The Bling Ring Psychological Analysis

The film The Bling Ring, released in 2013, was about five troubled teenagers committing multiple robberies at celebrities’ houses. While watching the film, I had mixed emotions. On one hand, seeing the way these teenagers lived and their adventures made me envy them. On the other hand, the way they were in general sadden me. These teenagers had all the freedom they could want. Their parents seemed to be oblivious to what they were doing. That saddens me because they had to feel so alone. Also hearing their backgrounds and seeing the way they interacted with each other, made me realize how right the phrase “never judge a book by its cover” is. The main character Marc Hall, touched my heart. I knew a kid like him in my high school. It is

heart breaking to see how bullying can change an adolescence’s life so drastically. Through careful assessment I have diagnosed Marc Hall with Social Anxiety disorder as well as Substance ____abuse or dependence___.
Marc Hall is about 17 years old single male. His family and him recently just moved to a new town Agoura Hills, California. He goes to an alternative high school, Indian Hills High. He’s family is classified as middle class and his parents are still together. Marc is the only child his parents had. His father works in show business and is away a lot, and his mother is a homemaker.
Marc’s diagnoses of Social anxiety disorder explains his symptoms of fear of being rejected, avoiding school, having low self-esteem and being highly alert. Marc moved to the alternative school because he was expelled from his old high school for absences. His anxiety of being judge and ridiculed by his peers ___ him to skip. In Marc’s interview he says, “I had a lot of self-loathing and anxiety issues.. I know I’m not ugly, but I never thought of myself as an A list looking type of guy.. I was always self conscious that I wasn’t as good looking as other people.” He feels like he is not worthy of his peers. When he gets to his new school his thoughts of being unworthy is ___more increased, ___ by his peers bullying him. Another symptom worth mentioning is his high alertness during the robberies. Though, the circumstance he is in calls for alertness, his peers who he follows religiously, are so non shalaunt about the situation. Given that Marc’s high alertness is a symptom of the disorder. There are psychological and social factors that contribute to his disorder. The psychological factors include: his selective attention to threats and learned avoidance. As mentioned earlier his high alertness contributes to his anxiety, making him more irritable and on edge. Also mentioned earlier he learned that avoiding school would ease his social anxiety. The social factors involved has to do with his upbringing. The Family System theory dimonstraits how his upbringing furthered (chances?) his social anxiety disorder. The theory states that family members and maintaining homeostasis are important in determining the developmental outcomes of a child. Given that his family just moved to a new area and go about their lives as if nothing happens increases Marcs symptoms of the disorder. Also Marc’s not being involved in his life, showed him he was not important enough for their attention.
Marc’s diagnoses of substance abuse disorder explains his symptoms of frequent intoxication, choosing risky environmental settings, neglecting his responsibilities, and his tolerance of the drugs itself.

Marc was introduced to drugs by Rebecca. He started off with the occasional smoke session and social drinking to snorting cocaine every chance he got. Also the more cocaine he does, the more his attitude becomes non shalaunt about doing the “jobs.” With his substance abuse, there were social and psychological factors involved that led him to this diagnoses. The psychological factors can be explained with the classical conditioning theory. This theory states learning a behavior comes from external stimuli in our environments impacting how we interact with the environment in the future. Over the course of his substance use, Marc begins to associate drugs with each job they do and with Rebecca in general. By the end of the Movie Marc is using cocaine every time he sees Rebecca. Social factors tremendously contribute to Marc’s substance abuse disorder. His family also impacted this disorder as well. His parents not being attentive, allowed the opportunity for Marc to use drugs without thinking about the consequences. His peers were also a social factor in contributing to his substance abuse. By Rebecca modeling that substance use was casual it allowed Marc to feel guilt free when doing drugs. His peers noticing Marc also influenced Marc to continue doing these behaviors. The media also influenced Marc, doing drugs and robbing high end celebrities allowed Marc to brag on social media. When Marc realized he was getting noticed from people on social media sites, he increased his behaviors because he liked the attention. His substance abuse made him made horrible decisions, like getting into a car with a driver under the

influence.
The combinations of Marc’s upbringing, social influences, and low self-worth was the perfect cocktail for his disorders because of this Marc displays abnormal development throughout his adolaences. Marc is a good kid who got into the wrong friend group because of his earning to be accepted. While his diagnoses are serious, there are steps he can take to overcome both of them.