ADOLESCENCE AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY IN WILLIAM GOLDING’S LORD OF THE FLIES

Abstract

This study explores the representation of adolescence and its intersection with social psychology in William Golding’s Lord of the Flies. The novel, set against the backdrop of an isolated island during wartime, becomes a psychological microcosm where a group of schoolboys, free from adult supervision, must navigate the challenges of survival, group dynamics, and moral decay. Through the behavior and development of characters such as Ralph, Jack, Piggy, and Simon, Golding examines the fragile boundary between civilization and savagery, emphasizing the psychological undercurrents of identity formation, peer pressure, conformity, and aggression that often characterize adolescent experience. This paper analyzes the novel through the lens of key social psychology theories, including groupthink, deindividuation, and the bystander effect, to illustrate how adolescence is portrayed not only as a biological stage of growth but also as a socially constructed and psychologically complex period. Ultimately, the novel presents a bleak yet profound commentary on human nature, suggesting that the struggles of adolescence mirror broader societal tensions and the potential for both order and chaos within all individuals.