Gangs and gang behavior - week 5 - Essay Example

Law Week 5: Chapter 5 Gang and Gang Behavior It is possible to integrate the theories we learnt in chapter 4, with developmental theories in chapter 5. Integrating chapter 4 theories and developmental theories is also likely to account for existence of gangs and show why youths join gangs. As noted in Chapter 4 on social disorganization theories, gangs continue to thrive because the youth continues to become exposed to gang influences existing within a community. How does disorganization theory for a link with the development theory?

In page 111, Howell says that development theories propose that a child’s performance in school and in life is highly influenced by the community that he or she lives. Page 126 shows a list of all the problems in communities such as availability of firearms, violence and other problems. These problems lead to other problems for the members of the society, such as children as noted in page 127, for children between 12 years to 17 years. For example, it is well-known that the gang members in a society who are the most vicious and violent are usually the ones who are usually respected and praised by other members and even some members of the society.

In disorganization theory, a child gets influence from existing members in the society. If the child gets exposed to such attitudes or beliefs, believing that the most violent gang member is the most respected, then this child also adopts the same trend, as noted in page 128 on risk factors. This is where the developmental theory comes in, because such a child who is under the wrong influence views the gang life as the best choice. Therefore, it is not surprising to see such a child failing in school and adopting the gangster-like behavior while trying so that he or she also gets the same respect.

In chapter 5, page 119, Howell clearly states that the development theories explain more on gang joining, as part of a development process. As child, such as the one mentioned in the example who joins a gang because of influence from the neighborhood gangs is also likely to influence other children, such as his or her friends. Therefore, it becomes a development process as proposed in the development theories, because more children continue to join gangs.ReferenceHowell, J. (2011). “Chapter 5: Gang Involvement as a developmental trajectory.” In. Gangs in Americas communities.

New York: SAGE Publications.