NCJ Number
147179
Date Published
1990
Length
97 pages
Annotation
This thesis explored the factors that influence gang membership and the types of gang members who are involved in violence and the use of drugs, and the impact of the gang on psychological adjustment and perceptions of gang members was addressed.
Abstract
Comparisons were made between gang and non-gang members and between gang members from different ethnic backgrounds. Data was collected from 334 black, Hispanic and white young men incarcerated in a California penal institution. The correlates of gang membership included family influences, gratifications and reward offered by the gang, socioeconomic status and territoriality. Fifteen hypotheses were developed based on these correlates. The general theory underlying these hypotheses is Exchange Theory. The data showed that most gang members of all ethnic groups had family members who belonged to gangs. The hypothesis that incarcerated gang members had less social contact with family members than did non-gang members was only demonstrated for the white inmates. Gang members did not come from broken homes any more than non-gang members. The hypothesis that gang members would have fewer friends that they trusted was supported for the Hispanic youths. The relationship of socioeconomic status to gang membership was not shown to be strong. White and Hispanic gang members were more likely than black gang members to have been involved with drug or alcohol use, while black gang members admitted more often to knowing gang members who committed murder. Over 50 percent of gang members in each ethnic group admitted to having participated in gang violence. Gang membership was found to contribute somewhat to psychological well-being and adjustment to prison. Suggestions for future research are discussed. 2 appendixes, 14 tables, references