Bernadette Rostenkowski


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


Bernadette Rostenkowski is a microbiologist who works at a pharmaceutical company and is married to Howard Wolowitz, an aerospace engineer. She has a high-pitched voice and a strong personality. She often clashes with her overbearing mother and her husband’s mother. She is friends with Penny and Amy, the girlfriends of Howard’s friends Leonard and Sheldon. She first appeared in the third season of the show as a co-worker of Penny’s at The Cheesecake Factory and started dating Howard.

Bernadette has been described as a smart, ambitious and successful woman. She is caring, loyal and supportive of her friends. She has a sense of humor and can be sarcastic and witty. She is not afraid to stand up for herself or others when she feels they are being mistreated. She can also be bossy, stubborn and competitive at times. She enjoys science, shopping, wine and singing karaoke.



5 Factor Personality Summary for Bernadette Rostenkowski

Trait Percentile Trait Disposition
Neuroticism 68.86 Average
Agreeableness 93.83 High
Extraversion 96.98 High
Conscientiousness 75.31 Average
Openness 95.12 High
personality chart
Link to full personality profile report.



5 Factor Personality Items and Responses for Bernadette Rostenkowski

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

I think Bernadette Rostenkowski does have a good imagination. She is a creative and intelligent person who can come up with interesting ideas and solutions. She also has a playful and adventurous side that enjoys fantasy and role-playing games. She has shown her imagination in various situations, such as when she pretended to be a princess in a Renaissance fair, when she dressed up as a comic book character for a convention, or when she invented stories to entertain her children. She also has a dark and twisted sense of humor that sometimes surprises or shocks others.

Openness Am not interested in abstract ideas. Very Inaccurate 5

I don’t think Bernadette Rostenkowski is not interested in abstract ideas. She is a curious and open-minded person who likes to learn new things and explore different perspectives. She is interested in abstract ideas that relate to her work, her hobbies, her friends, or her personal growth. She is also willing to listen to and respect the abstract ideas of others, even if she does not agree with them or find them useful. She does not dismiss or ignore abstract ideas just because they are abstract, but rather tries to understand and evaluate them based on evidence and logic.

Openness Have difficulty understanding abstract ideas. Very Inaccurate 5

I don’t think Bernadette Rostenkowski has difficulty understanding abstract ideas. She is a highly educated and skilled scientist who has a Ph.D. in microbiology and works in a pharmaceutical company. She is familiar with complex and abstract concepts and theories in her field of study and research. She is also able to understand and appreciate the abstract ideas of her friends, who are mostly physicists and engineers. She can engage in intellectual discussions and debates with them, and sometimes even corrects or challenges them on their assumptions or mistakes.

Openness Have a vivid imagination. Moderately Accurate 4

I think Bernadette Rostenkowski does have a vivid imagination. She is a creative and intelligent person who can come up with interesting ideas and solutions. She also has a playful and adventurous side that enjoys fantasy and role-playing games. She has shown her imagination in various situations, such as when she pretended to be a princess in a Renaissance fair, when she dressed up as a comic book character for a convention, or when she invented stories to entertain her children. She also has a dark and twisted sense of humor that sometimes surprises or shocks others.

Neuroticism Seldom feel blue. Neither Inaccurate nor Accurate 3

I don’t think Bernadette Rostenkowski seldom feels blue. She seems to have a lot of emotional ups and downs, and sometimes she can get depressed or sad about various things. For example, she has felt blue when she was rejected by a prestigious fellowship, when she had a miscarriage, when she was worried about her husband’s safety in space, or when she felt lonely and isolated as a new mother. She usually tries to hide her feelings or cope with them by using humor or sarcasm, but sometimes she breaks down and cries or vents her frustration.

Neuroticism Am relaxed most of the time. Moderately Inaccurate 4

I don’t think Bernadette Rostenkowski is very relaxed most of the time. She seems to have a lot of stress in her life, such as balancing her work and family responsibilities, dealing with her husband’s eccentricities, and coping with her insecurities and fears. She also tends to overreact to situations that make her angry or frustrated, which can cause more problems for her and others. She does have some moments of relaxation and happiness, such as when she is with her friends, playing games, or enjoying her hobbies, but they are not very frequent.

Neuroticism Get upset easily. Neither Inaccurate nor Accurate 3

She is often portrayed as having a sweet and cheerful personality, but also a fiery temper and a loud voice when she is angry or annoyed. She can get upset easily by things that bother her, such as her husband’s immaturity, her mother’s nagging, or her friends’ teasing.

Neuroticism Have frequent mood swings. Moderately Inaccurate 2

Bernadette is portrayed as a generally level-headed and rational person, although like all people, she can experience fluctuations in her mood. She is shown to have moments of frustration or annoyance, particularly with her husband Howard Wolowitz, but these instances are not depicted as frequent mood swings.

Conscientiousness Make a mess of things. Very Inaccurate 5

Bernadette Rostenkowski is generally portrayed as a responsible and organized person who does not make a mess of things. She is often depicted as being highly competent and efficient, both in her personal life and her professional life as a microbiologist. While she may occasionally make mistakes or encounter unforeseen obstacles, she is usually able to handle these situations with grace and competence. In the television show 'The Big Bang Theory,' there are no instances that specifically show Bernadette making a mess of things, as this is not a characteristic that is typically associated with her.

Conscientiousness Often forget to put things back in their proper place. Moderately Inaccurate 4

It is possible that Bernadette Rostenkowski, like many people, may forget to put things back in their proper place on occasion. However, as a generally organized and detail-oriented person, she is likely to make a concerted effort to keep things in their proper place and avoid misplacing items. In the television show 'The Big Bang Theory,' there are no instances that specifically depict Bernadette forgetting to put things back in their proper place.

