Group Composition and Diversity
Group Type
The Breakfast Club is a task group, defined as a group in which a specific task is to be accomplished (Jacobs, Schimmel, Masson, Harvill, 2016). Task groups often meet once, concluding after task completion, which coincides with The Breakfast Club, whose …show more content…
Members were part of different cliques in high school; the popular, jocks, nerds, criminals, and outcasts, which is seen in members’ individual stereotypes in the movie. Diversity is seen through characteristics including individual self-esteem, outward appearance, and socioeconomic status. Each member’s family background or unique clique they belong to creates an initial barrier to group formation, because the members feel they are different from one another. Through the group process, members can view their similarities with one another and move past their diverse …show more content…
Therapeutic factors seen in The Breakfast Club include Yalom’s Therapeutic Factors (1995) Altruism, Universality, Catharsis, Development of Socializing Skills, and Group Cohesiveness. The Princess exhibited Altruism, gaining a sense of value by assisting another individual, when she did a makeover on The Basket Case, allowing both individuals to feel beautiful. Universality, realization that others have similar issues, was seen during the performing and adjourning stages, as members realized their problems and thoughts were like others. The Brain depicted this in the final essay as he described each member connected to each other by parts of each stereotypic name. Catharsis, expression of feelings never expressed before, was portrayed when The Princess divulged information regarding being a virgin and when individual members discussed their family dynamics. Development of Socializing Skills is defined as obtaining social skills to process emotions, be less judgmental, and empathetic to others. Socializing skills are present during multiple parts of the group as members self-disclose and assist others with self-disclosure. Members demonstrated increased Socializing Skills through their ability to effectively communicate and increased eye contact. Group Cohesiveness, or members’ closeness creating therapeutic relationships, was established when