The movie “Boyhood” represents a seemingly perfect depiction of child development in a boy from ages 6 to 18. This movie is very relatable to viewers because the experiences of both Mason and his sister Stephanie are experiences every child faces from childhood to adolescence. Over the course of the movie you are able to analyze normative development in several different aspects of Mason’s life, as well as some non-normative events. More importantly, viewers are able to take notice on the effects of family and home relationships on development. Mason, the main character, experiences several broken families throughout the movie and does not have a stable family background which undoubtedly plays a key role in his development.
Over the course …show more content…
Mason’s first father figure was very permissive. A permissive parent is one who is low in control but high in warmth (Feldman, 181). Mason Sr. often engaged in a lot of fun activities with his children, but even at a young age he did not promote school or healthy eating. After Mason Sr. returned the children home from bowling, Olivia takes note of the fact that the children had not completed any schoolwork or had a proper meal. Mason Sr. lacked structure and control as a parent, which could easily lead to the disregard for authority and rules that Mason develops. Mason transitions from a permissive father figure to an authoritarian father figure. Bill represents parent that is high in control and low in warmth (Feldman, 181). This can be seen when Bill demands that the boys have haircuts in the home. Mason explicitly expresses that he is happy with his long hair and feels a sense of discomfort with cutting it. Bill has more regard for control than for Mason’s feelings towards the situation. During his teenage years Mason chose to hang around drugs and alcohol due to the fact that the father figures he had in his life both abused alcohol. Bill, Masons first stepfather, is very cruel and unloving due to his attachment to alcohol. The relationship children build with their parents shape how they form relationships as they continue to develop (Giese,
Over the course …show more content…
Mason’s first father figure was very permissive. A permissive parent is one who is low in control but high in warmth (Feldman, 181). Mason Sr. often engaged in a lot of fun activities with his children, but even at a young age he did not promote school or healthy eating. After Mason Sr. returned the children home from bowling, Olivia takes note of the fact that the children had not completed any schoolwork or had a proper meal. Mason Sr. lacked structure and control as a parent, which could easily lead to the disregard for authority and rules that Mason develops. Mason transitions from a permissive father figure to an authoritarian father figure. Bill represents parent that is high in control and low in warmth (Feldman, 181). This can be seen when Bill demands that the boys have haircuts in the home. Mason explicitly expresses that he is happy with his long hair and feels a sense of discomfort with cutting it. Bill has more regard for control than for Mason’s feelings towards the situation. During his teenage years Mason chose to hang around drugs and alcohol due to the fact that the father figures he had in his life both abused alcohol. Bill, Masons first stepfather, is very cruel and unloving due to his attachment to alcohol. The relationship children build with their parents shape how they form relationships as they continue to develop (Giese,