“Big Five Personality Traits and Behavioral Motives: A Psychological Character Analysis of ‘Money Heist (2017)’Series”

Abstract

This study examines the psychological profiling of characters in the first heist of the critically acclaimed series ‘Money Heist’ (La Casa de Papel) using the Big Five personality traits model—openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. By analyzing the behaviors, decision-making patterns, and interpersonal dynamics of central characters such as the Professor, Tokyo, Berlin, Nairobi, Denver, Raquel, Monica, and Arturo, the research explores the influence of psychological traits on narrative development and audience engagement. The study also highlights the significant role of past experiences in shaping present behaviors, as exemplified by the Professor’s disciplined approach resulting from his father’s failed heist and Tokyo’s impulsive actions stemming from personal trauma. Through a qualitative content analysis, the research applies the Big Five framework to systematically categorize character traits, offering insights into how psychological dimensions enhance the realism and complexity of character arcs. The research concludes that psychological profiling not only enriches the narrative structure but also deepens audience engagement by creating relatable and multidimensional characters. Future research could expand on this foundation by exploring character psychology in subsequent heists and investigating the audience’s emotional and cognitive responses to these portrayals.