The Psychology of Chandler Bing: Could He BE Any Funnier?

By James Carder-Geddes 

Hi, I'm Chandler. I make jokes when I'm uncomfortable. (‘The One with the Proposal,’ Season 6, Ep. 24) 

Chandler Muriel Bing is perhaps the greatest TV creation of all time. The minds behind this comic genius are David Crane and Marta Kauffman, who created the world-renowned TV sitcom, Friends. Whilst the authors were responsible for the initial creation of the character, there’s only one person responsible for bringing Chandler to life: Matthew Perry.  

In an interview, Perry revealed that he auditioned for the part of Chandler Bing because it sounded a lot like himself: ‘It wasn't that I thought I could play Chandler; I was Chandler.’ His creators, Kauffman and Crane, hugely agreed: ‘From the day we first heard him embody the role of Chandler Bing, there was no one else for us. He was always the funniest in the room. More than that, he was the sweetest, with a giving and selfless heart.’ 

In Perry’s early life, we can already see his similarities to Chandler. Just like Chandler, Perry’s parents divorced, resulting in a traumatic fallout that affected him for the rest of his life. Perry’s autobiography, Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing, shares these details openly, describing how the event contributed to his later struggles with addiction. 

In Friends, Phoebe’s boyfriend therapist uncovers that Chandler’s comedy is a defence mechanism, as it deflects attention from his intimacy issues. Devised by Freud, defence mechanisms are tied to preservation of the ego: as such, Chandler uses intellectualisation, projection, and denial to protect his pride. For example, the first time Chandler tells Monica, whose head is stuck in a turkey, that he loves her in ‘The One with All the Thanksgivings,’ Season 5 Ep. 8, Chandler immediately stops himself and denies having said anything. Chandler admits that this mechanism originated in childhood: when he was nine years old, Chandler’s parents divorced. Following this, Chandler fails to sustain a meaningful connection with his mother, erotica writer Nora Tyler, and his father Charles, who is later introduced as drag artist Helena Handbasket. 

It is equally interesting to study Chandler’s character through the lens of attachment styles, a model theorised by John Bowlby, Mary Ainsworth, Cindy Hazan, and Phillip Shaver. Throughout the series, Chandler displays an anxious­-ambivalent attachment style. As a result of his parents’ (especially his father’s) instability and lack of communication, Chandler develops self-models of doubt, insecurity, and uncertainty. Although it is not always obvious, Chandler is often anxious about what others think of him. In ‘The One with Joey's Award’ (Season 7, Ep. 18), Chandler admits, ‘When I first meet somebody, it's usually panic, anxiety, and a great deal of sweating.’ He attempts to act lonely, an expression of his unconscious craving for social contact. Chandler’s desire for affection and love displays a much gentler aspect to his character, with which the audience instantly sympathizes. 

Another interesting psychological lens through which to examine Chandler’s character is Alfred Adler’s ‘inferiority complex.’ Consistently, Chandler feels inadequate in comparison to his friends, which is behind many of his comedically self-deprecating remarks. Chandler’s sense of not being enough, displayed by his lack of confidence, leads to an inability to form romantic relationships. In his own words, Chandler is ‘hopeless and awkward and desperate for love’ (‘The One with the Metaphorical Tunnel,’ Season 3, Ep. 4). Can you hear the brilliant beat of that line? 

The only remedy for this feeling of inadequacy is Monica. Monica is a symbol of stability and certainty for Chandler, proving that he is worthy of romantic love. Although Monica and Chandler’s fling in ‘The One with Ross' Wedding’ (Season 4, Ep. 24) was originally written as a passing plot point, the studio audience reacted so positively that the show’s writers developed it into one of the most successful relationships on the show. By Season 10, Ep. 9, ‘The One with the Birth Mother,’ which follows the couple's adoption process, Chandler says the following about Monica: 

My wife’s an incredible woman. She is loving, devoted and caring … I love my wife more than anything in this world and it kills me that I can’t give her a baby. I really want a kid. And when that day finally comes, I’ll learn how to be a good dad, but my wife, she’s already there. She’s a mother without a baby. 

