Gangs: A Social Analysis

According to Alder, Laufer, and Mueller (2013), in 2008, there were 20,000 active gangs across the nation. However, while gangs come in many forms, the local street gangs account for the largest number of gangs nationwide who commit a variety of crimes and violence (p. 138). Gangs are considered subcultures within the dominant culture who have their own shared beliefs and values passed down to other group members. Oftentimes, gangs are involved in the distribution of drugs and expand their chapters across the nations to influence new memberships. While it is believed gang membership is related to lower class values, middle-class is also involved in gang violence. Children often look up to their peers and adults, so I think children …show more content…
I say this because no matter what class a person is associated with, no one knows what goes on behind closed doors. Therefore, I think the values people learn at home influence their peer relationships and learning ability when parents are more involved with their children. Take, for example, youth who struggle to fit in at school or may perform poorly academically. Delbert Elliot and Travis Hirschi research found a high correlation between delinquency and young people who act out against authority and perform poorly at school (Alder, Laufer, & Mueller, 2013, p. …show more content…
It is believed that when one has not developed adequate social attachments and been involved in conventional activities, they are less likely to conform to the conventional values of society (Alder, Laufer, & Mueller, 2013, p. 181). Under this ideal, socialization is important in regulating behavior and positive relationships throughout one’s life. Also, Hirschi and Gottfredson theorized that parents need to monitor their children’s behavior and punish poor behavior in order to instill self-discipline and healthy psychological support (Hay, 2013). Many other researchers in the psychological field have also theorized parental intervention is important for sufficient development. For instance, Baumruind theory revolves around the responsiveness and demands parents place on children. This concept discusses the use of supervision and positive disciplinary actions to instill individuality and self-control through nurturing means (Hay, 2013). Agnew’s general strain theory also brought forth the idea that parental and youth relations are important in social development, so children learn to be individuals who are more sensitive to the interest of others. In fact, research into parental discipline and monitoring youth’s behavior showed a moderate correlation with self-control against delinquent acts (Hay,