Deviance And Conformity In Kids Return

The film Kids Return, directed by Takeshi Kitano delves into the complex themes of deviance and conformity through the story of two high school friends, Shinji and Masaru, who struggle to find their place in society after dropping out of school. The film skillfully portrays the struggles and challenges that come with conforming to societal norms and expectations, and as well as the consequences of deviating from them. Both Shinji’s and Masaru’s experience with trying to find their place in society, can be understood and analyzed through the lens of social psychologists such as Leon Festinger, Abraham Maslow, and Muzafer Sherif. In the film Kids Return, directed by Takeshi Kitano, the themes of deviance and conformity are central to the story,

Sherif's experiment explored the dynamics of group behavior and the emergence of deviant and conformist tendencies. Similarly, Kids Return explores the influence of social environments on individual choices and actions. Masaru's deviant behavior, represented through his desire to become a boxer and a boss, represents a desire to carve out his own path and prove his individuality in defiance of societal expectations. He refuses to conform to the social norms and instead asserts his individuality by pursuing a path that aligns with his personal interests and abilities. This echoes the deviant tendencies observed in Sherif's Robbers Cave Experiment, where individuals challenge the established group standards to assert their independence. However, Shinji embodies the conformist behavior seen in the experiment. He adheres to societal expectations, focusing on academic achievements and securing a stable job. Shinji's choices are driven by his desire for approval and validation within the established social system. He conforms to the norms set by those around him, believing that aligning himself with the expectations of others will grant him a sense of belonging and recognition. Kids Return explores the effects of Shinji's conformity and sheds light on the possible negative effects of repressing one's actual passions and ambitions in the sake of social acceptance. The movie makes the argument that while conformity could offer momentary comfort and approval, it can also result in a feeling of emptiness and unfulfillment. Shinji is eventually left incomplete and yearning for something more significant as a result of his conformist decisions, which stop him from realizing his full potential and following his personal