AI-Generated Research* |
---|---|---|---|---|
Openness | Do not have a good imagination. | Neither Inaccurate nor Accurate | 3 | Skyler is shown to be a practical and analytical person who is often focused on the practicalities of the situations she finds herself in. She is a good problem solver and able to think on her feet in high-pressure situations, which suggests a certain level of creativity and resourcefulness. That being said, Skyler's approach to her husband's drug business is primarily driven by a desire to protect her family and maintain their financial stability, rather than any particular creative or imaginative vision. She is not shown to be particularly interested in art, literature, or other forms of creative expression, which could suggest that her imagination is not her strongest attribute. Overall, while Skyler may possess a certain degree of imagination and creativity, it is not a defining characteristic of her personality, and her strengths lie primarily in her practical and analytical abilities. |
Openness | Am not interested in abstract ideas. | Moderately Inaccurate | 4 | Skyler is shown to be a pragmatic and analytical person who is often concerned with practical matters rather than abstract concepts. This is particularly evident in her approach to her husband's drug business, where she is primarily focused on protecting her family and ensuring their financial security, rather than engaging in philosophical or abstract discussions. That being said, Skyler does show an interest in certain abstract ideas throughout the series, particularly when it comes to morality and ethics. She struggles with the morality of her husband's actions and is often conflicted about the choices she has to make in order to protect her family. This suggests that while she may not be primarily interested in abstract ideas, she is still capable of engaging with them and grappling with their implications. |
Openness | Have difficulty understanding abstract ideas. | Neither Inaccurate nor Accurate | 3 | Some possible examples of abstract ideas that she encounters in the show are:
These are just some possible examples of abstract ideas that Skyler White may or may not have difficulty understanding. |
Openness | Have a vivid imagination. | Moderately Inaccurate | 2 | Throughout the series, Skyler is shown as a practical and logical person who is often focused on the realities of her situation and the practical steps she can take to protect herself and her family. While Skyler does have moments of creativity and ingenuity, particularly when it comes to finding ways to launder money or cover up Walter's involvement in the drug trade, she is not portrayed as being particularly imaginative or prone to flights of fancy. Overall, Skyler's character is defined by her pragmatism and her ability to navigate difficult situations with a clear head, rather than by any particular tendency towards imaginative or fantastical thinking. |
Neuroticism | Seldom feel blue. | Moderately Inaccurate | 4 | As she becomes more aware of her husband Walter's involvement in the drug trade, Skyler's stress and anxiety levels increase, and this can lead to periods of low mood. In addition to the stress of her situation, Skyler also faces personal challenges, including difficulties in her marriage and financial struggles. These factors can contribute to feelings of sadness and despair. Overall, while Skyler may have moments of positivity and happiness, she is not portrayed as seldom feeling blue. Her character is defined by the challenges she faces and the emotional toll that those challenges take on her. |
Neuroticism | Am relaxed most of the time. | Moderately Inaccurate | 4 | Throughout the series, Skyler is shown to be dealing with a lot of stress and anxiety, particularly as she becomes more aware of her husband Walter's involvement in the drug trade. As a result of these stressors, Skyler can be seen as tense and on edge, often worrying about the safety of her family and the consequences of Walter's actions. She is also portrayed as being emotionally distant at times, as she struggles to come to terms with the reality of her situation. While Skyler has moments of calm and composure, she is generally not shown as being relaxed or carefree throughout the series. Instead, her character is defined by the challenges she faces and the emotional turmoil that results from those challenges. |
Neuroticism | Get upset easily. | Neither Inaccurate nor Accurate | 3 | In some instances, Skyler can be seen as quick to anger or frustration, particularly when she feels that her family is being put in danger or when she discovers that Walter has lied to her. However, it's important to note that her reactions are often a response to the extreme circumstances she is facing. |
Neuroticism | Have frequent mood swings. | Moderately Accurate | 4 | She may have mood swings when she is under a lot of stress or pressure, and she may feel happy, sad, angry, or scared in a short period of time. She may also have mood swings when she is hormonal or pregnant, and she may experience physical and emotional changes. However, she may not have mood swings when she is calm or relaxed, and she may feel more stable and consistent. She may also not have mood swings when she is focused or determined, and she may have a clear goal and direction. |
Conscientiousness | Make a mess of things. | Moderately Inaccurate | 4 | Skyler's actions can be seen as making a mess of things at times, as she tries to protect herself and her family from the consequences of Walter's involvement in the drug trade. She lies to her sister and other family members, tries to launder money, and even has an affair to cope with the stress of the situation. However, it's important to note that Skyler's actions are often a response to the dangerous and illegal activities that Walter has involved himself in. She is trying to protect her family and navigate a difficult situation in the best way she knows how, even if it means making some morally ambiguous decisions. |
Conscientiousness | Often forget to put things back in their proper place. | Very Inaccurate | 5 | I don’t think Skyler White forgets to put things back in their proper place. She seems to be a meticulous and careful person, who pays attention to details and organization. She likes to keep her house and her car clean and tidy, and she knows where everything is. She also keeps track of her finances and her documents, and she doesn’t lose or misplace them. She may not put some things back in their proper place, if she is in a hurry or in a stressful situation, or if she doesn’t care about them. She may also hide some things from others, such as money or evidence, and put them in a secret place. |
