Many of the events that happen to Gordon's character were modeled on events from De Palma's own adolescence, particularly rivalry with a more favored brother, a mother prone to dramatic outbursts, and a philandering father.
In creating Gordon's character, many significant events were inspired by De Palma's own teenage experiences, including competition with a favored sibling, a mother who often displays emotional intensity, and an absent or unfaithful father.