The Breakfast Club-An Exercise in Psychoanalysis

The Breakfast Club is director John Hughes' 1985 fable of five high school stereotypes brought together for a Saturday of detention. Trapped in the Shermer High School library for nine hours, Claire, Brian, Andy, Bender and Allison eventually stop arguing long enough to discover some compelling truths about themselves and their world.

After viewing John Hughes's 1985 classic The Breakfast Club, create a string of responses in which you psychoanalyze the characters.

Questions to consider:

-What personality traits/disorders (this distinction is worthy as well) do the characters exhibit? (Psychology Today article)
-What are the roots of these traits/disorders?
-Are any of these characters struggling with the "Developmental Tasks of Adolescence" that relate to self or others? (Psychology text pgs. 150-157)
-What defense mechanisms, as defined by Freud, do the characters in the film exhibit? (Psychology text pgs. 187-191)
-How might Freud approach psychotherapy with one of these characters? (Psychology text pgs. 194-196) How might a behaviorist approach the same character differently? (Psychology text pgs. 204-207)

Minimum 3 posts (more encouraged!).
Agree, disagree, expand, explore, question, digress-YOU control the direction of the discussion.
Avoid repetition. If you agree, say so and move on.
Soft cap-150 words.
Mandatory use of acquired knowledge-no armchair psychology-use what you've learned.

Oedipus Rex and Freud's Theory of Personality

King Oedipus makes retribution.

In Oedipus Rex, Sophocles explores the dual nature we all share--the known and the unknown, or in Freudian terms, the conscious and the unconscious. Consequently, the true tragedy of Oedipus is the discovery of his guilt--not the act of murder itself.

As Oedipus begins to realize the truth, he replies, "Ah, what net has God been weaving for me?" (1334), then, in a seemingly contradictory statement, "I think I may be accurst by my own ignorant edict" (1334).

Is the play premised on the notion that Oedipus is bound or free--the puppet of fate or the creator of his own fate? Or some of each? And what about us? According to Freud, is our personality as adults predetermined (fated, if you will) by our childhood experiences, or do we have the free will to change?

Develop a string of responses-each student should contribute twice-never consecutively. Your first response should be 100 words max. Your second response can be between 50-100 words. Whenever possible, expand or refute a classmate's response.

You are strongly encouraged to consult the texts or outside sources to provide depth and breadth to the discussion.

All responses should be posted by Monday after the break.

Personality Traits vs. Personality Disorders

After reading the "Am I Normal?" from the April 2005 issue of Psychology Today, select a passage that reinforces, changes, or contradicts your understanding of the film Girl, Interrupted.

100 proofed, carefully crafted words for Monday.

Reminder-1-2 page papers due Wednesday.