NCJ Number
153803
Journal
Adolescence Volume: 29 Issue: 114 Dated: (Summer 1994) Pages: 279-291
Date Published
1994
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This study evaluated the self-esteem and racial attitudes of high school gang members compared to their nongang peers. The subjects included 155 male high school students (65 nongang and 13 gang member whites, and 41 nongang and 36 gang member blacks).
Abstract
As predicted in the study, gang members of both ethnic groups possessed lower levels of overall self-esteem compared to their peers not involved in gangs. The study did not find any evidence for the existence of so-called black self-hatred. Contrary to the study hypothesis, there was no evidence that gang members displayed higher levels of racial prejudice than nongang peers. This finding was surprising, given that most gang membership follows racial boundaries. Evidence was obtained for the social identity theory prediction that adolescents would name role models from their own ethnic group compared to their ethnic outgroup. Gang members tended to name fewer role models than adolescents who were not gang members. The absence of either a parent or teacher role model was the best predictor of gang membership, according to the results of regression analysis. 1 figure, 3 tables, and 19 references