ANALYSIS OF THE BLIND SIDE
The blind side is a story about a homeless African American teenager, Michael Oher,
who is taken by a well-to-do white family, the Touhys, who help him fulfill his
potential. The Touhys eventually become his legal guardians, transforming both his
life and theirs. Michael is recruited by a major college football program where he is
groomed into an athletically and academically successful NFL prospect.
Conformity is the tendency to act or think like the members of a group in order to fit
in. In this movie, Michael Oher is faced with a lot of different groups or people to
conform to, like the new way of living with the Touhys, his school friends and the
football team.
Nature versus nurture is seen in this movie too. Michael’s sense of security, that is,
his protective instincts that he acquired from his past experiences (while living as a
homeless child) and instability which he had gone through growing up. However,
after being adopted by the Touhys, the impact of nurture is seen through the amount
of growth he shows and begins to have a better life.
Another group dynamic that is evident in this movie is the formation of in-groups
and out-groups. Michael at first goes through a lot of acculturative stress to try and
adapt the lifestyle of his new family. Even the Touhys face a little difficulty at first to
try and bond with Michael. However, as the time goes by, Michael successfully
integrates with his surroundings and uses them to his benefit.