In Sanyika Shakur’s memoir, Monster: The Autobiography of an L.A. Gang Member, the audience follows the events that transform Monster Kody Scott into Sanyika Shakur. While writing his memoir from prison, the book starts in 1975 with his graduation from elementary school and initiation into the Crips. His initiation included a brutal beating from fellow Crips members, which immediately followed his first gang shooting against the Bloods. At the age of thirteen, Kody Scott earned the nickname “Monster” due to his violent acts committed against a victim. In 1978, Monster describes himself as having “ambition, vitality, and ruthlessness” in order to build his reputation and define himself as an individual. One year later, Monster was in trial
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He realizes that his lifestyle is self-destructive. In turn, Kody becomes educated and changes his name to Sanyika Shakur when he joins the Islamic faith. Later in prison, Sanyika was introduced to the New Afrikan Independence movement. This group changed his frame of mind and made him realize the importance of his family. Although it is difficult to apply only one theory to Monster, Travis Hirschi’s Social Bond Theory best explains Sanyika Shakur’s involvement with crime. Hirschi believed that the “variation in the strength of social controls is what explains variation in the extent to which people engage in crime” (page 119). If the bond is stronger, criminality is less enticing and the person is more likely to conform. If the bond is weaker, then the person is more likely to submit to crime behavior. Strong bonds will only remain so if they are continuously supported and …show more content…
Firstly, Hirschi states that the youth must have a strong attachment to adults. To start the novel, Mr. Smotherman tells Kody that he shows “moral decay” after Kody flashes the camera. This implies a mutual feeling of contempt and lack of respect. Kody goes on to say that his father mistreats him and there are no signs of a healthy relationship. By the age of eleven, Kody already has two negative adult male authority figures in his life. Therefore, it is evident that attachment bond has been weakened tremendously. Along with this, Kody did not have a strong relationship with his mother either. His mother was always working, thus, he did not have much parental supervision. For example, Kody was relieved that his mother was not home when the authorities were chasing him home. His mother lacked direct control and indirect control in Kody’s
He realizes that his lifestyle is self-destructive. In turn, Kody becomes educated and changes his name to Sanyika Shakur when he joins the Islamic faith. Later in prison, Sanyika was introduced to the New Afrikan Independence movement. This group changed his frame of mind and made him realize the importance of his family. Although it is difficult to apply only one theory to Monster, Travis Hirschi’s Social Bond Theory best explains Sanyika Shakur’s involvement with crime. Hirschi believed that the “variation in the strength of social controls is what explains variation in the extent to which people engage in crime” (page 119). If the bond is stronger, criminality is less enticing and the person is more likely to conform. If the bond is weaker, then the person is more likely to submit to crime behavior. Strong bonds will only remain so if they are continuously supported and …show more content…
Firstly, Hirschi states that the youth must have a strong attachment to adults. To start the novel, Mr. Smotherman tells Kody that he shows “moral decay” after Kody flashes the camera. This implies a mutual feeling of contempt and lack of respect. Kody goes on to say that his father mistreats him and there are no signs of a healthy relationship. By the age of eleven, Kody already has two negative adult male authority figures in his life. Therefore, it is evident that attachment bond has been weakened tremendously. Along with this, Kody did not have a strong relationship with his mother either. His mother was always working, thus, he did not have much parental supervision. For example, Kody was relieved that his mother was not home when the authorities were chasing him home. His mother lacked direct control and indirect control in Kody’s