The Breakfast Club
Group dynamics consist of Purpose-Structure-Time
- Purpose: To not grow up to be their parents
- Structure: Working Group
- Time: Eight-hour Saturday detention
Forming: Each student’s behavior is driven by the need of acceptance. For example, when Bender gives Brian a nasty look for making walrus sounds Brian immediately stops. An additional broad example is when they each cover for Bender when the principle walks in or picks him out. They also actively judge each other when they first meet. The students do this by asking what each other did to get in detention, what clubs they are in etc. An additional idea in forming is gathering. This is seen when they all avoid conflict even if they are being sarcastic. For instance, when the principle asks them all to raise their hands they all do.
Storming Phase:
Throughout The Breakfast Club, the group of students seems to be in a constant state of storming. They challenge each other, and contest ideas and beliefs of other group members. For example, Bender confronts the other members in the group. There are important issues that emerge in their confrontations. Their different backgrounds drive their differences in opinion. The social circles they come from influence their actions in this new and informal, group setting. Whereas the princess, Clair, and the jock, Andy, see and discuss themselves as being “well-liked” by everyone, the brain, Brian, talks about not even liking himself. These differing views of self-worth contribute to the constant storming the group encounters. Even when they reach levels of norming, they consistently fall back into patterns of storming.
Norming: The roles of the group are clear. When Andrew and Bender are in an altercations Claire makes fun of them. For instance, when Bender mocks Claire and her lipstick the others call him out and tell him it is unfair. Also in the development of this section they group begins to appreciate each other. For example, when Brian is ashamed about being a virgin Claire is compassionate because she can relate. This also shows that they are each feeling more comfortable about talking about subjects such as sex and family dynamics. The theme of acceptance is also seen when they spill the contents of their purses and wallets, while smoking together, This is when they learn more about each other. Also, the group begins to work together with the whistling, raising hands, following Benders directions especially after he sacrifices himself to save the group.
Performing: When the group finally moves into the “stage of equilibrium” it is one of the most identifying aspects of the “Performing” stage. All members of the group are forced to finally come together and discuss their ideas, their backgrounds, and their stories, in the hopes of successfully finishing their essay, and making the most of their unpleasant detention together. While they are initially unable to even speak to one another, they are now able to talk about their darkest and innermost thoughts. This is the true beginning of a “longterm relationship” in the performing stage. The things the characters choose to share are beyond what is needed for the 1,000 word essay. Now, they are sharing things about themselves in the hopes of becoming closer as individuals, and even as friends. In that sense, I believe they finally began working towards a common purpose, and not just a functional relationship. Originally, I believed that the common purpose would be finishing the essay that was assigned to them, and not causing anymore trouble in the library. By the end of the movie, and after the initial phases of the group development model, the common purpose is a desire to understand one another, and think outside of themselves.
Adjourning Phase: The Breakfast Club will not be meeting more than once so they as a group must dissolve at the end. The unique part is that they are similar to an ad hoc committee in the fact that they discussed what would happen during and after their termination. Claire and Andy will go back to being popular and making fun of Brian and Alison, and the other four will continue to ignore Bender and treat him as a criminal. Due to the groups negative conflict approach, only reaching the understanding level of intercultural processes, and never truly leaving the storming part of group development the group must adjourn without reaching or achieving their goal or purpose.
Group Roles: At the adjourning phase of TBC, their group roles are clearly defined.
Brian-Mediator, Info Seeker, Clarifier
- Asks questions, why? Do they know?
- “Guys lets all calm down”
- Clarifies the group purpose to Mr. Vernon at the end of the film in the essay
- Tries to keep the peace between the group members
- Attempts to resolve conflict between others altercations
· He expresses his interest in maintaining the friendships when school begins
o He is shot down
Alison-Encourager, Summarizer
- Does not speak and followers the others for the first hour of the movie
- Summarizes what everyone has said in order to remind them of what they said
- Acts as a catalyst for change within the group
- Ex: Weird behavior, humor, positive thinking
- Submissive, influential
- Remains on the outside and looks in
Bender-Opinion Giver, Blocker, DOMINATOR
- Voices his opinions on everything from family life, to personalities to socialization of teens
- Promotes self indulging ideas
- Discloses hardships and lifestyle claiming these as factors that make him superior
· Persona of hostility, avoidant, and fearful
· Engages others in confrontation
Claire-Encourager, Opinion Seeker
- Seeks the opinions of others before she makes decisions
- Encourages others to join, includes others in the conversations and conflicts
- Makes other members feel worth while
- Has a constant need of acceptance
- Affirms others feelings
Andy-Gatekeeper, DOMINATOR
- Invites the opinions of others, makes sure both sides of the story are heard by all
- Fights for dominance and control of the group
- Expressive about his mental an physical toughness both on and off the wrestling mat
- Displays very limited signs of weakness
TBC scores Negative on the Riddle Scale of Attitudes Towards Differences
- Repulsion
- Pity
- Tolerance
- Acceptance
TBC only reaches the understanding level on the Hoopes Intercultural Learning Process
Communication Styles:
- Aggressive: Bender, Andy, Claire, Mr. Vernor
- Assertive: Alison
- Unassertive: Brian
TBC exhibits both the advantages and liabilities of conflict however throughout the course of their existence as a group they tend to function on the liabilities side of conflict and have a hard time benefiting from it.
FORMING: Each student’s behavior is driven by the need for acceptance. For example, when Bender gives Brian a nasty look for making walrus sounds Brian immediately stops. An additional broad example is when they each cover for Bender when the principal walks in or picks him out. They also actively judge each other when they first meet. The students do this by asking what each other did to get in detention, what clubs they are in etc. An additional idea in forming is gathering. This is seen when they all avoid conflict even if they are being sarcastic. For instance, when the principal asks them all to raise their hands they all do.
ReplyDeleteSTORMING:Throughout The Breakfast Club, the group of students seems to be in a constant state of storming. They challenge each other, and contest ideas and beliefs of other group members. For example, Bender confronts the other members in the group. There are important issues that emerge in their confrontations. Their different backgrounds drive their differences in opinion. The social circles they come from influence their actions in this new and informal, group setting. Whereas the princess, Clair, and the jock, Andy, see and discuss themselves as being “well-liked” by everyone, the brain, Brian, talks about not even liking himself. These differing views of self-worth contribute to the constant storming the group encounters. Even when they reach levels of norming, they consistently fall back into patterns of storming.