Howard Wolowitz


Character Source Material: Big Bang Theory, The (TV Series, CBS)


Dr Sheldon Cooper is a fictional character from the popular TV shows The Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon. He is a brilliant but socially inept theoretical physicist who works at Caltech and lives with his wife Amy Farrah Fowler, a neurobiologist. Sheldon Cooper’s personality is very different from the other characters on the show.

He is often described as a genius with a low emotional intelligence and a rigid sense of order and logic. He has trouble understanding social cues, humor, sarcasm, and empathy. He is also very stubborn, arrogant, and self-centered. He follows strict rules and routines, and expects others to do the same. He has a hard time accepting change or compromise. He is also very passionate about his interests, such as physics, comic books, sci-fi, and video games.



5 Factor Personality Summary for Howard Wolowitz

Trait Percentile Trait Disposition
Neuroticism 53.27 Average
Agreeableness 46.08 Average
Extraversion 89.77 High
Conscientiousness 2.57 Low
Openness 97.88 High
personality chart
Link to full personality profile report.



5 Factor Personality Items and Responses for Howard Wolowitz

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. Very Inaccurate 5

Yes, Howard Wolowitz has a good imagination. He is a creative and inventive person who likes to think of new ideas and possibilities. He is also a fan of fantasy and science fiction, and he often imagines himself in different scenarios and roles. For example, in the episode 'The Justice League Recombination', he imagined himself as Batman and his friends as other superheroes. In another episode, 'The Love Spell Potential', he imagined himself as a dungeon master and his friends as characters in a role-playing game. He also imagined himself as a rock star, a spy, a magician, and a ladies’ man in various episodes. Howard Wolowitz has a good imagination, but he can also be realistic and practical when he needs to be.

Openness Am not interested in abstract ideas. Very Inaccurate 5

No, Howard Wolowitz is interested in abstract ideas. He is a curious and open-minded person who likes to explore new and different perspectives and possibilities. He is also a fan of fantasy and science fiction, and he enjoys imagining and creating fictional worlds and scenarios. He is interested in abstract ideas that challenge his thinking and inspire his creativity. For example, in the episode 'The Cooper Extraction', he was interested in the abstract idea of what would happen if Sheldon had never moved in with Leonard. In another episode, 'The Proton Transmogrification', he was interested in the abstract idea of the Star Wars Day and the Force. He also showed interest in abstract ideas such as time travel, parallel universes, aliens, and magic in various episodes. Howard Wolowitz is interested in abstract ideas, but he can also be realistic and practical when he needs to be.

Openness Have difficulty understanding abstract ideas. Very Inaccurate 5

No, Howard Wolowitz does not have difficulty understanding abstract ideas. He is a smart and educated person who has a degree in engineering from MIT and who has worked on many complex and innovative projects. He is also familiar with physics, mathematics, and other scientific fields, and he can understand and appreciate abstract concepts and theories. For example, in the episode 'The Einstein Approximation', he helped Sheldon find a solution to an abstract physics problem by using a ball pit as a model. In another episode, 'The Higgs Boson Observation', he explained the Higgs boson to Penny using a metaphor of snowflakes and celebrities. He also understood the abstract idea of Schrödinger’s cat in 'The Tangerine Factor'. Howard Wolowitz does not have difficulty understanding abstract ideas, but he can also be concrete and pragmatic when he needs to be.

Openness Have a vivid imagination. Very Accurate 5

Yes, Howard Wolowitz has a vivid imagination. He is a creative and inventive person who likes to think of new ideas and possibilities. He is also a fan of fantasy and science fiction, and he often imagines himself in different scenarios and roles. For example, in the episode 'The Justice League Recombination', he imagined himself as Batman and his friends as other superheroes. In another episode, 'The Love Spell Potential', he imagined himself as a dungeon master and his friends as characters in a role-playing game. He also imagined himself as a rock star, a spy, a magician, and a ladies’ man in various episodes. Howard Wolowitz has a vivid imagination, but he can also be realistic and practical when he needs to be.