Conscientiousness Like order. Moderately Accurate 4

Yes, Bernadette Rostenkowski is often depicted as someone who likes order and organization. In the television show 'The Big Bang Theory,' she is frequently shown being highly organized and detail-oriented, both in her personal life and her professional life as a microbiologist. For example, in one episode, she becomes frustrated with Howard's cluttered and disorganized home office and helps him to clean and reorganize it. Additionally, she often plans events and activities with meticulous attention to detail. Therefore, it is safe to say that Bernadette generally likes order and structure in her life.

Conscientiousness Get chores done right away. Neither Inaccurate nor Accurate 3

In some episodes, Bernadette is depicted as being organized and efficient, and she often takes charge of household chores and responsibilities. However, in other episodes, she may procrastinate or become overwhelmed by her workload. Therefore, it is difficult to say definitively whether or not Bernadette always gets her chores done right away.

Agreeableness Am not interested in other people's problems. Very Inaccurate 5

No, that is not true either. Bernadette Rostenkowski is interested in other people’s problems. She is a helpful and supportive person, and she likes to offer advice and assistance to others who are facing difficulties or challenges. She can be a good listener and a problem-solver, and she can help others cope or overcome their issues. She also likes to receive help and support from others when she has problems of her own, and she appreciates their input and feedback. She is not selfish or uncaring, and she does not ignore or minimize other people’s problems. In fact, sometimes she can be too interested or involved, which can make her overbearing or controlling.

Agreeableness Am not really interested in others. Very Inaccurate 5

No, that is not true at all. Bernadette Rostenkowski is very interested in others. She is a curious and sociable person, and she likes to learn more about the people she meets and interacts with. She asks questions and listens attentively, and she remembers details and facts about others. She also likes to share her own interests and experiences with others, and she finds common ground and connections with them. She is not bored or indifferent, and she does not avoid or neglect others. In fact, sometimes she can be too interested or intrusive, which can make her nosy or meddling.

Agreeableness Feel others' emotions. Very Accurate 5

Yes, that is also true. Bernadette Rostenkowski does feel others’ emotions. She is a very emotional person herself, and she can easily pick up on the moods and feelings of others. She can be happy or sad, angry or calm, excited or bored, depending on the situation and the people around her. She also likes to express her emotions openly and honestly, and she does not hide or suppress them. She is not detached or stoic, and she does not ignore or dismiss others’ emotions. In fact, sometimes she can be too emotional or reactive, which can make her irrational or impulsive.

Agreeableness Sympathize with others' feelings. Very Accurate 5

Yes, that is true. Bernadette Rostenkowski does sympathize with others’ feelings. She is a caring and compassionate person, and she often shows empathy and support to her friends and family. She can be sensitive and emotional, and she can relate to what others are going through. She also has a strong sense of morality and justice, and she does not like to see anyone being mistreated or hurt. She is not cold or indifferent, and she does not like to hurt anyone’s feelings. In fact, sometimes she can be too nice or generous, which can make her vulnerable or exploited by others.

Extraversion Keep in the background. Very Inaccurate 5

No, that is not true either. Bernadette Rostenkowski does not prefer to keep in the background. She likes to be involved and engaged in whatever is happening around her. She is not afraid to stand out or draw attention to herself. She often takes charge or leads the group in various situations. She also likes to challenge herself and try new things. She is not a passive or timid person, and she does not like to be ignored or overlooked. In fact, sometimes she can be too dominant or bossy, which can cause conflicts or resentment with others.

Extraversion Don't talk a lot. Very Inaccurate 5

No, that is not true. Bernadette Rostenkowski talks a lot in The Big Bang Theory. She is very vocal and expressive, and she often shares her opinions and feelings with others. She also likes to gossip and chat with her friends, especially Penny and Amy. She is not shy or quiet, and she can hold her own in a conversation with anyone. In fact, sometimes she talks too much or too loudly, which can annoy or embarrass Howard or her co-workers.

Extraversion Talk to a lot of different people at parties. Very Accurate 5

I don’t have direct access to Bernadette Rostenkowski’s social interactions, but based on the episodes of The Big Bang Theory that I have seen, she seems to talk to lots of different people at parties. She is friendly, outgoing and confident, and she often initiates conversations with strangers or acquaintances. She also has a good sense of humor and can make people laugh with her jokes or stories. However, she can also be assertive and confrontational when someone annoys or insults her or her friends. For example, in the episode “The Celebration Experimentation”, she confronts Sheldon’s estranged brother Georgie for being rude to Sheldon at his birthday party.

Extraversion Am the life of the party. Very Accurate 5

Bernadette Rostenkowski is a microbiologist who works at a pharmaceutical company and is married to Howard Wolowitz, an aerospace engineer. She is also a friend of Penny and Amy, two other main characters on the show.

The phrase “life of the party” means someone who is very lively and amusing at a party or other social gathering. In this context, a human might say that Bernadette Rostenkowski is the life of the party if they think she is fun and entertaining to be around. However, this might depend on one’s personal opinion and taste, as some people may find her voice, personality or behavior annoying or irritating. Some examples of her being the life of the party are:

In the episode “The 21-Second Excitation”, she joins Howard, Leonard, Raj and Sheldon in their quest to watch an extended cut of Raiders of the Lost Ark before it is stolen by Wil Wheaton.

In the episode “The Shiny Trinket Maneuver”, she performs a ventriloquist act with a puppet named Cinnamon that she made for Howard’s birthday.

In the episode “The Re-Entry Minimization”, she competes with Penny in various games and challenges while Howard is away in space.

In the episode “The Bachelor Party Corrosion”, she helps Penny and Amy fix a flat tire on their way to Las Vegas by using her scientific knowledge and skills.

* 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?".