Mean Girls – Factors Affecting Human Behavior

There are many factors that can affect teenager’s individual attitude and behavioral development. Some factors that affect teenage development are conformity, gender roles and leaders, to name a few. These factors affect teenagers because they all want to “fit in” so the follow these invisible set of rules, to be able to “fit in”. The three factors that I mentioned earlier that affected teenage development are perfectly demonstrated in the movie “Mean Girls”.

The Webster’s dictionary defines conformity as: “acting according to certain accepted standards”. This was clearly visible in the movie when Cady had to become “Plastic” she had to adhere to what being plastic meant. Dressing a certain way on certain days, sitting at the right table, hanging around with the “right” crowd. All of these are rules to being plastic. She had to conform to these rules and live the life of a plastic, so she could fit in and win over Erin.

The factors that changed Cady from being a simple home schooled girl to Plastic changed her attitude and her behavior. In the beginning of the movie we see Cady as a lost school girl, with no sense of direction. She had no clue how a girl is “supposed to dress” for a Halloween party. Later on in the movie we see Cady conforming to her peers and she dress out of her regular attire. Into something more pleasing for others so that she wouldn’t stick out like a sore thumb and fit in. As she came out of the change room, her friends applauded her with her choice of clothing showing what she was wearing was good.

In conclusion, the affects of conforming to certain ways, are used to fit in and feel accepted, in our world. It is all apart of “Survival of the fittest”.