Director: Tony Kaye

Characters: Derek and Danny

Interpersonal Relationships in Films

American History X is an intriguing and very controversial drama. The dyad in this movie is between two brothers. Derek Vineyard, played by Edward Norton, is the main character in this movie. He is the leader of a group of young white supremacists. His younger brother Danny is played by Edward Furlong. Derek commits hate crimes and he kills African-Americans and he is sentenced to prison. It is in prison where Derek’s life changes and he turns it around for the better. He becomes friends with an African- American male who teaches him about friendship and helps him survive on the inside. He is ready to reform and is later let out of prison. He goes home a changed man. Once released he finds out t

The Psycho Dynamic Theory of Persuasion,(to change a person’s action you must change the person’s attitudes, beliefs and values) is in this movie as Derek tries to change his younger brothers attitude, beliefs and values towards black people. He tells his brother about his time in prison and shares his feelings and personal experiences to change his brother’s attitude. His talk worked and Derek influenced Danny for the better. He knows that what he tells Danny is unprovable because he wasn’t there with him in prison but he makes him believe and understand and change his attitude. Even though it is only for a short time as Danny is not alive for much longer to be changed for long term. The Gender Factor is that in this dyad both characters are males and have instrumental roles which they act out. The Cost- Benefit Theory,( people work to maintain a relationship only as long as the benefits they perceive for themselves outweigh the costs) is also in this movie. When Derek got released from prison all his old friends took him to the gang’s headquarters, but he knew that he had to totally disengage even if some of his old friends tried to harm him. The costs were out weighing the benefits for him. The characteristics in this movie include Relationship Duration,( how long they’re together). In this movie the duration is their whole life as the two are brothers and have grown up together and spend most of their free time together. The Contact Frequency,(how much they see each other) is that they know everything about each other as Derek fills Danny in on the horrors that happened to him in prison. The Johari Window,(a model containing four panes, the open, blind, hidden and unknown areas, that is used to explain the roles of self-awareness and self-disclosure play in relationships) is present in this movie. In the open area, everyone knows Derek is in prison for murder. The blind area is that Derek is not aware that Danny is involved in the gang. The hidden area is that no-one know

Some topics in this essay:
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