Psychology of Homer Simpson

Homer Jay Simpson, the patriarch of the Simpson household on the Fox series "The Simpsons" is a childish, lazy man, whose hobbies include eating donuts, drinking Duff Beer, watching television, and sleeping. A victim of the "Simpsons gene" which allows for only Simpson women to possess the trait of intelligence, Homer is unfortunately as "dumb as a chimp" according to his father, Abe Simpson. However, it is mainly through the analysis of his simplistic thoughts and nature, that one can gain a real perspective on Homer's complex personality.

Spending most of his time in high school smoking, drinking beer, and getting into trouble, (He even met his wife, Marge, while serving detention.) Homer's lack of motivation for achievement grew with him into adulthood. The fat, balding character ends up working in Sector 7G of the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant, where he holds the record for most years worked at an entry level position. Even in the opening credits of the show, he is seen negligently tossing aside radioactive waste as the whistle blows to end the workday. In addition to his laziness at work, his sloth is also displayed in his free time where he is seen either lounging on his couch while indulging in donuts and watching anything that comes on television or drinking at Moe's Tavern with his lifelong friends, Barney, Carl, Lenny, and Moe.

Homer's mind operates in terms of Freud's "pleasure principle", seeking instant gratification of desires, regardless of the consequences. This is seen not only in Homer's weight, which is somewhere between 250 and 300 pounds, but especially in how Homer reacts to food with drooling and exuberant postures. Statements such as "Mmm... 64 slices of American cheese." and "Mmm...reprocessed pig fat." are pure id and reveal Homer's gluttony at its best.

Although Homer fully enjoys donuts and beer, he also uses them as defense mechanisms to make him feel better about his family's very average lifestyle. In one episode, he stated, "Beer. Now there's a temporary solution," and in another, "To alcohol, the cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems." Homer's laziness is also seen as a way of repressing his problems. His philosophy basically embraces the idea that if effort is required in doing anything, it's a waste of time. When talking to his own