Eleanor Shellstrop begins The Good Place as a woman who knows exactly who she is, or at least who she thinks she is. She’s blunt, sarcastic, and unapologetically self-serving. When she wakes up in what she’s told is “the Good Place,” she quickly realizes there’s been a mistake: she absolutely doesn’t belong there.
What starts as a desperate attempt to avoid being found out turns into a journey of genuine moral growth. Eleanor’s arc is about learning to care for others, to take responsibility for her actions, and to redefine what it means to live a good life.
Before We Begin: A Quick Heads-Up
Spoiler Warning: This article contains spoilers for The Good Place, including major plot twists and the series finale. If you haven’t seen the series, you may want to pause here and return after watching.
Why We’re Talking About This Character: This isn’t about labeling Eleanor as “good” or “bad,” but about using her arc to explore real psychological concepts like moral growth, motivation, and the human need for belonging. Eleanor’s transformation is one of the most compelling examples of moral development on television. She starts at a baseline of self-preservation and ends at a place of selflessness, making her a perfect lens for exploring ethics, motivation, and the psychology of change.
Meet the Character
When we meet Eleanor, she’s a recently deceased saleswoman from Arizona who specialized in selling fake medicine to the elderly. She’s a self-described “Arizona dirtbag” who is quick-witted, street-smart, and deeply cynical about other people’s motives. In fact, her life on Earth was a giant string of selfish decisions, from cutting in line to betraying friends to conning basically anyone she could for pretty much any reason, and she sees no reason to apologize for it.
In the Good Place neighborhood, she’s paired with Chidi Anagonye, a moral philosophy professor who believes that they’re soulmates. Eleanor quickly confesses she doesn’t belong there and ropes Chidi into teaching her ethics so she can “earn” her spot.
At first, her motivation is purely self-preservation. She might not belong in the Good Place, but she certainly doesn’t want to be sent to the Bad Place.
I mean, why would she?
But over time, Eleanor’s walls begin to crack. She forms genuine friendships with Chidi, Tahani, Jason, and even the architect of The Good Place, Michael. She starts to see the value in helping others, even when it doesn’t benefit her directly. Her sharp humor and occasional pettiness never fully disappear, but they’re tempered by empathy and a growing sense of responsibility.
Spotlight Scenes: From Self-Interest to Self-Improvement
Eleanor’s journey begins with pure self-preservation. In the very first episode, she enlists Chidi’s help to teach her ethics, not because she wants to be good, but because she wants to avoid detection. She lies, cheats, and manipulates her way through the early days, even throwing Tahani under the bus when she feels cornered.
But cracks in her armor start to show.
In Season 1, Eleanor’s defining moment comes in “The Eternal Shriek,” when she sacrifices herself to save her friends from being sent to the Bad Place. It’s the first time she acts purely for someone else’s benefit, and it marks the beginning of her moral shift.
In “Dance Dance Resolution” (Season 2), after hundreds of reboots, Eleanor consistently finds her way back to helping others, even when she doesn’t remember why. This suggests her growth isn’t just situational and is actually just becoming part of who she is.
One of her most poignant moments comes in “The Answer” (Season 4), when she comforts Chidi before he regains all his memories. She tells him that no matter what happens, they’ll find each other again. It’s a statement rooted in genuine trust and love, not self-interest and shows that this is far from the guarded, cynical Eleanor we met at the start of the show.
In the finale, “Whenever You’re Ready,” Eleanor’s last act before leaving the afterlife is to help Michael achieve his dream of becoming human. She could have moved on without a second thought, but she chooses to stay just a little longer to make sure her friend gets what he needs. It’s the ultimate expression of the selflessness she’s worked toward all series.
The Psychology Behind the Snark
Eleanor’s early behavior is a clear example of pre-conventional morality in Kohlberg’s stages of moral development (1981), where actions are guided by self-interest and avoiding punishment. Her initial ethics lessons with Chidi are attempts to “game the system,” not to become a better person.
Over time, she moves into conventional morality, valuing the approval of her friends and the norms of her new community. By the end of the series, she reaches post-conventional morality, making choices based on universal ethical principles such as helping Michael not because it benefits her, but because it’s the right thing to do.
Her transformation also reflects the shift from extrinsic motivation (acting to gain rewards or avoid punishment) to intrinsic motivation (acting because it’s personally meaningful) as described by Deci and Ryan’s self-determination theory (1985). At first, Eleanor helps others to avoid being caught; later, she helps because she genuinely cares.
Eleanor’s sarcasm and distrust of others can be understood through the lens of defensive pessimism. This is a strategy in which people set low expectations to manage anxiety and avoid disappointment (Norem & Cantor, 1986).
As she builds trust with her friends, her need for this defense mechanism decreases.
Beyond the Good Place: Why It Matters
Eleanor’s story challenges the idea that people are either “good” or “bad” by nature. Her growth shows that moral character is not fixed and that it can be developed through education, relationships, and self-reflection.
It also addresses a common misconception about selfish people: that they simply don’t care about others.
In reality, selfishness can be a learned survival strategy, especially for people who’ve been let down or hurt in the past. Eleanor’s cynicism is rooted in her experiences, particularly as a child, and her change comes from finding a community that rewards trust and kindness.
For us as viewers, Eleanor’s arc is a reminder that moral growth doesn’t require perfection. At the end of the day, it’s about making better choices more often and being willing to try again after you fail.
Tomato Takeaway
Eleanor Shellstrop’s hilarious yet heartfelt journey proves that the path from self-interest to self-improvement is messy, but possible.
Her story is proof that a sharp tongue and a good heart aren’t mutually exclusive. In the end, it’s our relationships and our willingness to grow that define us, not where we started.
Now it’s your turn: Have you ever surprised yourself by doing something selfless when you least expected it?
Share your story in the comments. You never know who it might inspire!
Fueled by coffee and curiosity, Jeff is a veteran blogger with an MBA and a lifelong passion for psychology. Currently finishing an MS in Industrial-Organizational Psychology (and eyeing that PhD), he’s on a mission to make science-backed psychology fun, clear, and accessible for everyone. When he’s not busting myths or brewing up new articles, you’ll probably find him at the D&D table or hunting for his next great cup of coffee.