Five kids who seem to have nothing in common find self validation and develop a mutual relationship throughout one Saturday detention. The film deals with various topics but for this essay I will only focus on the group dynamics such as communication, the development of the group, and primary, secondary needs meet by the group. .
The film shows five kids which each fit a stereotypical teen model. The princess, the rebel, the brain, the jock, and the basket case. They are all forced to spend a day in detention pondering what they did to get in their in the first place. In the beginning each character comes in to the situation with varied perceptions of each other, this variance of character analysis leads to a verbal environment that is both tense and lacking any real communication. .
Each character plays an important role but John Bender the rebel, carries many important character traits that create a catalyst to communication. Bender was cocky, arrogant, confident, and overall very rude and pushy. You see this when he gets into an argument with the principal, Bender would not allow the principal to have the last word, Bender wont back down this gets him 2 months detention. Even though he knew he could never defeat the principal he felt that he had to prove something no matter what. Bender is also the one who asks the questions, even though they are inappropriate he asks because he knows this will antagonize the others. He does this so well that he gets into a fight with Andrew, and threatens to kill him. Andrew is the jock although confident and popular he can't think for himself. He thinks bender is a burnout and a bum. They both seem to fight over control of the group. Andrew being popular and athletic is friends with Clair the princess. They sit next to each other in the beginning this shows their friendship and social status. Clair is popular and secure about herself. She is not shy and will talk openly with the others.
