Psychology - The Breakfast Club Analysis Part 1 PDF

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The Breakfast Club Psychological Analysis Part 1...

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The Breakfast Club is a movie which follows five students from different social circles as they spend their Saturday in detention. Each character represents a different stereotype as defined by their high school clique. These various different personalities offer quite a bit of analysis when seen through various psychological perspectives. John Bender-”The Criminal”- is one of the most interesting characters within the film. Although first seen as a stereotypical juvenile delinquent, Bender is actually an aching adolescent, self-aware of his rough reputation that prevents any projection of vulnerability. When looking through the lens of Sigmund Freud, John’s rebellious attitude (such as talking back to Principal Vernon, falsely pulling a fire alarm and escaping the room where detention is held) stems from his Id. The Id is one of three traits of the psyche-Id, Ego and Super Ego- which controls emotions such as aggression and sex. Therefore, when Bender acts out angrily against the world, his id is out of his control. Although openly aggressive, there are also signs that Bender’s Ego manages to balance out his Super Ego and his Id. One’s Ego is the perfect balance between the furious Id and one’s Super Ego. Evidence showing this is when Principal Vernon tried to lull Bender into a fight and held himself back from punching him. Freud’s perspective could also explain his constant smoking when concerning the Oral Stage. The Oral Stage is the first stage of childhood development that states that the mouth is the first organ to provide pleasure. Therefore, one could say that Bender’s constant smoking is his attempt to find a sense of happiness by providing himself oral pleasure.

Further analysis of John Bender’s personality can be seen through the psychological perspective of Albert Bandura. Albert Bandura was a social-cognitive psychologist who focused heavily on observational learning. Observational learning is when one learns by watching someone (or something) else and modeling their behavior after what they view. This relates to

Bender as he comes from an abusive and cruel family home. Viewers first learn this when Bender, in a furious rage, describes his family life. For example, when spilling paint in the garage, Bender’s father burned him with a cigarette as punishment. Various other violent behaviors can be inferred with from his family, which could explain Bender’s negative outlook on the world, always expecting the worst out of people. Bender could also be modeling his family’s behavior. Modeling is when one observes behavior and their own behavior reflects what they witness. Therefore, this could be the origins of his violent behavior....