... I prolly won't be editing my blogs much any more for the simple fact that, I am supposed to be starting OD and focusing on geAK. When I do have time I'll edit as much as I can and I may put some of the OD stuff on here... I don't know right now..
Monday, August 25, 2008
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behavior.
2. Criminal behavior is learned in interaction with other persons in a process of communication. This communication is verbal in many cases but can also include gestures.
3. The principal part of the learning of criminal behavior occurs within intimate personal groups.
4. When criminal behavior is learned, the learning includes (a) techniques of committing the crime, which are sometimes very simple; (b) the specific direction of motives, drives, rationalizations, and attitudes.
5. The specific direction of the motives and drives is learned from definitions of the legal codes as favorable or unfavorable.
6. A person becomes delinquent because of an excess of definitions favorable to violation of law over definitions unfavorable to violation of law.
7. Differential association may vary in frequency, duration, priority, and intensity.
8. The process of learning criminal behavior by association with criminal and anti-criminal patterns involves all of the mechanisms that are involved in any other learning.
9. While criminal behavior is an expression of general needs and values, it is not explained by those general needs and values since non-criminal behavior is an expression of the same needs and values. (Sutherland 1974).
Using the concepts presented in Anomie and Differential Association Theories it can be concluded that due to economically poor and damaged families youth feel the need to join gangs as a mean of support both financially and emotionally. According to Jankowski (1991) most gangs are composed of poor or working class adolescents, typically male. Since these youths have few options of gaining success they see the criminal activity within gang life as a quick and easy means of obtaining money, and power.
To address the problem of gang activity some feel that parents should simply teach their children to steer clear of gangs. Others feel that communities should invest in education for teens so that they can gain more academic knowledge and be able to move into a working world and gain success the conventional way. They also feel that communities should also invest in providing jobs for poor less fortunate teens and for ex gang members so that these individuals won’t be tempted to join or rejoin gains to make money in illegal ways. Furthermore and more unconventional some feel that communities so hold treat gangs as a health issue and do screening of individuals through a series of questions to find out if they are involved in gangs. Then go through a series of steps to convince the person to leave their gang and provide support for that individual. (Thomson-Gale) 2009
CONCLUSION
In this paper I have explored the social function of street gangs. I have identified several sources that could possibly lead to gang involvement. By applying the Anomie and Differential Association theory, I have identified the likely causes for deviant behavior within gangs and also presented a solution to prevent further gang member growth.
REFERENCES
Aronson, Amy and Michael Kimmel. 2009. Sociology Now. USA: Pearson, Allyn and Bacon.
“Family, Gangs, And The Gang As Family.” Net Industries. 2008. Retrieved
November 10, 2008 (http://family.jrank.org/pages/674/Gangs-Family-Gangs- Gang-Family.html).
Greek, DR. Cecil E. “Differential Association Theory” Edwin H. Sutherland Differential Association Theory. Retrieved November 11, 2008. (http://www.criminology.fsu.edu/crimtheory/sutherland.html).
Shepard, Jon M.1993. “Deviance and Social Control.” Pp. 202-205 in Sociology: Fifth Edition. St Paul, MN: West Publishing Company.
Thomson-Gale. 2005. Gangs: Opposing Viewpoints, edited by William Dudley, and Louise I. Gerdes. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press.
Thomson-Gale. 2005. “Single Parenthood Increases the Risk of Juvenile Crime.”
Pp. 32-39 in Juvenile Crime: Opposing Viewpoints, edited by Andrea C. Nakaya. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press.
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