Perks of Being a Wallflower

william sampson
During class we will watch the film Perks of Being a Wallflower and test developmental
theories. You will need to identify changes in characters and relate those changes to
developmental theories discussed in class.
Adolescence: What you need to answer.
1. Describe the character's personality in terms of who they are at the
beginning of the film.
2. Explain how each character has changed throughout the film. Be sure to
cite specific events that changes each character.
3. Describe their want to fit in, want to be an adult, and their need for
acceptance.
4. Connect the characters development to a theory from class and explain
why that theory explains the development.
Charlie
1. At the beginning of the film Charlie was lonely and depressed, hes a sad loser, he
had no friends and was bullied frequently.
2. As the film progressed Charlie became happier, he gained many new friends and they
introduced him to new experiences like drugs and alcohol. A bit later in the film he began
to become depressed again because his friends stopped hanging out with him, this is
because he kissed Sam when he was dating Mary Elizabeth causing a bit of a schism in
their clique. This was reversed and he became happy again after he saved Patrick from
being beat by a group of bullies. Towards the end, after his friends left for college he
swirled into a pit of depression. he attempted to kill himself because he blamed himself
for his aunts death. Charlie was released from the mental hospital and was happy again,
he dealt with his trauma and became more social.
3. Charlie wanted to fit in with his friends because he didnt want to be alone. He felt
that he needed to be accepted into his group of friends because otherwise he would
become depressed again and start seeing things which has been a chronic problem for
him in the past.

4. Eriksons theory of the stages of psychosocial development can explain Charlies

behaviour and development. According to Erikson, during adolescence the virtue of
fidelity is being developed. Charlie longs for an intimate relationship with Sam and for
amatory relationships with his friends. The crisis faced by adolescents is that of identity,
through much of the film Charlie is trying to figure out who he is, by getting a new friend
group much of his behaviour and personality changed. His relationship to his friends was
strongest, and his role model was his English teacher, who he looked up to and wanted to
be like. Charlie also often asked who he is, and what he can be. He decided that he can be
whoever he wants to. Much of Charlies behaviour fits exactly into Eriksons model.
Eriksons identity crisis can also explain Charlies behaviour, Charlie uses many drugs
throughout the film as Erikson states is common of individuals looking for an identity. He
also questions who he is and what he will be frequently.
Brad
1. Brad starts out ashamed of being gay. Hes living in denial and in
order to be with Patrick. He has to get drunk and say hes wasted. He keeps his
feelings a secret from everyone. Patrick helps Brad get sober, and Brad eventually
comes to terms and accepts his feelings for Patrick
2. When Brad's Dad finds out about Brad and Patrick's relationship, he brutally beats
brad. This causes him to end his relationship with Patrick and deny their relationship.
Brad doesn't really change at all through the story, Besides him getting sober and
internally accepts his love, he is still under the thumb of his overruling father. he is still
controlled by his desire to fit in. In the movie he never truly accepts his homosexuality
3. Brad's desire to be accepted by people is seen when he chooses to keep his romantic
feelings for Patrick a secret. Even after their relationship ends, Brad denies his sexuality
and even calls patrick a faggot, just to fit in,
4. Freuds theory of psychosexual development explains Brads behaviour. All he really
did was have sex with Patrick, they didnt have any relationship beyond sexual.
According to Freuds theory, during the stages after puberty sexual interests mature.
During this time one experiences unsatisfactory relationships, Brad had an unsatisfactory

relationship with Patrick, and with his father, even though the latter is amatory and
parental instead of sexual.
Candace
1. Starts out as a regular high school senior. She has a boyfriend whom shes happy with
and seems to have her life put together. In the eyes of charlie, she is mature and grown up, and
has already succeeded in high school
2. As the movie progresses, her characters life gets more complicated, as charlie watches
her have a fight with her boyfriend Derek, and Derek hits her. They continue to date for some
time, before she finally breaks up with
3. Candace shows her need for acceptance through the continuation of her relationship
with derek.
4. Freuds theory of psychosexual development applies to Candace. She remains in an
unsatisfactory relationship with Derek, one of the consequences of the stage. Eriksons
psychosocial development theory may apply as well, Candace remains in a relationship with
Derek because she longs to be in a relationship, even after she split with him soon after she
found another partner.
Patrick
1. In the beginning of the movie, Patrick is shown as whimsical and
comedic. He parodies the shop teacher. He is also shown as accepting as he
openly accepts Charlie and invites him to be his friend. Despite people bullying
him and calling him nothing, he doesn't let this bother him. He is openly gay
and forms a relationship with the football player Brad. He is also considerate
when Brad wants the relationship to be kept secret. when Brad's father finds out
and starts beating Brad, Patrick eventually leaves after doing nothing but
watching.
2. Patrick changes when Brad starts ignoring patrick, Patrick is in love with brad and is
hurt by his silence. eventually brad calls patrick a faggot and they get into a fight. After
this, Patrick hits a kind of crisis. sometimes he feels carefree and hopeful, but at other

