SpongeBob SquarePants: behavioral analysis of the characters

George Alvarez 12-10-2023
George Alvarez

Do you like cartoons? Even if you are not a super fan, you probably watched some in your childhood. After all, some drawings represent reality in a playful way With this in mind, we thought it would be interesting to bring you a behavioral analysis of the characters in SpongeBob .

Are you ready, children? We are ready, Captain! So, let's get to this article.

See_also: Ethnocentrism: definition, meaning, and examples

SpongeBob

But before we do the analysis itself, let's quickly talk about who is SpongeBob .

SpongeBob SquarePants is the original name of the one we know as Sponge Bob Square Pants However, we refer to him simply as SpongeBob. He is the main character in an American animated series which was created by marine biologist and animator Stephen Hillenburg, and is shown on Nickelodeon's closed circuit TV channel.

Many of the ideas in the series originated in an educational comic book, Hillenburg's original, entitled The Intertidal Zone It had been created by Hillenburg in the mid-1980s, but it was not until 1996 that the author began to develop the animated series.

The animation had originally been named SpongeBoy and was tentatively titled SpongeBoy Ahoy! However, these titles were changed and the current name of the series that was eventually registered.

As far as the central plot of the story is concerned, the adventures and development of the title character are narrated. However, not only his life is addressed, but also that of his many friends in the fictional underwater city of Bikini Bottom or, for us, the Bikini Slit.

Despite having a super simple storyline, the series has achieved enormous levels of recognition. This is in addition to, of course, to have made thousands of dollars from the production and products of the series However, how did so many people come to identify with the life of a sea sponge?

Behavior Analysis in SpongeBob SquarePants

Model recognition and learning

It is worth saying that the problems that appear for the characters in the series are identifiable. That is, they can occur in the everyday life of any child For example: insomnia, guilt, being faced with a new situation, inconvenience, not knowing how to write, and being criticized.

This is the great asset of cartoons: the child can recognize himself Thus, in SpongeBob adversity can serve as a model for the discussion on how to solve problems.

Breaking of social rules

Often the design shows the breaking of social rules.

In this context, it is worth mentioning that the use of money appears a lot, especially linked to the character Siriguejo. To earn more, the character even "sells his soul" in the episode entitled "money talks". In other episodes, he accepts bribes from customers. That is, it goes against social moral rules .

In contrast, SpongeBob always shows a pattern of detached behavior with regard to money .

Social values

The design was conceived in the USA and by Americans. Thus, it is not surprising that the design also conveys many Western social values These values, in turn, are portrayed through cultural practices contextualized in the social cycle of design.

Among these values we can observe some examples such as: the appreciation of friendship (in almost every episode SpongeBob emphasizes the value of friendship with Patrick and Sandy) and the attachment to animals (SpongeBob has a pet - Gary - and takes very good care of him).

Representation of the characters' feelings

In the drawing we see how the feelings of the characters are explored For example, Plankton (the character who wants to steal the secret formula for the crab burger) is jealous of Mr. Grumpy. Spongebob, on the other hand shows guilt when he cannot please someone .

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Analysis of the characters in relation to the "capital sins

Now let's talk about the characters' behaviors. After all, the drawing revolves around SpongeBob but there are other key figures in the plot These characters are: Patrick Star, Squid Tentacles, Sandy Cheeks, Mr. Grumpy, Plankton, and Gary.

Read Also: Movie The Monster House: film and character analysis

Knowing that, There are theories that analyze the characters from a capital sins perspective. Even if you don't see these sins as a determining factor, it is interesting to see how the behaviors are analyzed That is why we have brought this analysis to you.

Laziness - Patrick Estrela

Laziness overpowers people's bodies and prevents them from performing daily tasks Moreover, even when she does not do this, she makes the tasks performed sloppily and slowly. In this context, Patrick's character knows this to be true.

He leads a life without the slightest commitment and often gets thrown into the sand. He even won a contest to see who could do "nothing" for the longest time. .

Ira - Squid Tentacles

The Mollusk Squid can be defined as a pit of bad humor However, there is no way to say that all his accumulated anger is not justified. After all, he feels surrounded by idiots who don't understand his worldview and still get in his way.

Superb - Sandy Cheeks

Sandy's routine is full of good habits, which is why she is always taking care of her physical shape, and is proud of it. But she is not only proud of this .

She is proud that she came from Texas, that she is a mammal, and that she can survive at the bottom of the sea. It is evident all his concern for his "status" and the slight contempt he feels for the other animals After all, she thinks she is superior for the things she does and for who she is.

Avarice - Mr. Siriguejo

As we said, Siriquejo has an absurd thirst for money For him, any penny he has to spend is already a pity. The suffering is made worse by his daughter Pearl, an over-consuming whale who spends all her money.

See_also: To Dream of a Door: 7 key interpretations

Envy - Plankton

Plankton is the owner of the failed restaurant called Bucket of Garbage. As a result of his failure, he envies the success of Seu Siriguejo. Consequently, his life comes down to stealing the precious crab burger formula.

Gluttony - Gary

In the drawing, the SpongeBob always lets out the phrase: "I have to feed Gary" or "I can't forget to feed Gary". Usually, the snail appears eating something, and this something can be anything. He is incessant and has a low level of demand when it comes to feeding himself.

Lust - Spongebob Squarepants

We commonly link lust to carnal issues, however, the definition of the word itself is: "excessive love for others".

Well, if you watch the cartoon, you know that this sums up SpongeBob completely.

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We say this because he has a habit of helping each and every person, regardless of the situation. Including whether the person wants help or not Sometimes he leaves his things aside to help a friend or even a stranger.

Final comments about the SpongeBob SquarePants characters

There is a lot to analyze about cartoons. In this context, do you agree with our analysis of the SpongeBob Have you thought about the topics we have discussed above or seen different things? Tell us about it!

Finally, if you want to know more about how designs like SpongeBob and the media can interfere in our behaviors, get to know our online Clinical Psychoanalysis course, in which we talk about psychoanalysis and behavioral attitudes. after its conclusion you will be able to practice as a psychoanalyst Check it out!

George Alvarez

George Alvarez is a renowned psychoanalyst who has been practicing for over 20 years and is highly regarded in the field. He is a sought-after speaker and has conducted numerous workshops and training programs on psychoanalysis for professionals in the mental health industry. George is also an accomplished writer and has authored several books on psychoanalysis that have received critical acclaim. George Alvarez is dedicated to sharing his knowledge and expertise with others and has created a popular blog on Online Training Course in Psychoanalysis that is widely followed by mental health professionals and students around the world. His blog provides a comprehensive training course that covers all aspects of psychoanalysis, from theory to practical applications. George is passionate about helping others and is committed to making a positive difference in the lives of his clients and students.