NCJ Number
19181
Editor(s)
B TOMSON,
H SCHWARTZ
Date Published
1975
Length
168 pages
Annotation
THIS BOOK, A COMPILATION OF NINE ESSAYS, DISCUSSES THEORIES AND RESEARCH ON THE INFLUENCE OF GROUP, INDIVIDUAL, AND URBAN FORCES ON JUVENILE GANG DELINQUENCY.
Abstract
INDIVIDUAL CHAPTERS COVER THE BASIC NATURE OF GANGS, MAJOR THEORIES OF GANG DELINQUENCY WITH SUMMARIES OF EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE, THE INDIVIDUAL GANG MEMBER AND THE INTERACTION AMONG GANG MEMBERS, AND STATUS MANAGEMENT, SELF-CONCEPT, COHESIVENESS, UNIFORMITY, AND LEADERSHIP IN THE GANG. ALSO CONSIDERED ARE THE PRESSURES THAT VARIOUS URBAN INSTITUTIONS, SUCH AS THE POLICE AND THE SCHOOLS, APPLY TO LOWER-CLASS ADOLESCENTS. THESE ESSAYS OFFER A WIDE RANGE OF THEORETICAL AND FACTUAL COVERAGE, ALTHOUGH THEY ALL REFLECT THE VIEWPOINT THAT GROUP PROCESSES PLAY A CENTRAL ROLE IN GANG DELINQUENCY. THESE GROUP PROCESSES HAVE TOW COMPONENTS - THE INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF THE GANG BRING THEIR OWN PERSONALITY PROFILES TO THE GANG SCENCE, AND THEIR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS, ASPIRATIONS, AND PROBLEMS PLAY A PART IN THE ENSUING GANG BEHAVIOR; AND THE GANG LIVES IN AN ENVIRONMENT OF COMMUNITY PRESSURES, APPRAISALS AND DEFINITIONS. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)