times he feels depressed. Patrick is lonely and is spending a lot of time with Charlie.
Patricks loneliness even causes patrick to kiss Charlie.
3. Patrick wants to be accepted by people, and eventually feels depressed when people
continue to call him nothing he also wants to be accepted by Brad and feels extreme
anger when Brad calls him a faggot.
4. Eriksons theory of psychosocial development can explain some of Patricks
behaviour, He longs for fidelity with Brad, but is not able to receive it from him. Also the
relationship with Brad is unsatisfactory, lending credence to Freuds theory.
Sam
1. Sam, in the beginning of the movie, is seen in a similar way as patrick, she is seen as
carefree and lighthearted.
2. Sams changes occur mainly outside of the film. She is molested when she is younger,
causing her to become somewhat disturbed, and in the beginning of her high school career she is
promiscuous and very aloof.
3. Sam becomes promiscuous because she feels a need to fit in. She tries very hard to get
into the college of her dreams because she feels that it is the next necessary step to adulthood.
4. Eriksons theories all explain her behaviour. Sam longs for fidelity, so she dates the
college fellow. It doesnt work out which is part of Freuds psychosexual theory, Freuds theory
can also explain her promiscuous behaviour in her early high school years. Back to Erikson, she
is focused on who she can be, and believes she can only be herself by getting into the college of
her choice. Sam also faces role confusion in her early high school days when she becomes
promiscuous, then she appears to have fixed the problem by becoming who she is currently.
Ponytail Derek
1. He is portrayed in the beginning of the film as a gentle person, but is described by
Candace as a bitch and a pussy.
2. He changes when Candace verbally abuses him, he retaliates by slapping her.
Nothing further about his character is developed in the film.

3. He may have slapped Candace out of aggression or because he felt that was the only
way for her to accept him, or in other words, for him to fit in.
4. Freuds psychosexual development, because he was in an unsatisfactory relationship
with Candace.
Mary Elizabeth
1. She is shown to be kinda bubbly despite having a dark demeanor.
2. Her biggest change may have been when Charlie kissed Sam instead of her, it caused
her to become sad and angry for a time.
3. Mary Elizabeth doesnt show any particular need to fit in or want to be an adult.
4. Freuds psychosexual theory explains that at her stage of development unsatisfactory
relationships develop, much like her and Charlies/
Alice
1. Alice is a quiet girl who steals jeans.
2. She does not change.
3. She does not show any particular need to fit in or want to be an adult.
4. Eriksons theory of identity could explain why she partakes in illegal behaviour, like
stealing, as it is to help her find out who she really is.
Adults: What you need to answer.
5. Explain the impact each adult has on the teenagers.
6. Are the adults helpful? Why or why not?
7. What do you think they could have done to help the teenagers?
8. What stage of adult development do you believe each character is at and
why?
Charlies Mom
5. The film did not show his mom having any impact on him or his sister. She cared for
them, beyond that nothing

6. She isnt very helpful, but it isnt her fault that she isnt. She didnt know what was
going on with Charlie.
7. She could have attempted to talk to Charlie more, make him feel more comfortable at
home than with his friends so he wouldnt feel the need to engage in immoral behaviour.
8. I believe she is at the adulthood stage of psychosocial development. This is because
her character appeared to be around 40-64 years of age, and she displayed generativity by caring
for Charlie.
Charlies Dad
5. The film did not show his dad having any impact on him or his sister. He cared for
them, beyond that nothing
6 .He isnt very helpful, but it isnt his fault that he isnt. He didnt know what was going
on with Charlie.
7. He could have attempted to talk to Charlie more, make him feel more comfortable at
home than with his friends so he wouldnt feel the need to engage in immoral behaviour.
8. I believe he is at the adulthood stage of psychosocial development. This is because his
character appeared to be around 40-64 years of age, and he displayed generativity by
caring for Charlie.

Mr. Anderson
5. Mr. Anderson becomes Charlies role model, he helps him develop by providing him
with emotional and moral support. He also engages Charlie allowing his cognitive skills to grow
as well.
6. Yes, because he helps guide Charlie in making some of the choices that he does.
7. He could have pestered Charlie into letting off some of his emotional burdens onto
him, but besides that he did all he could.

8. I believe he is at the adulthood stage of psychosocial development. This is because his

character appeared to be around 40-64 years of age, and he displayed generativity by caring for
Charlie. Mr. Anderson also questions whether he can make his life count or not by attempting to
write a book, which he ultimately fails at.