Gang Membership
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Who joins the gang? On the surface this question seems to have a clear answer. However, answers often pertain to individual characteristics due to the individual nature of the question. Most people assume that potential gang members are plain hoodlums, or people who desire and even accept criminal activity as a way of life. For this reason calculated solutions to the gang problem frequently revolve around methods of dealing with the individual such as counselors or the youth authority and even prison. But as time has told these are ineffective. Recent media attention of gang activity illustrates this failure. Consequently the need for a different approach emerges. One of the initial steps in the process of understanding all of the dynamics of the gang problem lies in recognizing the gang issue as a social one. At this point several social theories can be evaluated and their viability relative to gangs assessed. But currently only few studies maintain a concrete social analysis on gangs. As a result a more complex and diverse approach must be taken to reach a clear understanding. One solid method of analysis is to combine a good social deviance theory with an analysis of the social conditions conductive to gang formation. Because not all social deviance theories are valid, careful steps must be taken when selecting one theory over another, the result of which leads to a better understanding of gangs, from which solutions to the original question and the problem c
. . .
th aspirations exceeding their expectations
do not usually have higher delinquency rates than
those whose aspirations and expectations are both low
. . . those whose aspirations and expectations are
both high nearly always have the lowest delinquency
rates, while those whose aspirations and expectations
are both low usually have the highest delinquency
rates (1978, p. 180).
By this data, Kornhauser concludes that the strain model is disconfirmed, thus criminologists should turn their attention to alternative theories of delinquency. This leaves the control model for delinquency as a validated choice.
As a model of for the causes of delinquency, control theory fits the delinquent activity of the gang. First, the model conforms to the social conditions within which high "gang" occurs. In fact, the most revered study in gangs, The Gang by Frederic Thrasher, reflects control theory. This becomes evident looking at his definition of a gang:
The gang is an interstitial group originally formed
spontaneously, and then integrated through conflict.
It is characterized by the following types of
behavior: meeting face to face, milling, movement
through space as a unit, conflict, and planning
. . .
Some common words found in the essay are:
, Gerald Suttles, Frederic Thrasher, Kornhauser Youth, social controls, social disorganization, deviance theory, cultural deviance, control theory, cultural deviance theory, Chicago University, Thrasher Frederic, Ruth Rosner, Chicago Press, Suttles Gerald, University Chicago, university chicago press, chicago press, strain model, disorganization theory, theory delinquency, chicago university, chicago university chicago, social disorganization theory, rates aspirations expectations,
Approximate Word count = 1498
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)
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