Environmental Determinism In The Film American History X

The film American History X is a film about crime fueled by racism. The crime was committed by a man named Derek Vinyard, a white supremacist. He murdered two black gang members after they attempted to steal his truck. If we look closely at the case of Derek Vinyard, we can see that the crime he committed weren’t just a spur-of-the moment thought of killing someone. His actions were rooted deep into his past, wherein his experiences have shaped him into the person that he was today. Certain aspects of his past have influenced his actions, including his environment, the companions that he keep, his experiences, and a lot more.

There are many different social situations and developments in this film. Many theories I could talk about.
In American History X, the key determinant ideal is the "capacity of oneself to change". That is, our behavior is a result of environmentally deterministic events, and thus we can change our thoughts, our behavior, and our life situation. In doing so, we hold a virtually limitless power to determine the circumstances surrounding our lives and the consequences of those circumstances. No matter the social problems we face.

One of the most significant scenes in the movie with respect to environmental determinism is one that is often overlooked. As Derrick gets out of the shower and is looking at himself in the mirror, the scene changes to a glimpse of himself and Danny as toddlers on the beach. This single scene is one of the most powerful scenes