The Adolescent Years
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RUNNING HEAD: PROBLEMS FACED DURING THE ADOLESCENT YEARS.
21813526.doc Angela Detter
Course: PSY 150: General Psychology Instructor: Fred Bryson Date: April 23, 2001
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Page 2 of 9
21813526.doc "The Breakfast Club is about people, personality types, human behavior, strengths and vulnerabilities. It is about stereotypes and breaking them down. It’s about prejudice and gaining greater understanding through communication. It’s about rebellion, and also about teamwork. It’s about life.” (Wright). Each person contributes some things to society in their own way and they learn something about themselves during the Adolescence years. “Adolescence is a time for experimentation, whether it be with sex, drugs, hair color, or various kinds of rule breaking. It is also a time when certain kinds of developmental problems are apt to arise, especially problems that have to do with selfperceptions, feelings about the self, and negative emotions in general.” (Morris 418). “Adolescence is a normal developmental stage when children begin to separate from their parents and build relationships with their peer groups. It’s very important to allow and encourage them to get involved in organized activities with peer groups to foster selfesteem.
Part of that development is discovering who they are, so having positive
relationships with a positive peer group is important to normal and healthy development.”(Shely). First, a brief look at descriptions of the five adolescent characters by the Internet critic, the Okielady. “Claire Standish, the princess, reminds me of the girls that I couldn’t stand in high school! She places herself above everybody else in the movie. Sure, she’s got her problems, just like all teenagers. But somehow, to everyone else, her family’s wealth and power and her alliance with the ‘in’ crowd seems to diminish whatever problems she may have. To the other characters, she’s just conceited Claire.” (Okielady 1).
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Allison is the opposite. “She’s a basket case. She’s wacko. She’s a nut. Or is she? One thing’s for sure, Allison Reynolds LOVES attention. So she’s got her quirks. She uses dandruff as ‘snow’ on a picture she’s drawn. She eats Cap’n Crunch and the contents of Pixie Stix on bread as a sandwich. She doesn’t speak for the first half of the movie, and when she finally does start talking, she doesn’t stop. Allison leaves you wondering who she really is. But weirdo or not, she’s certainly likable!” (Okielady 2). “Andrew Clark, the jock, always seems to be pleasing other people; his father, his coach, his friends. They all see him as a person that he doesn’t necessarily WANT to be. Rather than disappoint them, he simply becomes who they think he is. This creates a lot of internal anger, which surfaces often throughout the movie.” (Okielady 3). Andrew’s opposite is Brian. “Ah, the brain. The character I can relate to most, based on my school years, is Brian Johnson. He excels academically, but in spite of that, has little self-confidence. He tends to be hard on himself, and can’t handle failure. Straight-laced and timid, he rarely bends the rules.” (Okielady 4). Opposite of all the characters is Bender. “My favorite character in the movie, by far, is John Bender. The character of John Bender kind of reminds me of myself. He has a lot of issues he doesn’t care to talk about, and he deals with them by using dry humor and sarcasm. Plus, he had the best one-liners in the movie!” (Okielady 5). Each character on the surface seems to be living what the others consider the ideal life. Each one sees things what the other person has that they long to possess. Each character has their strengths and weaknesses. Self-esteem is the main psychological problem faced by adolescents. From it stems the roots of other problems. “To children, you are who you are: Identity is given.
21813526.doc
Page 4 of 9
To adolescents, who you are now is only one of many possibilities: Identity is a question mark. ... Visionaries and idealists one day, adolescents can be harsh social critics the next. Their harshest criticism is often directed at the ones who are nearest and dearest – themselves and their parents.” (Steinberg 133). This struggle with identity and acceptance is why Brian and Andrew are in detention. Andrew plays a prank on a fellow student, but gets caught. This may not seem like a self-esteem issue until you discover why Andrew played the prank. He states, “And the bizarre thing is, that I did it for my old man … I tortured this poor kid, because I wanted him to think that I was cool. He’s always going off about, you know, when he was in school … all the wild things he used to do. And I got the feeling that he was disappointed that I never cut loose on anyone … And I started thinking about my father, and his attitude about weakness. … he’s like this mindless machine that I can’t relate to anymore … You know, sometimes, I wish my knee would give ... and I wouldn’t be able to wrestle anymore. And he could forget all about me…” (Hughes). Brian, the brain, found his way to detention by bringing a gun to school. His remarks were “It’s like me, you know, with my grades … like, when I, when I step outside myself kinda, and when I, when I look in at myself you know? And I see me and I don’t like what I see, I really don’t. … I’m here because Mr. Ryan found a gun in the locker.” (Hughes). Allison, Bender, and Claire also struggle with the self-esteem issues. Each character in their own way is struggling.
