“Wonder” Through Developmental Psychology

“When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind.”

“Wonder” is a movie remake based on the novel by R.J. Palacio. The main character, Auggie Pullman, is a child with some facial anomalies. Auggie used to be home-schooled by his parents, but when he was 10 years old, his parents felt that Auggie should go to school because he should adapt to society and shouldn’t avoid people seeing his face. When Auggie entered school, he initially had difficulty fitting in and making friends as he faced obstacles and bullying due to his appearance. Gradually, Auggie developed his coping mechanisms and made friends with his unique charisma. Throughout the film, several key concepts in developmental psychology are addressed that could potentially explain some of the characters’ traits and behaviors.

• Authoritative Parenting Style

Authoritative parenting style refers to parents who try to control their children’s behavior by explaining, discussing, and justifying rules. In the movie, Auggie’s parents displayed an authoritative parenting style by supporting Auggie and listening to his concerns whenever he needs them, but also setting rules for Auggie and asking him to apologize when he does something inappropriate to them. Regarding the first part, Auggie’s parents always encourage him to try new things – when Auggie was homeschooled, he investigated different kinds of science experiments, and his parents didn’t criticize him when he messed up. This could be a possible explanation for Auggie’s talent in science later in the film since his parents let him try everything as a child. And when Auggie felt lonely and longed for reassurance from his parents, they were always there to give it to him – and they were also willing to give him space and treat him more maturely, for instance, when Auggie’s mother agreed to buy him a simple duffel bag for the camping trip to replace his “childish” Star Wars bag. For the latter part, once when Auggie had a bad day at school, he went home, yelled at his parents, and skipped dinner. Auggie’s parents demanded that Auggie apologize for this behavior because he should not be so rude to someone who treats him lovingly. This all shows that Auggie’s parents treated Auggie with an authoritative parenting style, as they allowed him to explore and spend time doing what he liked to do, but also set rules for Auggie to ensure respect and appropriate behavior.

• Secure Attachment

Because of Auggie’s parents’ authoritarian parenting style, Auggie has developed a secure attachment to his parents. A secure attachment refers to children who show some degree of distress when their caregiver leaves, but are able to quickly calm down when the caregiver returns. This is true of Auggie, as on his first day of school he showed some distress and discomfort at school, but he soon adapted to the situation and was no longer afraid to raise his hands in class. After school ended, Auggie quickly ran to his parents and hugged them, showing that he has a secure attachment. This attachment style also allows the caregiver to comfort children when they are in distress, such as when they are scared or nervous. Once when Auggie was bullied by some other students because of his facial abnormalities, he went home and cried to his parents. His parents tried their best to make Auggie happy by telling him funny stories or telling him about their experiences to make him feel better. All of this illustrates Auggie’s stable attachment to his parents since he is prepared to openly discuss his opinions with them while still being comfortable and eventually confident in an atmosphere without them.

• Lawrence Kohlberg’s Postconventional Morality

This is the third stage of Kohlberg’s theory of the stages of moral development. At this stage, people make judgments based on principles of their own choosing, and moral reasoning is based on individual rights and justice. In the film, Auggie’s friend Jack Will demonstrates post-conventional thinking. When Jack heard that Justin, another boy at school, was spreading rumors that Auggie was “contagious,” he stood up in defense of his friend and punched Justin in the face. Postconventional thinking was evident here because Jack should not use violence against other students during conflicts at school, but he did anyway because he knew Auggie was spreading rumors and that he could be punished for his behavior. A central quote in the film is, “When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind.” In this case, Jack chose to defend his buddy no matter what the cost; he chose to be kind rather than what was right in this situation – he made his own situation-based decision about what to do rather than following the rules imposed by the school.

• Erik Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development (Identity vs. Role Confusion)

During the Identity vs. Role Confusion stage of Erik Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development, teenagers tend to be aware of their “selves” and find meaning in their positions. A typical character who demonstrates this is Miranda, a teenager and a former friend of Auggie’s sister Via. During the summer, Miranda dyed her hair to “fit in” with the cool group and make herself more “popular,” neglecting her best friend Via. Miranda’s hair color shaped her identity since it defined her in a way that contrasted with how she preferred to be perceived. Miranda was quietly disappointed and wanted to be friends with Via; however, a deep connection with Via is no longer feasible because Miranda outwardly looked to be a member of the popular group and not someone who should be friends with Via. Miranda was probably confused about her identity at this point because, on the one hand, she enjoyed being popular, but on the other hand, she was uncomfortable with the identity she had given herself and desired to be among people who made her feel comfortable.

The reason I rate “Wonder” so highly is that it addresses many key concepts in developmental psychology and addresses many issues children face growing up – bullying, peer pressure, making new friends, first love, and many other little things. It also shows how important parenting is in the developmental stage of children, as it can be a strong backbone for children to build their self-confidence and a place to cry. The film tells a heartwarming story from many perspectives and shows acceptance, friendship, and the power of kindness. I highly recommend this film!