Have you ever noticed the similarities between the characters in Modern Family and Friends? If you look closely at Claire and Monica, they could practically be the same person. Both women are perfectionists, highly competitive, and are organized.
If you can relate to some of these traits, you may be categorized as having a Type A personality — which is traditionally associated with someone who is deemed a “workaholic.” However, if you had to choose between Monica and Claire, who would you deem to be more Type A? Keep reading to discover the five reasons Monica is more Type A and five why Claire is.
Monica: Perfectionist
Out of Monica and Claire, Monica is seen to be more of a perfectionist than Claire. While Claire can notice little details, such as the broken step on the staircase or the chip on the picture frame, it doesn’t affect her life as much as Monica’s.
Remember when Chandler cleaned the apartment and Monica noticed straight away that everything was wrong — including the arrangements of magnets on the fridge? Or how she divides her bathroom towels into eleven different categories? Let’s not forget her need to keep their wedding china clean because she fears they could be ruined.
Claire: Ambitious
Claire can be seen to be more ambitious than Monica as fans have seen Mrs. Dunphy challenge herself with difficult tasks. In “Flip Flop,” the viewer watches as she and Cam successfully sell a house they had renovated and in “Election Day,” Claire tries to run for council.
She becomes CEO of Closets, Closets, Closets by Season 7 after working at the company for three years. Say what you will about Claire’s character, but you cannot help but admire her sheer determination to get things done, and respect how high she dreams.
Monica: Her Competitiveness
Another defining characteristic of an individual having a Type A personality is that they can be very competitive. Compared to Monica’s competitive nature, Claire appears to be healthy. She’s not afraid to let go during game nights, and she doesn’t care about the rules.
However, Monica has stated she becomes a different person when she engages in a game. The first time fans saw this was in “The One With All The Poker” when she became aggressive in a game of Pictionary. It was also demonstrated in “The One With The Football Game” when Ross and Monica went head-to-head for the Geller Cup. If you have seen these episodes, you’ll know she is far more competitive than Claire.
Claire: Impatient
Out of the two women, Claire is the one who appears to be the most impatient. As many people know, Claire doesn’t like time-wasting — especially if she has something to do. If she has errands to run, fans would often see her refusing to attend family events. She will even go out of her way to avoid driving her own kids to their extracurriculars because she thinks it’s a waste of time.
Let’s not forget how neurotic she appeared in “Family Portrait” when everyone turned up late to Jay’s house and almost ruined the family’s picture. The only time Friends fans saw Monica’s impatience was when it came to unwrapping the wedding presents — which was out of excitement.
Monica: Controlling
Although both women have a strong need to control situations, Monica just beats Claire because of how she tries to control entertaining situations. In “The One with Two Parties,” Monica ended up ruining one birthday party when she kept trying to enforce rules and police the event.
She did it again in “The One with The Kips” when she scolded Phoebe for not following the rules. And let’s not forget how domineering she became when organizing Phoebe’s wedding, and how she almost ruined the dinner rehearsal with her time-managing. All these moments can illustrate a Type A persona.
Claire: Workaholic
One of the primary traits of someone who has a Type A personality is that they are a workaholic. Although Monica loves her job, there have been many instances where the chef has not attended work or been fired. On the other hand, Claire had never taken a day off — even when she was ill.
Remember in “The Cold,” how Claire attended a lunch meeting with a client and ended up collapsing with vertigo? Or in “Chirp,” when she refused to be on bed rest because she had errands to run in the household? No matter what happens, Claire struggles with sitting still.
Monica: Strong Achievement-Association
Someone who is Type A also thrives on having strong achievement-association, which we would be able to see through Monica. While Claire used to practice and compete in figure skating competitions with Mitchell, she doesn’t let them define her like Monica.
Monica wants to be the best in everything, which is why fans have seen her create a reward system for the simplest of tasks. In “The One with the Cooking Class,” she made a tin foil star and made the teacher give it to her because she baked the best cookies. She also gets upset when Chandler says she gives bad massages and can only be placated when he says she would win an award for the worst masseuse. She strives for perfection always.
Claire: Her Hostility/Aggressiveness
People who have a Type A personality have also been categorized as aggressive and sometimes hostile. While this doesn’t really apply to Monica, it can be seen in Claire, who is known to all for having a short fuse. There are many episodes where Claire’s quick temper has shone through, but none are as memorable as “The Old Wagon,” “Family Portrait,” and “Good Cop Bad Dog.”
This type of behavior derives from stress, and has been rumored to affect your physical health, leading to cardiovascular issues. If this is proven true then it does explain how Claire had a heart episode in “Heart Broken.”
Monica: Organization Skills
People with a Type A personality are known to be well-organized and have excellent time-management skills. While both Monica and Claire’s skills are quite exceptional in this area, Monica’s are just a tad better. As mentioned, Monica is seen to divide her towels into eleven sections — including towels for everyday use, guests and fancy guests.
Monica’s skills were also apparent in “The One Where Rachel Goes To Work” when she helps Chandler find a job by making career guides. Here, she organizers them by alphabetical order and highlights important passages so he can make an informed decision. Let’s not forget how much she loves to label and number everything from photos and cups.
Claire: More Energetic
Claire and Monica have both got energetic personalities but if one has to be picked, Claire beats Monica in this area. As fans of Modern Family know, Claire is always on the move and struggles to relax. Every day she is known to run at least five miles (“Run for Your Wife) and has participated in a half marathons.
Even when she quit her job as CEO, fans had to watch as she cleaned Jay and Gloria’s house because she was struggling with the free time. When they were on holiday in Hawaii, Claire struggled to relax because she was constantly worrying about the kids. It may be good parenting, but it also shows she has a problem shutting off.
