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Movie Paper: The Breakfast Club
The Breakfast Club is a classic 1980’s John Hughes movie that exemplified many social psychology theories and ideas. The movie opens at Shemer High School with five students who are dropped off by their guardian for an all-day Saturday detention. These students are Andrew, Claire, Brian, John, and Alison from varying social groups. Each student is assigned a stereotypical nickname with John Bender designated “The Criminal", Andrew Clark is "The Athlete", Brian Johnson is “The Brain", Claire Standish is "The Princess", and Allison Reynolds is "The Basket Case.” Mr. Vernon, the principal, oversaw the detention and instructs the students to write an essay on who they think they are, which they struggled with. …show more content…
Peer pressure is social pressure by members of one’s peer group to take part in a certain action, adopt certain values, or otherwise conform in order to be accepted. Brian was subjected to peer pressure when he decided to take part in smoking marijuana with the rest of the group even though he initially said no. Another instance of peer pressure is when the group discussed sexual experiences. Claire did not want to talk about her intimate experiences or lack thereof. However, the group pressured her and informed her to “just say it” and she complied. Claire partook in the conversation and disclosed personal details about her lack of physical relationship experiences. The fact that Claire conformed to social pressures even though she did not want to exemplified the concept of peer …show more content…
Groupthink is when groups make decisions based solely on the views of a few group members instead of considering other, outside possibilities. For instance the group covered for John when he messed with Mr. Vernon. In a particular incident, John removed the screw from the door to the detention room and lied about doing so. The principal asked the group who had removed the screw and they all answered that they had no idea in order to keep harmony. The group lied and protected John in order to maintain harmony which is groupthink. Next, social loafing was also a group behavior that occurred. Social loafing refers to the concept that people are prone to exert less effort on a task if in a group setting versus when alone. The ending of The Breakfast Club illustrated the concept of social loafing well. At the end of the movie Claire asked Brian to write the essay Principal Vernon asked each individuals to write. She argued that it will be a waste for all of them write to separate essays because the group will say the same things. With the except of Brian, rest of the group exerted less effort on this task as opposed to what they would have done if the group did not come together as they have thus demonstrating
Movie Paper: The Breakfast Club
The Breakfast Club is a classic 1980’s John Hughes movie that exemplified many social psychology theories and ideas. The movie opens at Shemer High School with five students who are dropped off by their guardian for an all-day Saturday detention. These students are Andrew, Claire, Brian, John, and Alison from varying social groups. Each student is assigned a stereotypical nickname with John Bender designated “The Criminal", Andrew Clark is "The Athlete", Brian Johnson is “The Brain", Claire Standish is "The Princess", and Allison Reynolds is "The Basket Case.” Mr. Vernon, the principal, oversaw the detention and instructs the students to write an essay on who they think they are, which they struggled with. …show more content…
Peer pressure is social pressure by members of one’s peer group to take part in a certain action, adopt certain values, or otherwise conform in order to be accepted. Brian was subjected to peer pressure when he decided to take part in smoking marijuana with the rest of the group even though he initially said no. Another instance of peer pressure is when the group discussed sexual experiences. Claire did not want to talk about her intimate experiences or lack thereof. However, the group pressured her and informed her to “just say it” and she complied. Claire partook in the conversation and disclosed personal details about her lack of physical relationship experiences. The fact that Claire conformed to social pressures even though she did not want to exemplified the concept of peer …show more content…
Groupthink is when groups make decisions based solely on the views of a few group members instead of considering other, outside possibilities. For instance the group covered for John when he messed with Mr. Vernon. In a particular incident, John removed the screw from the door to the detention room and lied about doing so. The principal asked the group who had removed the screw and they all answered that they had no idea in order to keep harmony. The group lied and protected John in order to maintain harmony which is groupthink. Next, social loafing was also a group behavior that occurred. Social loafing refers to the concept that people are prone to exert less effort on a task if in a group setting versus when alone. The ending of The Breakfast Club illustrated the concept of social loafing well. At the end of the movie Claire asked Brian to write the essay Principal Vernon asked each individuals to write. She argued that it will be a waste for all of them write to separate essays because the group will say the same things. With the except of Brian, rest of the group exerted less effort on this task as opposed to what they would have done if the group did not come together as they have thus demonstrating