Conscientiousness | Like order. | Moderately Accurate | 4 | I think Skyler White does like order, but not always. She likes to have a sense of control and stability in her life, and she values rules and laws. She likes to keep things neat and tidy, and she follows a routine. She also likes to plan ahead and make decisions. However, she may not like order when it is imposed by others, especially by her husband or his enemies. She may also not like order when it is boring or limiting, and she may seek some excitement or freedom. She may also break the order when she feels it is necessary or justified, such as lying or cheating. |
Conscientiousness | Get chores done right away. | Very Accurate | 5 | I think Skyler White does get chores done right away, most of the time. She seems to be a responsible and organized person, who takes care of her household and her family. She also manages her work and her studies well, despite the challenges she faces. She may not get some chores done right away, if they are not urgent or important, or if she is distracted or overwhelmed by other things. She may also delegate some chores to others, such as hiring a cleaner or asking her son to do the dishes. |
Agreeableness | Am not interested in other people's problems. | Moderately Inaccurate | 4 | I wouldn’t say that Skyler White is not interested in other people’s problems. She does show concern and care for some people, such as her family and friends. She also tries to help them solve their problems, such as paying for Hank’s medical bills or finding a job for Ted. However, she may not be interested in some people’s problems, especially if they are related to her husband’s drug business or her own legal troubles. |
Agreeableness | Am not really interested in others. | Neither Inaccurate nor Accurate | 3 | At times, Skyler may appear disinterested or even hostile towards others, particularly when it comes to her husband Walter's criminal activities. She may prioritize her own interests and those of her family over the needs and desires of others, which can create tension and conflict in her relationships with others. However, there are also moments throughout the series where Skyler demonstrates genuine interest and concern for others. For example, she takes an active interest in her sister's divorce and offers emotional support during her difficult time. She also expresses concern for the well-being of her children and works to protect them from the dangers of Walter's criminal activities. |
Agreeableness | Feel others' emotions. | Moderately Accurate | 4 | Based on her actions and behavior throughout the series, it can be inferred that she is capable of feeling and recognizing the emotions of others. For example, in Season 3, Skyler becomes increasingly concerned about her husband's behavior and the potential danger he poses to their family. This suggests that she is capable of recognizing and feeling the fear and anxiety that others experience. Additionally, in Season 5, Skyler experiences intense emotional distress when her brother-in-law, Hank, is killed by a member of a drug cartel. Her reaction suggests that she is able to feel and empathize with the grief and sadness of others. While Skyler is often portrayed as a cold and unsympathetic character, there are moments throughout the series where she demonstrates the ability to feel and recognize the emotions of others. |
Agreeableness | Sympathize with others' feelings. | Neither Inaccurate nor Accurate | 3 | While she is often portrayed as cold and unsympathetic towards her husband Walter White's criminal activities, there are also moments where she demonstrates empathy and concern for others. For example, in Season 2, Skyler shows empathy towards her sister, who is going through a difficult divorce. Skyler listens to her sister's problems and offers emotional support, showing that she is capable of sympathizing with others' feelings. Similarly, in Season 4, Skyler shows concern for the safety of her children and the people around her, as she tries to protect them from the dangers of Walter's criminal activities. This suggests that she is not completely devoid of sympathy towards others, even if her actions may seem unsympathetic at times. Overall, while Skyler is not always portrayed as a sympathetic character, there are moments throughout the series where she demonstrates empathy and concern for others. |
Extraversion | Keep in the background. | Neither Inaccurate nor Accurate | 3 | I think Skyler White prefers to keep in the background in some situations, but not in others. For example, she may prefer to keep in the background when she is at a party or a social event where she doesn’t know or like many people. She may also prefer to keep in the background when she is trying to avoid attention or trouble from her husband’s enemies or the law. However, she may not prefer to keep in the background when she is at home with her family or at work with her colleagues. She may also not prefer to keep in the background when she is standing up for herself or her children. She may also not prefer to keep in the background when she is pursuing her own interests or goals, such as writing short stories or running a car wash. |
Extraversion | Don't talk a lot. | Neither Inaccurate nor Accurate | 3 | She does have conversations with her family, friends, and colleagues. She also expresses her opinions and emotions, sometimes very strongly. However, she may not talk a lot in certain situations, such as when she is scared, angry, or sad. She may also not talk a lot to people she doesn’t know well or doesn’t like. She may also keep some secrets or lies to protect herself or her family. |
Extraversion | Talk to a lot of different people at parties. | Moderately Inaccurate | 2 | I don’t think Skyler White talks to lots of different people at parties. She seems to prefer staying with her family or close friends. She also does not seem to trust or like many people, especially those who are involved with her husband’s drug business. She may talk to some people out of politeness or necessity, but I doubt she enjoys it very much. |
Extraversion | Am the life of the party. | Moderately Inaccurate | 2 | Based on her character arc in Breaking Bad, she does not seem to enjoy parties very much, especially after she learns about her husband’s criminal activities. She often appears stressed, depressed, or angry in social situations. She also has conflicts with her sister and her husband’s lawyer. Therefore, I would say that Skyler White is not the life of the party in most cases. |