spectively examined a number of published studies showing the impact of the mainstream's social and economic marginalization of ethnic minorities on their willingness to subsume their cultural identities or conform to conventional behavioral norms. With reference to social theories of the connection between culture and identity formation, the influence of hierarchical family and community dynamics on the development of attitudes toward "delinquent" behavior, and the positive social and psychological reinforcement provided by gangs but withheld by mainstream society, Arfaniarromo cites research supporting his view that gang members view gang activity as a social achievement, not social deviance. Arfaniarromo references studies showing that delinquent behavior, or a "deviant achievement orientation," is perceived as desirable by gang members, mainly on account of personal powerlessness and social marginality that are perceived by youth as impossible to overcome. Gang culture boosts members' self-esteem in ways that the mainstream does not.
The key to Arfaniarromo's study is the fact that he conceptualizes gang membership as response to--and rebellion against--unacceptably insensitive and inequitable social conditions presented by the social mainstream. That would help explain why gang members partake in activities that they consciously know are morally wrong and illegal. Failing to gain access to the social goods of mainstream society, the gangs develop a social culture with a life of its own, in which petty illegal activity becomes the norm and successful criminal behavior an achievement. Citing research findings that show the complexities of marginal as well as mainstream mores, he makes a case that understanding the dynamics of mainstream and marginal cultures can inform intervention and prevention strategies for discouraging gang membership among youth. The advantage of using sociological theory as the starting point is that it pro...