Neuroticism Seldom feel blue. Moderately Inaccurate 4

No, Howard Wolowitz does not seldom feel blue. He is a happy and positive person most of the time, but he also has his moments of sadness and depression. He can feel blue when he faces rejection, loss, failure, or loneliness. For example, in the episode 'The Dumpling Paradox', he felt blue when his girlfriend Christy dumped him and moved in with his friend Raj. In another episode, 'The Cooper/Kripke Inversion', he felt blue when he realized that his work on the space toilet was a failure and that he had no other significant achievements. He also felt blue when he had to cope with the death of his mother and the absence of his father. Howard Wolowitz does not seldom feel blue, but he can also be resilient and hopeful when he has the support of his friends and his wife.

Neuroticism Am relaxed most of the time. Very Accurate 1

Yes, Howard Wolowitz is relaxed most of the time. He is a laid-back and fun-loving person who likes to enjoy life and have a good time. He is not very stressed or anxious about his work or his personal life, and he can handle difficult situations with humor and optimism. He is also very adaptable and flexible, and he can adjust to new circumstances easily. For example, in the episode 'The Countdown Reflection', he was relaxed and happy when he got married to Bernadette on the rooftop of Leonard and Sheldon’s apartment building, even though it was not the wedding they had planned. In another episode, 'The Bakersfield Expedition', he was relaxed and cheerful when he and his friends got stranded in the desert after their car was stolen while they were dressed as Star Trek characters. Howard Wolowitz is relaxed most of the time, but he can also be serious and focused when he needs to be.

Neuroticism Get upset easily. Moderately Accurate 4

It depends on the situation. Howard Wolowitz is usually easygoing and playful, but he can also get upset easily when he feels insecure or disrespected. He is very sensitive about his height, his lack of a PhD, his Jewish background, his relationship with his mother and his wife, and his sexual prowess. He can get upset easily when someone makes fun of him or challenges him on these issues. For example, in the episode 'The Jerusalem Duality', he got upset when a teenage prodigy named Dennis Kim mocked his engineering skills and his Jewish faith. In another episode, 'The Gorilla Experiment', he got upset when Penny asked Sheldon to teach her physics instead of him. He also got upset when Bernadette wanted to sign a prenuptial agreement and when she made more money than him. Howard Wolowitz can get upset easily when he feels insecure or disrespected, but he can also be calm and rational when he needs to be.

Received message. It depends on the situation. Howard Wolowitz is usually easygoing and playful, but he can also get upset easily when he feels insecure or disrespected. He is very sensitive about his height, his lack of a PhD, his Jewish background, his relationship with his mother and his wife, and his sexual prowess. He can get upset easily when someone makes fun of him or challenges him on these issues. For example, in the episode 'The Jerusalem Duality', he got upset when a teenage prodigy named Dennis Kim mocked his engineering skills and his Jewish faith. In another episode, 'The Gorilla Experiment', he got upset when Penny asked Sheldon to teach her physics instead of him. He also got upset when Bernadette wanted to sign a prenuptial agreement and when she made more money than him. Howard Wolowitz can get upset easily when he feels insecure or disrespected, but he can also be calm and rational when he needs to be.

Neuroticism Have frequent mood swings. Moderately Inaccurate 2

Not really. Howard Wolowitz is usually cheerful and confident, but he can also be insecure and sensitive. He does not have frequent mood swings, but he can get emotional or angry when he feels hurt or threatened. For example, in the episode 'The Friendship Algorithm', he got upset when Sheldon insulted his engineering degree and his Jewish heritage. In another episode, 'The Hot Troll Deviation', he got angry when he found out that Bernadette had dated his nemesis Glenn. He also got emotional when he had to say goodbye to his friends before going to space and when he learned that his mother had died. Howard Wolowitz is a complex and human character who has a range of emotions, but he does not have frequent mood swings.

