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Introduction
Peer pressure is a type of social connection between people in one group that implies direct or indirect influence on the decision-making process. Peer pressure exists in different environments and settings; however, scientific evidence suggests that one group is at the most risk of being affected by peer pressure and its influence on decision-making. Due to specific brain structures, adolescents are more influenced by approval, which could be presented in the form of compliments or acknowledgment from peers. This paper will explore one of the most interesting cases of peer pressure exhibited in the history of teenage movies, The Breakfast Club.
Main body
The phenomenon of peer pressure was explored by Laurence Steinberg in his work titled The Science of Decision Making and Peer Pressure, where the author suggested that adolescents are more subjective to peer pressure. However, that does not mean that peer pressure exists purely in the environment that involves teenagers or young adults. Even though adults do not easily submit to peer pressure, peer pressure methods are still utilized in some conditions, such as charity fundraisers. The peer pressure theory connects to the conformity theory defined through the Asch conformity research and experiments and Leon Festinger’s idea of social comparison. However, conformity acts rarely imply any connection within the group or negative consequences for the individuals who submit to conformity, while the social comparison theory includes different types of peer pressure.
In general, peer pressure among adolescents results from the social learning process, in which children learn about the world through observation and imitation of other people. On the other hand, Festinger’s theory of social comparison suggests that all people tend to evaluate and analyze themselves in comparison with others. Without proper parental guidance, the individual’s need to compare himself to peers continues through the adolescent years and could result in adverse outcomes depending on the individual’s social surroundings.
The Breakfast Club is a film released in 1985 that focuses on one day in the life of five ordinary high school students. Despite being a coming-of-age movie predominantly constructed to question the fidelity of widespread student stereotypes, such as the nerd, or a jock, the film presents a good example for analysis of peer pressure. In a sense, the culture of student stereotypes resulted from continuous peer pressure and imposed limitations of action for students from specific groups. Through one day of learning about each other, the main characters become familiar with the idea that stereotypes and peer pressure deprive students of the opportunity to demonstrate their individuality. After becoming close friends with each other, the characters admit that due to peer pressure, they should keep their friendship a secret, even though some characters share romantic feelings.
While the film’s central narrative discusses the unfavorable climate in the high school environment, cultivated by peer pressure, some moments demonstrate direct peer pressure and its influence on the decision-making process. The paper mentioned earlier how peer pressure frequently results in inclinations to bad habits, such as smoking, drug usage, and amoral or dangerous behavior among adolescents. In the film, Judd Nelson’s character Bender, who is known to be the group’s rebel, is a troublemaker who has unpleasant relationships with the vice principal Vernon.
In the early segments of the movie, Bender continuously breaks the detention rules imposed by vice-principal Vernon, undermining Vernon’s reputation in the eyes of other main characters. Later the group leaves their detention place, breaking Vernon’s rules not to leave their seats before the end of detention time. One of the characters expresses confusion about the group’s decision to leave the library despite the risk of being caught by the principal (The Breakfast Club). However, his confusion meets the negative attitude of the other character, who also does not understand the point of the group’s escape but prefers to submit to peer pressure unknowingly. This case illustrates how adolescents could submit to peer pressure without even estimating the possible adverse outcomes, even though they acknowledge the wrong intentions of the imposed actions.
Lastly, at some point in the movie, Bender opens his locker to get the bag with marijuana and offers other characters to go to the other part of the library to smoke. One by one, after having a short struggle battling the temptation, characters submit to peer pressure and leave their seats to follow Bender. This case illustrates how peer pressure influences decision-making and how even the most diligent students could have an identity shift caused by the social environment. The following scene shows how smoking is acknowledged as a common trait for ‘cool’ teenagers and how engaging in bad habits helps the nerdy character blend in with others.
Conclusion
In conclusion, peer pressure is a substantial component of adolescents’ life that influences their decision-making process. The case is thoroughly illustrated in The Breakfast Club film, which focuses on the discussion of students’ stereotypes. While student stereotypes present a result of continuous limitations imposed by peer pressure, the film also features scenes of direct peer pressure on the decision-making process of characters and engagement in bad behaviors. Due to the specific structure of teenagers’ brains and overall people’s tendency to evaluate themselves compared to others, teenagers are more subjected to peer pressure. It is important to educate teenagers on the nature of peer pressure and the value of individuality to reduce teenagers’ tendency to compare themselves with peers.
Work Cited
The Breakfast Club. Directed by John Hughes, performance by Judd Nelson, Universal Pictures, 1985.
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