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1 Movie Analysis: Developmental Theories Portrayed in “Mean Girls” Khadiza Murshida SUNY Erie Community College PS-201-AB: Developmental Psychology Professor Jill Kearns-Bodkin December 7, 2023

2 Movie Analysis: Developmental Theories Portrayed in Mean Girls This paper examines the characters and themes in the film "Mean Girls" through the lens of developmental psychology. The goal is to analyze the psychological and social development of the main characters using established developmental theories such as David Elkind’s Adolescent Egocentrism Theory, Albert Bandura's Social Observational Learning Theory, and Diana Baumrind's Parenting Styles. This analytical approach seeks to unravel the complexities of the characters' journeys, with a particular emphasis on the multifaceted aspects of relationships, personality, and moral development depicted in the film. Elkind's theory provides a framework for understanding why characters may behave in specific ways through a developmental perspective. Albert Bandura's Social Observational Learning Theory explains how the characters learn from their social surroundings, which include peers and authority figures. Diana Baumrind's Parenting Styles, with its categories of authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, and neglectful, sheds light on the familial influences that shape the characters' behavior and decisions. Using developmental theories, we hope to uncover the nuanced processes influencing the characters' development, conflicts, and personal adjustments in "Mean Girls." This analytical endeavor not only improves our understanding of the characters in the context of the film, but it also sheds light on the broader significance of these developmental stages for real-life adolescents. We hope to uncover the underlying psychological mechanisms that contribute to the characters' narrative arcs by dissecting their experiences, decisions, and interpersonal dynamics. This analysis goes beyond the realm of the film, providing insights into universal themes and

3 experiences that resonate with adolescents in the real world who are navigating the same thing. Finally, this analysis contributes to a better understanding of the complex relationship between psychology and social interactions depicted in this iconic film, providing valuable parallels to the challenges adolescents face on the road to adulthood. Baumrind’s Parenting Styles Authoritarian Baumrind offers a model of parenting that includes three styles. The first, authoritarian, is the traditional model of parenting in which parents make the rules and children are expected to be obedient (Lumen Learning, 2022, pg. 263). In this parenting style, there is little communication without any input from the child. Parents are most likely to use physical punishment and/or yell, and the goal is for children to obey out of fear. Children raised under authoritarian parenting usually are unhappy, may suffer from psychological problems, have poor relations with parents, and are most likely to rebel as teenagers. Permissive Permissive parents are more friends than parents. They tend to let kids make decisions about things they shouldn’t be, and set very few guidelines or rules. Parents are warm and communicative but provide little structure for their children (Lumen Learning, 2022, pg. 263). Children raised under these circumstances may suffer from psychological problems, emotional dysregulation, and lack of boundaries due to never being told “no.” Children want guidance and structure and may resent their parents for being unable to provide that for them, which statistically lead to poor relationships with them.

4 Multiple facets of this parenting style are portrayed in the film, such as the parenting itself, and the effects on the child. One instance is when Regina George’s mother behaves as if she is part of the friend group and offers Cady, a teenager, alcohol when she should be behaving like a responsible parent (Waters, 2004, 20:10). In a later scene, she is seen encouraging Regina’s destructive behavior and offers condoms to Regina and her boyfriend, both teenagers (Waters, 2004, 48:01). Regina’s mother is often seen enabling her daughter and letting her do exactly as she pleases without any consequences. One last example of this is when Regina wears a wildly inappropriate costume for a Halloween party, and her mother is seen snapping pictures of her in unseemly positions (Waters, 2004, 25:31). The film also portrays the negative consequences this type of parenting has on Regina, highlighting her lack of healthy emotional regulation. This can be seen many times in the film, including when Regina angrily pulls up to Cady’s house unable to cope with the fact that she wasn’t invited to the party (Waters, 2004, 56:50). Later in the same scene, she is unable to regulate her emotions when she finds out Cady was feeding her kalteen bars to make her fat and screams bloody murder (Waters, 2004, 1:02:18). Her emotional dysregulation eventually causes her extreme physical harm when she is screaming at Cady and gets hit by a bus (Waters, 2004, 1:16:05). Authoritative Authoritative parenting involves being appropriately strict, reasonable, and affectionate (Lumen Learning, 2022, pg. 263). Parents act as guides or mentors for their children and allow significant communication from the child but ultimately make the decisions. Children raised under authoritative parenting ultimately grow up to be well adjusted psychologically, successful academically, and have better relationships with parents.

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