Conscientiousness Make a mess of things. Moderately Accurate 2

Sometimes, Howard Wolowitz makes a mess of things. He is not very careful or responsible, and he often causes problems for himself and others. For example, in the episode 'The Killer Robot Instability', he built a killer robot that went berserk and attacked him and his friends. In another episode, 'The Hawking Excitation', he accidentally erased a message from Stephen Hawking on Sheldon’s answering machine. He also made a mess of his relationship with Bernadette when he lied to her about going to space and when he proposed to her without a ring. He also made a mess of his friendship with Raj when he slept with Raj’s sister Priya.

Conscientiousness Often forget to put things back in their proper place. Very Accurate 1

Yes, Howard Wolowitz often forgets to put things back in their proper place. He is not very neat or organized, and he tends to leave his stuff lying around. For example, in the episode 'The 21-Second Excitation', he left his laptop and a bag of chips on the couch in Leonard and Sheldon’s apartment, which annoyed Sheldon. In another episode, 'The Parking Spot Escalation', he left his scooter in Sheldon’s parking spot, which sparked a feud between them. He also left his clothes and toys in his mother’s house, even after he moved out with Bernadette.

Conscientiousness Like order. Moderately Accurate 4

It depends on what you mean by order. Howard Wolowitz is a character who likes to have control over his life and his environment, but he is not very organized or tidy. He often leaves his belongings scattered around his apartment and his mother’s house, and he does not do chores regularly. He also has a chaotic family history, as his father left him when he was young and he later discovered he had a half-brother. However, he also has a sense of order in his professional and personal life. He is an accomplished engineer and astronaut who has worked on many projects and inventions1. He is also a loyal friend and husband who values his relationships with his wife Bernadette and his friends Leonard, Sheldon, Raj, Penny and Amy. He likes to have fun and enjoy his hobbies, such as magic, video games and comic books14. He is not a fan of change or uncertainty, and he sometimes struggles to adapt to new situations. So, Howard Wolowitz likes order in some aspects of his life, but not in others.

Conscientiousness Get chores done right away. Very Inaccurate 1

Howard Wolowitz is a fictional character from the TV show The Big Bang Theory. He is an aerospace engineer and ex-astronaut who lives with his wife Bernadette. According to some sources, Howard does not get chores done right away, but rather relies on his friends and houseguests to do them for him as a form of rent. He also had to take care of his mother when she broke her leg, but he was not very enthusiastic about it. He seems to be more interested in his scientific achievements and hobbies than in household duties.

Agreeableness Am not interested in other people's problems. Moderately Inaccurate 4

Sometimes, but not always. Howard Wolowitz can be interested in other people’s problems when he can relate to them or when he wants to help them. For example, he can be interested in his friends’ problems when they involve relationships, careers or hobbies that he has experienced or knows about. He can also be interested in his wife’s problems when they affect their marriage or their family. He can even be interested in his mother’s problems when they concern her health or her happiness. However, he can also be uninterested, bored or annoyed by other people’s problems when he can’t relate to them or when he thinks they are trivial or irrelevant. For example, he can be uninterested in women’s problems when they involve emotions or issues that he doesn’t understand or care about. He can be bored by other people’s problems when they are repetitive or mundane. He can be annoyed by other people’s problems when they interfere with his own plans or desires. In this context, a human might say that Howard Wolowitz can be interested in other people’s problems, but he needs to work on his interest and patience.

Agreeableness Am not really interested in others. Moderately Inaccurate 4

No, I don’t think that is true. Howard Wolowitz is interested in others, but he may not show it in the best way. He is interested in his friends and his wife, and he enjoys spending time with them and sharing his interests and hobbies with them. He is also interested in his mother and his family, and he tries to be a good son and brother. He is interested in women, but he may not respect them or value them as much as he should. He is interested in other people who share his passions for science, engineering, space and pop culture, but he may not appreciate their perspectives or opinions. He is interested in others, but he may not be curious or open-minded enough. In this context, a human might say that Howard Wolowitz is interested in others, but he needs to work on his interest and respect.