In contrast, the character of Janice is a symbol of hopelessness for Chandler, which he quicky realises. Trait theorists would say that his clinging to Janice is a direct result of his anxiety to meet new people. Other symptoms caused by his unstable childhood include his distrustful nature, as shown with his suspicion of his girlfriend, Cathy, whom he believes to be cheating on him in ‘The One with Rachel's Crush,’ Season 4 Ep. 13. A quote that sums up his response to romance very well appears in ‘The One with the Tea Leaves’: ‘Until I was 25, I thought that the only response to "I love you" was "Oh, crap!"’ (Season 8 Ep. 17). 

For an audience to enjoy Chandler’s comedy, they must be able to relate to him. Chandler’s character is realistic, in that he is not perfect, yet is always willing to learn from his mistakes. His random acts of kindness range from his financial support to Joey to his emotional support for Ross and Rachel to his heart-warming care for Monica. But the main thing that sets Chandler apart is that in all 236 episodes, he is the one character who invariably tells jokes… or is the joke.  

Chandler’s comedy is also hugely tied to his delivery— most notably, to his characteristic emphases in sentences. In interviews, Perry states that this delivery style originated on the playground with his school friends, where he experimented with placing emphasis on new words in the sentences. This practice caught on and became part of Chandler’s iconic speech patterns. Characters in Friends often imitate this— the most memorable example is by Joey in ‘The One Where No One's Ready’ (Season 3, Ep. 2), where he asks, ‘Could I be wearing any more clothes?’ 

Overwhelmingly, Chandler’s humour is characterised by his sardonic wit. He mocks others without being malicious and sarcastically comments on situations. This is often paired with slapstick comedy, such as when he falls behind the sofa after discussing the topic of marriage in ‘The One with The Birth,’ Season 1, Ep. 23: ‘Dear God, this parachute is a knapsack!’ or in his characteristic victory dance, paired the signature phrase, ‘Whoopah!’ 

The most comprehensive list of Chandler witticisms, jokes, and one-liners that I have found is the IMDb page on Chandler Bing. This list is, quite literally, in the thousands. However, to finish this article, I’ll leave you with just a few of my personal favourites, which highlight Chandler as the deeply insecure, yet hilarious favourite of Friends. Feel free to stick them up on your fridge, put them on a poster, and use them liberally – let's keep Matthew Perry alive in our hearts! 

Joanna (Rachel's boss): Bing? That's a great name. 

Chandler: Thanks. It's Gaelic for ‘Thy turkey is done.’ 

Ross: What am I gonna do? I mean, this, this is like a complete nightmare. 

Chandler: Oh, I know, this must be so hard. ‘Oh no, two women love me. They're both gorgeous and sexy.

My wallet's too small for my fifties AND MY DIAMOND SHOES ARE TOO TIGHT!’ 

Ross: No no, Homo Habilis was erect. Australopithecus was never fully erect. 

Chandler: Well, maybe he was nervous.

Chandler: Because we love kids. Love them to death. Well, not actually to death.

That's just a figure of speech. We love kids the appropriate amount... as allowed by law. 

Monica: I think I'd be great in a war. I'd, like, get all the medals. 

Chandler: Before or after you're executed by your own troops? 

Monica: Whose little ball of paper is this? 

Chandler: Oh, it's mine. I wrote a note to myself, and then I realized I didn't need it, so I balled it up... 

[notices Monica's angry glare]  

Chandler: And now I wish I was dead.  

Chandler: I'm not great at the advice, can I interest you in a sarcastic comment? 

And these ones for their sheer absurdity: 

Rachel: Guess what, guess what, guess what! 

Chandler: Um, ok. The fifth dentist caved and now they're all recommending Trident? 

Chandler: Why yes Ross. Pressing my third nipple opens the delivery entrance to the magical land of Narnia. 

Joey: Hey. Shaving? 

Chandler: No, rabies. 

Chandler: Oh, that's great, with my luck, that's gonna be him. 

Phoebe: Him? Him Ross? 

Chandler: No. Hymn 253, His Eyes Are on The Sparrow! 

Cover Photo Credit: Literary Hub