MBTI Type: ESTP

Billy deals with his abusive problems at home by becoming the most aggressive, macho, thrill-seeking dude he can; by over-drinking, by proving himself with his fists (calmly both delivering and taking beatings), by taunting others on their physical strength and prowess, by becoming aggressive on the basketball court, and by almost running down his sister’s friends in his slick, fast car just to prove a point. His inferior Ni shows in his inability to think about the long-term consequences of any of his actions, including mouthing off to his violent, abusive father when Max goes missing. He knows how to get what he wants from people, by threatening to or appealing to their emotions; he keeps Max intimidated and scared, and he constantly pushes Steve whenever they meet, in an attempt to get him emotional so he will react; his own desperate need for respect and to be admired shows in his resentment toward Steve’s natural popularity (“I hear you used to be the man to beat in this town”). Billy turns on and off the charm, easily able to tell what women like to hear (“My sister is missing and, to be honest with you, I’m worried sick”), but all of those emotions are superficial and calculated to target other people’s weaknesses; he deals with his abuse by lashing out, and trying to scare people into obedience.

Enneagram: 8w7 sx/so

Billy is an unhealthy eight in that he is forever attempting to seek autonomy by dominating those weaker than himself; he bullies his stepsister and only backs off when she threatens to beat him up with a nail-studded baseball bat, in one instance, driving kids off the road on their bikes to scare her and get her to do what he wants (which is to tell him the truth, and not be friends with certain of her classmates). He is bullied and cowed by his father, another abusive 8, but eventually proves himself heroic, when he chooses to stand up to the Flayer and save Eleven from being destroyed by it (causing his own death in the process). He enjoys beating up Steve as a power trip, but also challenging him in the school gym and pushing him to ‘prove himself’ to be “King” Steve. He’s frustrated by moving to a small town in the middle of nowhere, because it limits his opinions for pleasure-seeking. He wastes no time in finding a job that allows him to interact with all the hot women in town — as a lifeguard at the pool. In flashbacks, we see young Billy as excited by the high waves and adventures he is having at the beach, and with his mother. He runs away to avoid his feelings and the abuse his father deals out, by abusing other people.