Struggling to make parents happy,
struggling to look good in front of friends, struggling to discover who they are and who they want to be as adults. Self-esteem problems can lead to alcohol and drug abuse, suicide, and a number of other psychological problems.
21813526.doc
Page 5 of 9
Another teenage problem seen in the movie is the use of drugs. Although all the teenagers in the movie smoke Bender’s pot, each approaches it differently. Bender, the criminal, is open to the usage of drugs. In fact, the marijuana comes from his locker. Brian is the brainy kid, who “knows” better than to use pot. Brian struggles with the idea. He first turns to Andrew for support, frustrated Andrew simply tells him to shut up. Andrew, the jock, seems tired of living up to everyone’s rules. Claire, although she seems to be innocent and pristine, has already followed Bender down the hall, so Brian turns to Allison for support. Allison, the basket-case, although unsure of what to do, refuses to go against the group.. After returning to the library, the entire group proceeds to smoke the pot. “In contemporary U.S. society, tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use among youth may be thought of as functional behaviors – offering an opportunity to challenge and demonstrate autonomy, gain entry into a peer group, or simply relieve the stresses of growing up.” (Wong 918). Each character experiences different aspects of these behaviors. During the course of the movie, sex is discussed between the characters. Although this movie first aired in 1985, it still hits home with teenagers' thoughts and concerns about sex. “Teenagers do not see sex as a casual affair. They do not believe that anything goes. And they do not approve of sleeping around. …Many teenagers find it easier to preach than to practice these ideals, however. Sex has become a status symbol for teenagers.
Other symbols of maturity (supporting oneself, living independently,
marrying) have been postponed, leaving sex as one of the only available rites of passage to adulthood: If you have had intercourse, you are an adult; if you are still a virgin, you
21813526.doc
Page 6 of 9
are just a child. Some teenagers see virginity as a ‘ball and chain of innocence’ they want to cast off as quickly as possible.”(Steinberg 236-237) By the end of the movie, we discover that Allison, Claire, and Brian are all virgins. Brian and Claire are obviously ashamed of this fact as they try to hide it from others in the group. Brian attempts to conceal that he is a virgin, while Bender inquires about girlfriends and such. However, it is only after Bender states that Brian implied he is having sex with Claire that Brian comes clean. Brian states, “only because I didn’t want her to know that I was a virgin, okay?” (Hughes). This embarrassment about virginity continues later in the movie as the group sits high on pot and playing a game. Allison confronts Claire with the question about having sex. Allison points out the sad truth about teenage sexuality. “Well, if you say you haven’t … you’re a prude. If you say you have … you’re a slut! It’s a trap. You want to but you can’t but when you do you wish you didn’t, right?” (Hughes). Claire defensively screams, “No! I never did it!” (Hughes). After this, Allison admits that she is also a virgin. Allison’s statement is so true about the teenager’s perspective on sexual intercourse. You are considered either a prude or a slut. Moreover, regardless of the current place in the situation, neither is favorable. A psychological problem that almost falls through the cracks in this movie is the problem of eating disorders. Claire struggles with the image of becoming fat, while her counterpart Allison eats as if there will not be a meal tomorrow. Although I do not believe Allison to be bulimic, some psychologist would point out that Allison has bizarre eating habits, which is one of the characteristics of an eating disorder. Allison, if allowed to continue her eating pattern would become malnourished, therefore exhibiting
21813526.doc
Page 7 of 9
an eating disorder. Nevertheless, this is only slightly mentioned in the movie and is left to make one wonder about eating disorders. By pushing adolescents to succeed, parents often push adolescents over the edge. It is no wonder that many adolescents grow up to be confused and unsure about themselves. “Adolescence is a time of increased emotionality, hypothetical thinking, and empathy. As a result, it is a time for mood swings from the depth of depression to the heights of elation.” (Behrman 525). It is no wonder that adolescent substance abuse continues to increase. “Drug use, in the form of alcohol or marijuana, is experienced at some time by more than 90% of teenagers.” (Behrman 526-527). It is no wonder that adolescent suicide continues to be a problem. “Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death among 15 to 19 yr olds in the United States and has been increasing in incidence during the last 2 decades.” (Behrman 526). It is no wonder that adolescent sexuality is still an issue. “The birth rate has leveled off for all other age groups but continues to rise for young adolescents; they lead the nation in cases of sexually transmitted disease, such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, and human papilloma viral infections." (Behrman 526). It is no wonder that eating disorders still plague adolescents. “The incidence of anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia has increased over the last 2 decades. It is estimated that 1 in every 100 females, 16-18 yr old, has anorexia nervousa.” (Behrman 533). In the movie, we each see someone that reminds us of who we were. Each of us remembers our strengths and our failures. Each of us remembers that we are all part of the truth. Each of us should realize that we can all be a part of the solution. By watching the movie, we discover "that each one of is a brain … and an athlete … and a basket case … a princess … and a criminal."
