Introduction
The film “10 Things I hate About You” is a case study for defining and analyzing human development stages. Stratford is a native of Seattle who, together with her younger sister Bianca, lives with their father, Walter. She’s a senior in high school and plans to go to Sarah Lawrence College in New York. In contrast to Bianca’s naivete and sweetness, Kat is cunning, intelligent, and aloof. It’s understandable why most people refer to her as the “b*tch”(Lazar, 1999, 1:12:00). She may come out as grumpy and argumentative, but underneath it all, she does care about the people in her life. As far as her friends and acquaintances are concerned, Katarina is a feminist who cannot stand the foolishness of dating. Understandably, she rejects intimate advances.
Development Period
Considering Erickson’s hypothesis, Katarina is an adolescent. Approximately 18 years old, she is a senior in high school. Kat and Bianca do not look too different in age; therefore, it is reasonable to assume that she is also in her adolescent years. Most cast members are at a point when they show signs of rapid physical growth (Beyer and Lazzara, 2020). She is typical of a female pubescent in her abnormal proportions, being both tall and thin. However, puberty comes quite late for her, as she should have more obvious feminine features by age eight. She lacks the bosom, thighs, and hips of Bianca. She prefers to be alone and is more susceptible to stress. The latter may result from her genetics or lifestyle also.
An individual must achieve these results to finish adolescence successfully, thus making an “easy” transition into adulthood (Beyer and Lazzara, 2020). Katarina’s success or failure in making the stages described by the theories can be determined by analyzing her behavior and relationships. Firstly, she appears aware of and comfortable with her physical changes. She employs them strategically as a distraction; she exposes her bosom in an attempt to get Patrick off probation (Lazar, 1999, 1:07:18). In response to Walter asking Bianca’s whereabouts, Kat tells him that she ran off with “Bikers who were filled with sperm,” (Lazar, 1999, 1:27:02). It can be assumed that full sexual maturity kicks in during puberty and potential for teenage pregnancy increases.
Discussion on the Bronfenbrenner Hypothesis
Bronfenbrenner’s theory considers aspects of a child’s surroundings in their growth. These he classified into systems that affect one’s outlook, friends, and personal growth. The theory differs from others in that it sees the child’s growth as the product of the interplay between various factors. He classifies the environment into five distinct systems; the microsystem, mesosystem, exosystemic, macrosystem, and chronosystem. The microsystem makes a child’s immediate environment. The mesosystem encompasses the microsystems and how they interrelate to affect the child’s development. The exosystem is a combination of relationships outside the microsystem that influence the development of an individual. As the largest interacting environment, the macrosystem is also the most distant from the child. Despite this, it has a considerable effect on the child.
Erickson’s Theory: Identity vs. Role Confusion
Eight phases of psychological and social growth occur between infancy and adulthood. Depending on how it is handled, each stage’s psychological crisis can significantly impact the individual’s developing character (Maree 2022). Erickson’s view of the adolescent is predicated on the tension between the principles of identity and role uncertainty. In this stage of development, the adolescent will reevaluate his identity and attempt to determine their true nature by asking questions such as “who am I?” To make a smooth shift, one must be confident in who they are and what one can do. Adolescents will experiment on many different personas as they explore who they are and the world around them.
The Ecological System of The Character
Kat’s microsystem consists of Patrick, Walter, and Bianca. These are the people in her immediate surroundings, and she can impact their impressions of her. Kat feels vulnerable talking to Patrick because she has revealed personal information (Lazar, 1999, 1:15:30). Her fellow students, the school administration, and teachers make up her mesosystem. Kats macrosystem is her neighborhood, which welcomes young adults by letting them host parties and play loud music without fear of repercussion (Lazar, 1999, 0:40:01). Kat’s nationality is the chronosystem which is the last major factor in shaping her character, as evidenced by the fact that she lives in Seattle. Kat has a driver’s license and is eligible to apply to universities.
Kat has attained identity achievement by establishing a solid professional identity. Kat has planned her future career around the things she enjoys doing and has put in the effort to make those plans a reality (Lazar, 1999, 0:13:51). She is determined to complete her education, unlike Bianca. The latter is torn between Cameron and Joey. Admission to Sarah Lawrence reflects her motivation and drive, which will help her realize her full potential. Achieving success in school is closely linked to identity achievement, which is shown by her renewed optimism that stem from her belief that she can take steps toward greater autonomy once in college (Lazar, 1999, 0:13:51). Since she has confidence in her ability to be independent, she is unafraid and confident.
Conclusion
Unlike his daughter, Mr. Walter, a gynecologist, says that teen pregnancies are a source of frustration (Xavier et al., 2018). Because pregnant women are more likely than males to experience hardship due to having a child, his overprotectiveness is somewhat understandable (Lazar, 1999, 0:13:47). The family unit as a whole is impacted by teen pregnancy. Both adolescents and their parents develop depression. In good faith that they listen to him, Walter often reminds his daughters to be cautious; he quotes the words of the 15-year-old she helped deliver as a warning. He goes to great lengths to protect his kid, but it’s unclear whether out of love or fear.
References
Beyer, A., & Lazzara, J. (2020). Chapter 7: Adolescence – Psychology through the lifespan. Maricopa Open Digital Press.
Lazar, A. (Producer), & Junger, G. (Director). (1999). 10 Things I hate About You [Motion Picture]. United States: Touchstone Pictures.
Maree, J. G. (2022). The psychosocial development theory of Erik Erikson: a critical overview. The Influence of Theorists and Pioneers on Early Childhood Education, 119-133.
Xavier, C., Benoit, A., & Brown, H. K. (2018). Teenage pregnancy and mental health beyond the postpartum period: A systematic review. J Epidemiol Community Health, 72(6), 451-457.