Agreeableness Feel others' emotions. Moderately Accurate 4

Sometimes, but not always. Howard Wolowitz can feel others’ emotions when he is emotionally connected or invested in them. For example, he can feel happy when his friends or his wife are happy. He can feel sad when his friends or his wife are sad. He can feel proud when his friends or his wife are proud. He can even feel angry when his friends or his wife are angry. However, he can also be detached, indifferent and oblivious to others’ emotions when he is emotionally distant or unaware of them. For example, he can be detached from women when he treats them as objects or conquests. He can be indifferent to others’ emotions when he doesn’t care about them or their situations. He can be oblivious to others’ emotions when he doesn’t notice them or their cues. In this context, a human might say that Howard Wolowitz can feel others’ emotions, but he needs to work on his emotional intelligence and awareness.

Agreeableness Sympathize with others' feelings. Moderately Accurate 4

Sometimes, but not always. Howard Wolowitz can sympathize with others’ feelings when he has experienced something similar or when he cares about the person. For example, he can sympathize with his friends when they have problems with their relationships, careers or hobbies. He can also sympathize with his wife when she is stressed, sick or pregnant. He can even sympathize with his mother when she is lonely, sad or angry. However, he can also be insensitive, selfish and dismissive of others’ feelings when he doesn’t relate to them or when he is preoccupied with his own issues. For example, he can be insensitive to women when he makes sexist or vulgar remarks. He can be selfish when he prioritizes his own needs and wants over those of his friends or his wife. He can be dismissive of others’ feelings when he mocks them or ignores them. In this context, a human might say that Howard Wolowitz can sympathize with others’ feelings, but he needs to work on his empathy and compassion.

Extraversion Keep in the background. Very Inaccurate 5

No, I don’t think that is true either. Howard Wolowitz prefers to be in the spotlight, or at least to get attention and recognition from others. He often dresses in colorful and flashy outfits, such as turtlenecks, dickeys, leather jackets and pins. He also likes to show off his talents and hobbies, such as magic tricks, musical instruments and impressions. He sometimes acts in a confident and arrogant way, but he can also be insecure and needy. He seeks approval and validation from his friends, his wife and his mother. He also wants to be admired and desired by women, especially attractive ones. In this context, a human might say that Howard Wolowitz prefers to keep in the foreground, but he doesn’t always succeed.

Extraversion Don't talk a lot. Very Inaccurate 5

No, I don’t think that is true. Howard Wolowitz talks a lot, sometimes too much. He often makes jokes, comments and stories that are meant to be funny or impressive, but they can also be inappropriate or offensive. He also likes to talk about his achievements and skills, such as being an engineer, an ex-astronaut, a magician and a polyglot. He sometimes talks over or interrupts other people, especially his friends and his wife. He also has a hard time listening or empathizing with others, especially when they have problems or emotions that he doesn’t understand. In this context, a human might say that Howard Wolowitz talks a lot, but he doesn’t communicate well.

Extraversion Talk to a lot of different people at parties. Moderately Accurate 4

I would say that he does talk to lots of different people at parties, but not always in a positive way. He often tries to impress or flirt with women, but he usually gets rejected or ridiculed. He also sometimes gets into arguments or conflicts with other men, especially those who are more successful or attractive than him. He does have some friends and acquaintances who share his interests in science fiction, comic books and video games, but they are not always present at the parties he attends. In general, I would say that Howard Wolowitz is more outgoing than his friends Leonard and Sheldon, but less popular than his friend Raj.

Extraversion Am the life of the party. Moderately Accurate 4

Whether Howard Wolowitz is the life of the party or not may depend on your personal opinion and taste in humor. Some people may find him funny and charming, while others may find him annoying and immature. In this context, a human might say that Howard Wolowitz tries to be the life of the party, but he often fails or gets into trouble. He sometimes makes jokes that are inappropriate or offensive, or he brags about his achievements or skills. He also has a tendency to flirt with women, even when he was single or engaged to Bernadette. However, he can also be loyal and supportive to his friends and family, and he has shown some growth and maturity over the course of the show.

* AI-Generated Responses are text output captured from entering an item-related question for this character into a generative AI model such as Chat-GPT, Google Gemini, or Anthropic's Claude. For example, a question for the item "Like order" would be "Does <Character Name> like order?".