The Breakfast Club Psychosocial Analysis

Erik Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory highlights one stage that is relevant and demonstrated in the 1985 movie, The Breakfast Club. Identity vs. Role Diffusion, or also known as, Stage 5, is the foundation for the characters and plot of this movie. To begin with, the plot of the movie deals with a group of adolescents dealing with stereotypes and finding their identities. At the beginning of the movie, the teens are in “fragile” and “detrimental-like” stages. They do not really know who they are, or what they want to do in life. They believe they are only recognized and identified by stereotypes. They look for some sense of encouragement to help establish and create “who they are.” They are also developing in maturity and their sexual relationships.