As Similar as They Were, Here's Why Amy and Sheldon's Arcs on TBBT Were So Different

Summary

• Both Sheldon and Amy were very socially awkward in the early seasons of TBBT.
• Despite their similarities, the characters were created differently.
• Their different approaches to socialization may play a role in their different journeys.

Throughout TBBT's twelve-season run, the gang of socially awkward CalTech scientists and their friends won over millions of viewers around the world with their memorable personalities and amusing antics. But the most memorable character of all was undoubtedly Dr. Sheldon Cooper. So much so that he got his own spin-off, Young Sheldon, which ended in May after seven seasons on the air.

At the same time, it is strange that of all the characters, Sheldon was the ultimate fan favorite. He was mean, self-centered, arrogant, and looked down on everyone around him. He also lacked social skills. So did his girlfriend Amy. However, she quickly became more polite and social over time – to the point of teaching Sheldon how to behave. And this difference in character arcs has a pretty simple explanation.

Wired Differently

Thanks to his friends, however, Sheldon became more sociable over time, transforming from an insufferable know-it-all to a quirky but fun friend and husband. However, his transformation took the entire twelve seasons of The Big Bang Theory. Meanwhile, Amy, who was introduced in Season 3, turned into an outgoing and affable young woman almost in the blink of an eye. And the reason may be in their brains, which is so ironic considering Dr. Fowler was a neurobiologist.

It's no exaggeration to say that Sheldon was special. Although it wasn't stated on either TBBT or Young Sheldon, Dr. Cooper was believed to be autistic, which led to his lack of understanding of the intricacies of social structure and human relationships. In turn, Amy simply didn't have much social contact to learn the rules of the game. Once she made friends with the gang – especially Penny – she quickly refined her social game.

Personal Commitment to the Goal

The other important factor was the different perspectives Amy and Sheldon had on socialization. From Young Sheldon, we know that Dr. Cooper was always free to act and behave as he pleased. Although his mother, Mary, wanted him to have friends, she never forced him to make any.

Amy, however, didn't have that freedom. Her mother made her concentrate on achieving high grades in science, which left no time for making friends. As a result, socialization became a forbidden fruit that Amy craved, while Sheldon didn't see anything special in having friends in his life, so he never bothered to make them. So as soon as Amy got the opportunity to be friends with someone, she grabbed it and never let go, while Sheldon had to be gradually trained to be more sociable.