21813526.doc
Page 8 of 9
References Behrman, Richard E. MD. Textbook of Pediatrics. 14th ed. Philadelphia: WB Saunders Company, 1992. Morris, Charles G. and Albert A. Maisto. Psychology An Introduction. 10th ed. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, Inc. Okielady 1. Okielady's "The Breakfast Club" Page. Conceited Claire Page. Okielady 2. Okielady's "The Breakfast Club" Page. Allison's Attitude Page. Okielady 3. Okielady's "The Breakfast Club" Page. Andrew’s Frustration Page. Okielady 4. Okielady's "The Breakfast Club" Page. Brian – Intelligent & Insecure Page. Okielady 5. Okielady's "The Breakfast Club" Page. Bender’s One-Liners Page. Shely, Tyler. “High Self-Esteem Promotes Healthy Growth In Children.” Health First. Catawba Memorial Hospital, Hickory, North Carolina. February 2001. Steinberg, Laurence, and Ann Levine. You and Your Adolescent: A Parent’s Guide for Ages 10 to 20. New York: Harper & Row, Publishers, 1990. The Breakfast Club. Dir. & Writer John Hughes. . 1985. Wong, Donna L. Whaley and Wong’s Nursing Care of Infants and Children. 6th ed. Missouri: Mosby, Inc., 1999.
21813526.doc
Wright, Donna. Neo Maxi Zoomdweebie Essays!.
Page 9 of 9
Page 1 of 9
RUNNING HEAD: PROBLEMS FACED DURING THE ADOLESCENT YEARS.
21813526.doc Angela Detter
Course: PSY 150: General Psychology Instructor: Fred Bryson Date: April 23, 2001
21813526.doc
Page 2 of 9
21813526.doc "The Breakfast Club is about people, personality types, human behavior, strengths and vulnerabilities. It is about stereotypes and breaking them down. It’s about prejudice and gaining greater understanding through communication. It’s about rebellion, and also about teamwork. It’s about life.” (Wright). Each person contributes some things to society in their own way and they learn something about themselves during the Adolescence years. “Adolescence is a time for experimentation, whether it be with sex, drugs, hair color, or various kinds of rule breaking. It is also a time when certain kinds of developmental problems are apt to arise, especially problems that have to do with selfperceptions, feelings about the self, and negative emotions in general.” (Morris 418). “Adolescence is a normal developmental stage when children begin to separate from their parents and build relationships with their peer groups. It’s very important to allow and encourage them to get involved in organized activities with peer groups to foster selfesteem.
Part of that development is discovering who they are, so having positive
relationships with a positive peer group is important to normal and healthy development.”(Shely). First, a brief look at descriptions of the five adolescent characters by the Internet critic, the Okielady. “Claire Standish, the princess, reminds me of the girls that I couldn’t stand in high school! She places herself above everybody else in the movie. Sure, she’s got her problems, just like all teenagers. But somehow, to everyone else, her family’s wealth and power and her alliance with the ‘in’ crowd seems to diminish whatever problems she may have. To the other characters, she’s just conceited Claire.” (Okielady 1).
