1. Development
1.1. Gender: Gender vs. Role Playing
1.1.1. Gender role is defined as a set of expected behaviors for males or for females. Role is defined as a set of expectations about a social position, defining how those in the position ought to behave.
1.1.1.1. This applies to John Bender because in the movie he verbally harasses Claire because she's a popular girl that takes her friends and being prom queen more seriously than anything else that she does. Bender acts like such a tough guy towards her because he feels that by being a guy means that he's tougher than a girl, especially Claire. That's why he just abuses her verbally and bothers her throughout the movie.
1.2. Frued's Sexual Development: Oral Phase
1.2.1. Freud's Oral stage is all about the mouth, and the pleasure that comes with it.
1.2.1.1. Fixation on the Oral stage of development can lead to over talking, drinking, and smoking, all of which John Bender Exhibits. He probably was weened off of breast milk too early or too late
1.3. Erik Erikson's Psychosocial Development: Identity vs. Role Confusion
1.3.1. During the teen years, adolescants want to find where they fit in, and try and forge a new identity that separates from their parents.
1.3.1.1. John Bender is obviously role confused. He hates the populars and jocks because they won't accept him, but doesn't seem happy with where he is either.
2. Disorders
2.1. Personality Disorders: Antisocial Personality Disorder
2.1.1. Antisocial Personality Disorder is characterized by lack of empathy for others, frequent lying, cheating, and violence, and disregard for authority.
2.1.1.1. John Bender exhibits all of these characteristics. Also there is a strong genetic factor in APD, and, according to Mr. Vernon, John's father has "A history of mental illness"
3. Motivation
3.1. Theories of Motivation: Mazlow's Hierarchy
3.1.1. Mazlow's hierarchy is a pyramid of different needs that must be met. The ones on the bottom are the most important and must be met before you can satisfy your potential and esteem
3.1.1.1. John Bender has not yet met one of the bottom levels of the pyramid, safety. His dad beats him and he doesn't feel safe at home, so why would he be motivated to achieve, or care about anything? He's just trying to get by.
4. Learning
4.1. Learning: Observational Learning
4.1.1. This is a behavior represented when you observe behavior from others.
4.1.1.1. This applies to John Bender because he would always observe his father beat on his mother and then his father would beat on him. This then causes Bender to take his anger and cynicism out on others.
5. Personality
5.1. Personal Control: Locus of Control
5.1.1. The locus of control is where you think power lies. When you have an internal locus of control, you think you are in control of your actions, however John Bender has an external locus of control
5.1.1.1. An External Locus of control means John Bender has been controlled his whole life, and thinks he is not in control of his actions. Because of this, he has acquired learned helplessness, which means why would he ever to to do anything to to express himself, he will just be shut down
5.2. Personaility Growth: Humanism
5.2.1. In order for people's personalities to grow and reach their full potential, they must be present in a postitve growth environment
5.2.1.1. All 3 characteristics of a positive growth environment were met that day. Unconditional positive regard (loved each other, even if they acted stand-offish) acceptance (accepted all parts of each other, even the bad) and empathy (you're not the only ones with problems, I get it)