Mason In The Film Boyhood

Boyhood follows the life of a fictional male character named Mason as he ages. Spanning ten years, approximately 2002 through 2012, Mason progresses from an fledgling elementary student to a freshman in college. I did some research to supplement my viewership and found the filming process extremely interesting. A majority of the original cast from 2002 remained until filming concluded in 2012. This movie provides therein leads itself to film critique that extrapolates on childhood into young adulthood.
Since Mason ages throughout the film, he evolves through two specific stages in Erikson's stage theory of development. Mason first experiences the industry versus inferiority stage. Starting out as an 8 year old in the movie, Mason is able to

He remains in this stage for the remainder of the film. Dealing with two alcoholic stepfathers, a distant biological father and a busy mom, Mason struggles to find his own identity. He remains very introspective throughout this stage which shows maturity.
In seeking his own identify, Mason drinks alcohol and smokes marijuana with his peers. He explores his passion of photography. He stands up to one of his alcoholic stepfathers. Mason further claims his identify by getting a job, graduating from high school, and moving to college. Towards the end of the film he eventually cultivates friendships with his mom, sister, and biological father. Therefore, Mason changes his area of his social domain throughout the film. Social domain is defined as the, "changes in variables associated with the relationship of an individual to others." (Boyd & Bee, pg. 5). Because Mason no longer lives with his mother and sister at the end of the film, the variables have moved. It is noteworthy that he maintains a secure level of attachment with his mother, his key primary caregiver, throughout the film. He is able to maintain healthy attachment while having different relationships with these individuals because of the social domain