21813526.doc
Page 3 of 9
Allison is the opposite. “She’s a basket case. She’s wacko. She’s a nut. Or is she? One thing’s for sure, Allison Reynolds LOVES attention. So she’s got her quirks. She uses dandruff as ‘snow’ on a picture she’s drawn. She eats Cap’n Crunch and the contents of Pixie Stix on bread as a sandwich. She doesn’t speak for the first half of the movie, and when she finally does start talking, she doesn’t stop. Allison leaves you wondering who she really is. But weirdo or not, she’s certainly likable!” (Okielady 2). “Andrew Clark, the jock, always seems to be pleasing other people; his father, his coach, his friends. They all see him as a person that he doesn’t necessarily WANT to be. Rather than disappoint them, he simply becomes who they think he is. This creates a lot of internal anger, which surfaces often throughout the movie.” (Okielady 3). Andrew’s opposite is Brian. “Ah, the brain. The character I can relate to most, based on my school years, is Brian Johnson. He excels academically, but in spite of that, has little self-confidence. He tends to be hard on himself, and can’t handle failure. Straight-laced and timid, he rarely bends the rules.” (Okielady 4). Opposite of all the characters is Bender. “My favorite character in the movie, by far, is John Bender. The character of John Bender kind of reminds me of myself. He has a lot of issues he doesn’t care to talk about, and he deals with them by using dry humor and sarcasm. Plus, he had the best one-liners in the movie!” (Okielady 5). Each character on the surface seems to be living what the others consider the ideal life. Each one sees things what the other person has that they long to possess. Each character has their strengths and weaknesses. Self-esteem is the main psychological problem faced by adolescents. From it stems the roots of other problems. “To children, you are who you are: Identity is given.
21813526.doc
Page 4 of 9
To adolescents, who you are now is only one of many possibilities: Identity is a question mark. ... Visionaries and idealists one day, adolescents can be harsh social critics the next. Their harshest criticism is often directed at the ones who are nearest and dearest – themselves and their parents.” (Steinberg 133). This struggle with identity and acceptance is why Brian and Andrew are in detention. Andrew plays a prank on a fellow student, but gets caught. This may not seem like a self-esteem issue until you discover why Andrew played the prank. He states, “And the bizarre thing is, that I did it for my old man … I tortured this poor kid, because I wanted him to think that I was cool. He’s always going off about, you know, when he was in school … all the wild things he used to do. And I got the feeling that he was disappointed that I never cut loose on anyone … And I started thinking about my father, and his attitude about weakness. … he’s like this mindless machine that I can’t relate to anymore … You know, sometimes, I wish my knee would give ... and I wouldn’t be able to wrestle anymore. And he could forget all about me…” (Hughes). Brian, the brain, found his way to detention by bringing a gun to school. His remarks were “It’s like me, you know, with my grades … like, when I, when I step outside myself kinda, and when I, when I look in at myself you know? And I see me and I don’t like what I see, I really don’t. … I’m here because Mr. Ryan found a gun in the locker.” (Hughes). Allison, Bender, and Claire also struggle with the self-esteem issues. Each character in their own way is struggling.
Struggling to make parents happy,
struggling to look good in front of friends, struggling to discover who they are and who they want to be as adults. Self-esteem problems can lead to alcohol and drug abuse, suicide, and a number of other psychological problems.
21813526.doc
Page 5 of 9
Another teenage problem seen in the movie is the use of drugs. Although all the teenagers in the movie smoke Bender’s pot, each approaches it differently. Bender, the criminal, is open to the usage of drugs. In fact, the marijuana comes from his locker. Brian is the brainy kid, who “knows” better than to use pot. Brian struggles with the idea. He first turns to Andrew for support, frustrated Andrew simply tells him to shut up. Andrew, the jock, seems tired of living up to everyone’s rules. Claire, although she seems to be innocent and pristine, has already followed Bender down the hall, so Brian turns to Allison for support. Allison, the basket-case, although unsure of what to do, refuses to go against the group.. After returning to the library, the entire group proceeds to smoke the pot. “In contemporary U.S. society, tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use among youth may be thought of as functional behaviors – offering an opportunity to challenge and demonstrate autonomy, gain entry into a peer group, or simply relieve the stresses of growing up.” (Wong 918). Each character experiences different aspects of these behaviors. During the course of the movie, sex is discussed between the characters. Although this movie first aired in 1985, it still hits home with teenagers' thoughts and concerns about sex. “Teenagers do not see sex as a casual affair. They do not believe that anything goes. And they do not approve of sleeping around. …Many teenagers find it easier to preach than to practice these ideals, however. Sex has become a status symbol for teenagers.
