(1) The book outlines several views or theories on why youths join gangs (i.e., anthropological, social disorganization/sociocultural, anomie/alienation, trait, life course and rational choice). Which two views/theories make the most sense to you? Provide an explanation of both views/theories and a justification as to why you think they are accurate. must be at least 250 words.
(2) Respond to the post below: Make sure your response is based on issues relevant to the assignment, and articulate any agreement/disagreement with the original post. Must be at least one small paragraph.
………“The two theories most responsible for why youths join gangs is anomie/alienation and life course. These two theories make the most sense to me. Although many factors (such as the ones listed) assist in playing a role in the development of the delinquent youth.
Anomie/alienation can take away from a child in the earlier years. When this happens, they crave the attention and being welcomed from their peers. Children are mean, and it can be hard for a child to fit in with their peers because of this. Therefore if this does not happen, they seek for attention in other ways. This can be acting out, being violent, stealing, etc. These adolescents are seeking attention they lacked initially. As time goes on, the lack of being accepted within a group can make the individual feel heavily isolated. They gravitate towards places and people who do accept them for the way they are. This tends to be gangs, or even cults.
An example of anomie is a child who has trouble reading. The children in the class pick on him. As he grows up, a few nicknames stick and makes it hard for him to make friends. Eventually, the stigma does not go away. He becomes a trouble youth and begins to act out. Then one day he is hanging out with his cousins, and one of them mentions the gang he is in. This (now adolescent) child listens in admiration as his cousin talks about the respect and togetherness this gang offers. As time goes on, he goes from asking about his cousins gang to hanging out with them, and eventually joining them. It happens so easily. Gangs recruit very young.
The second theory to fault is life course. It goes back to the basics of psychology: nature verses nurture. Undoubtably, both play a large role in defining an individual. Nurture, or ones environment, can particularly play a role that goes unnoticed. In turn, what you see growing up is what you end up putting out into the world. If your relationship with your parents or care takers is not a sound one, this can also contribute to attachment issues. These types of problems are all part of “life course” which plays a big part in the reason why youth join gangs.
An example of life course is a child that had attachment issues with their mother at the beginning of life. Their father was not around growing up. She has a problem being close with friends as she becomes a pubescent. Because of her lack of connection (which more than likely started because of the attachment issues with their mother) she is unable to hold a steady relationship. Then she sees a chance to be part of a group a little older than herself. They seem close and they have been together for as long as she has known them. Upon hanging out with them, she realizes that they are a gang. She wants so badly to obtain a sense of belonging that she looks past this, and continues to hang out with this crowd. Eventually, she is part of a gang.
Again, I believe there are a multitude of contributing factors as to why the youth joins gangs. Environment and alienation are huge contributing factors that are the most important. These two theories explain the reasoning the best.”…….