He punches his own cousin for trying to stop him from hurting anyone else. Because Tyler is coming to a point in his life where he thinks about his actions reflectively, he is overcoming an obstacle of holding back his emotions, which is showing how to have self-control. Another element I took recognition of is that of how you use dialogue in the story. Tyler and the people around him exhibit their personality with only a few words, and the reader can take note of their role as a character. Also, the dialogue paints a clear picture of what the setting is.
People talk diferently in New York City than they do in Mississippi.
This shows excellent character development and imagery. The factor I would like to discuss is the conflict- resolution behavior. Tyler, in the story, needs to reflect upon his life situation and figure out the best way to solve things. Here, you are demonstrating signs of character vs. society. I am supporting this by cogitating that Tyler is apologizing for his fierce actions and trying to mend his past.