Other symbols of maturity (supporting oneself, living independently,
marrying) have been postponed, leaving sex as one of the only available rites of passage to adulthood: If you have had intercourse, you are an adult; if you are still a virgin, you
21813526.doc
Page 6 of 9
are just a child. Some teenagers see virginity as a ‘ball and chain of innocence’ they want to cast off as quickly as possible.”(Steinberg 236-237) By the end of the movie, we discover that Allison, Claire, and Brian are all virgins. Brian and Claire are obviously ashamed of this fact as they try to hide it from others in the group. Brian attempts to conceal that he is a virgin, while Bender inquires about girlfriends and such. However, it is only after Bender states that Brian implied he is having sex with Claire that Brian comes clean. Brian states, “only because I didn’t want her to know that I was a virgin, okay?” (Hughes). This embarrassment about virginity continues later in the movie as the group sits high on pot and playing a game. Allison confronts Claire with the question about having sex. Allison points out the sad truth about teenage sexuality. “Well, if you say you haven’t … you’re a prude. If you say you have … you’re a slut! It’s a trap. You want to but you can’t but when you do you wish you didn’t, right?” (Hughes). Claire defensively screams, “No! I never did it!” (Hughes). After this, Allison admits that she is also a virgin. Allison’s statement is so true about the teenager’s perspective on sexual intercourse. You are considered either a prude or a slut. Moreover, regardless of the current place in the situation, neither is favorable. A psychological problem that almost falls through the cracks in this movie is the problem of eating disorders. Claire struggles with the image of becoming fat, while her counterpart Allison eats as if there will not be a meal tomorrow. Although I do not believe Allison to be bulimic, some psychologist would point out that Allison has bizarre eating habits, which is one of the characteristics of an eating disorder. Allison, if allowed to continue her eating pattern would become malnourished, therefore exhibiting
21813526.doc
Page 7 of 9
an eating disorder. Nevertheless, this is only slightly mentioned in the movie and is left to make one wonder about eating disorders. By pushing adolescents to succeed, parents often push adolescents over the edge. It is no wonder that many adolescents grow up to be confused and unsure about themselves. “Adolescence is a time of increased emotionality, hypothetical thinking, and empathy. As a result, it is a time for mood swings from the depth of depression to the heights of elation.” (Behrman 525). It is no wonder that adolescent substance abuse continues to increase. “Drug use, in the form of alcohol or marijuana, is experienced at some time by more than 90% of teenagers.” (Behrman 526-527). It is no wonder that adolescent suicide continues to be a problem. “Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death among 15 to 19 yr olds in the United States and has been increasing in incidence during the last 2 decades.” (Behrman 526). It is no wonder that adolescent sexuality is still an issue. “The birth rate has leveled off for all other age groups but continues to rise for young adolescents; they lead the nation in cases of sexually transmitted disease, such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, and human papilloma viral infections." (Behrman 526). It is no wonder that eating disorders still plague adolescents. “The incidence of anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia has increased over the last 2 decades. It is estimated that 1 in every 100 females, 16-18 yr old, has anorexia nervousa.” (Behrman 533). In the movie, we each see someone that reminds us of who we were. Each of us remembers our strengths and our failures. Each of us remembers that we are all part of the truth. Each of us should realize that we can all be a part of the solution. By watching the movie, we discover "that each one of is a brain … and an athlete … and a basket case … a princess … and a criminal."
21813526.doc
Page 8 of 9
References Behrman, Richard E. MD. Textbook of Pediatrics. 14th ed. Philadelphia: WB Saunders Company, 1992. Morris, Charles G. and Albert A. Maisto. Psychology An Introduction. 10th ed. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, Inc. Okielady 1. Okielady's "The Breakfast Club" Page. Conceited Claire Page.
21813526.doc
Wright, Donna. Neo Maxi Zoomdweebie Essays!.
Page 9 of 9
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