Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
In the film “Mean Girls”, Cady Heron is presented as a high school student who experiences a significant social journey. Self-fulfilling prophecy is a relevant social psychological concept explaining the events she undergoes. A self-fulfilling prophecy is the belief that the expectation of a person or group can cause behaviors and actions that conform to such expectations (Myers & Twenge, 2019).
Research has revealed that people are likely to behave in a manner that confirms stereotypes and expectations, deliberately or unconsciously (Zajda, 2019). For instance, if coaches believe an individual is more talented, they may interact with the person differently and offer more opportunities to facilitate their success. In the film, when Cady realizes that the popular girls recognize her, she begins to behave like them and internalizes their beliefs. She finally becomes mean and shallow, conforming to the expectation that she would adhere to the norms of the popular group.
Cognitive Dissonance
The film depicts an instance of cognitive dissonance concerning people’s beliefs. Cognitive dissonance is the discomposure caused by inconsistency between a person’s beliefs and behavior (Myers & Twenge, 2019). Individuals may experience cognitive dissonance when they engage in activities that contradict their behavior, leading to discomfort after realizing the instance (Dilakshini & Kumar, 2020).
In the film, Cady befriends Janis and Damien, which leads to a conflict between her demeanor and beliefs toward the popular group. She realizes that her actions are inconsistent with her beliefs regarding kindness and empathy. Eventually, this recognition results in a confrontation and modification of her behavior. This scene depicts the power of cognitive dissonance in fostering self-reflection and change.
Peer-Transmitted Culture
The film depicts peer-transmitted culture. This is adopting cultural values and beliefs between peers in a social group. Cady changes into a mean girl due to the influence of her peers, whom she befriends. As Cady becomes more involved with the Plastics, their values and behaviors shape her perception of relationships (Myers & Twenge, 2019). Research has revealed that when individuals join a social group, they will likely change their behavior to conform to the group’s expectations (Phillips et al., 2020). The scene pinpoints how people change due to the influence of their peers.
References
Dilakshini, V. L., & Kumar, S. M. (2020). Cognitive dissonance: A psychological unrest. Current Journal of Applied Science and Technology, 39(30), 54-60. Web.
Myers, D. G., & Twenge, J. M. (2019). Social psychology (13th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
Phillips, L. T., Martin, S. R., & Belmi, P. (2020). Social class transitions: Three guiding questions for moving the study of class to a dynamic perspective. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 14(9), e12560. Web.
Zajda, J. (2019). Research on discrimination and self-fulfilling prophecy in schools globally. Education and Society, 37(1), 59-77. Web.