LAST EDITED ON 10-13-05 AT 04:16 PM (EST)

DISCLAIMER: This post is regarding Scientific Psychological questions of how characters are portrayed on the show. Please stick to that.

In times of crisis, do people fall back on traditional roles in order to survive? Do they begin acting in ways that they normally would have considered a negative stereotype? Is there any scientific research related to this? How closely related are our experiences in life to being portrayed as a stereotype? IE- I may be a “-----“, just don’t portray me as one on TV.

Last night’s episode seemed really heavy with this. Is there some valid basis for portraying people in this manner or was the writer just not thinking?

Seeing this got me to wondering what I would do if I were LOST. Would I take advantage of my race and sex to gain control? Probably not. I also don’t think I would build a bamboo stage and entertain everyone with Show Tunes.

Bovinated BR549- An Original Draco Masterpiece

• RE: Serious Question about Portrayals,TenPin, 05:01 PM, 10-13-05

Farmboy,

I am not sure if I understand your question. Well, I think I understand the question, but I am not sure that I agree with your initial point.

In times of crisis, do people fall back on traditional roles in order to survive? ... Last night’s episode seemed really heavy with this. Is there some valid basis for portraying people in this manner or was the writer just not thinking?

I am curious as to what characters and behaviors are you referring to? Anna Lucia being tough and driven because she is Latino? Rose doing laundry because she is black or Mysterious island guy is a big, mean black guy? Or even Hurley in charge of the food because he is overweight?

I don't think it is a case of the writer not thinking, but had more to do with the personalities of the characters in question. Hurley’s behavior on last nights episode was based on his experience with suddenly becoming rich and having everyone turn on him. Rose seems to be dealing with her crisis by attempting to live like she would in any situation … dealing with everything even the mundane like laundry etc. As for Anna Lucia, in the brief glimpse of her that we saw before boarding the plane she came across as being bold, driven, and having a very take charge attitude. It is these characteristics that have help her survive since the crash. And they explain her actions in last night’s episode.

So IMO... I don’t know what, if any, research exists that people “fall back” to traditional roles to survive, but more likely to me, people rely on the talents and skills that they already possess to survive in a crisis situation.

TenPin