ANSWER

1. Role of calling the teacher a “brownie hound” in group development: In the film, the characters engage in name-calling and expressing their frustration towards the authority figure, the teacher, Mr. Vernon. Brian Johnson, one of the students, calls him a “brownie hound” as an act of defiance. This name-calling reflects the initial stages of group development, particularly the forming stage. During this stage, group members often exhibit polite behavior and are cautious about expressing their true feelings. Brian’s comment breaks this politeness barrier and helps set the stage for more open and honest communication as the group progresses.
2. Did the group follow all the steps in developing?: The group in “The Breakfast Club” doesn’t strictly follow all the stages of group development, which are typically defined as forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning. Instead, the film focuses on a condensed timeframe (a single day) and primarily explores the storming and norming stages.
   • Storming: During this stage, the group experiences conflicts and disagreements. In the film, the characters engage in heated arguments, confrontations, and reveal their prejudices and stereotypes about each other’s social backgrounds. This phase is essential for the group to move towards cohesion.
   • Norming: The group begins to establish norms or shared expectations about how they should behave and interact. This happens gradually as the characters start to understand and empathize with each other’s struggles and backgrounds. Norms help guide their behavior and foster a sense of unity.
3. How does the group establish norms?: The group in the film establishes norms through dialogue and shared experiences. As they spend more time together and open up about their personal lives and insecurities, they begin to understand each other better. This understanding leads to the development of norms that encourage empathy and mutual respect. For example, they agree not to judge each other based on their stereotypes or backgrounds, and they start to support each other emotionally.
4. How does the group become cohesive?: Cohesion in the group develops as they move through the storming and norming stages. Key factors contributing to cohesion in the film include:
   • Shared experiences: The students bond over their shared experience of being in detention and facing similar challenges with their families and social pressures.
   • Empathy: They begin to empathize with each other’s struggles, realizing that they are not so different beneath their exterior personas.
   • Norms: The group establishes norms that promote respect and open communication, creating a safe space for them to be themselves.

Overall, “The Breakfast Club” explores the dynamics of group development, showing how a diverse group of individuals can move from initial conflict to cohesion and understanding over a short period.

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