A Key Contributing Factor Towards Gang Behavior - Research Paper Example

Introduction Gangs have been defined as criminal organizations, usually comprising of juveniles, who are unified by a common purpose of destruction.Gang membership has been a major societal problem, especially in the US, since the early 20th century, a problem which has continued to escalate thereby causing major security concerns for the country and its citizens. According to the National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS) (2011), there were approximately 28100 gangs in the US as at the year 2009, with more than 731000 members. This is a real problem based on the fact that these gangs are always at loggerheads with each other not withstanding the fact that they have no compassion for human life and therefore will go to any lengths, including murder, so as to protect their interests. In order to be able to solve this problem, it is important to study the reasons or the root causes of gang behavior with the intention of trying to prevent new gang membership, while at the same time embarking on a mission to dismantle the already existing ones. This paper is a critical evaluation of the factors that influence gang behavior. Factors that Influence Gang Behavior Human beings are born innocent, free of sins and incapable of making any decision. However, as they continue to grow, they are faced with numerous challenges raging from family issues to other environmental factors, which influence their innocent minds either into becoming responsible persons or the worst of criminals in the society. To begin with, parents contribute a significant percentage towards the success or failure of a child in terms of behavior. This is due to the fact that they act as immediate role models and a source of inspiration for their growing children. It is for this reason that Carlie (2002) observes that poor parentage is a major contributing factor to gang behavior. For example, if one or both parents are gang members, more often than not, it becomes likely that their children will follow that route. This may be worse in families that are dysfunctional and which are characterized by numerous cases of domestic conflicts and child abuse. The rationale of this assertion is that if a child is subjected to these factors, he will grow up believing that violence is a virtue and unless this mentality is changed through proper guidance and counseling, then, the child would have neither a reason nor the guts to refrain from joining violent organizations. Outside family circles, growing up children and youths are influenced by peer pressure to engage in antisocial behavior, which may include gang membership. Peer pressure refers to the powerful influence that a group of people in the same age group have on each other. In this context, it has been noted that people tend to acquire the behaviors of other members of their social groups as a way of trying to fit into those groups. This factor has been blamed on other negative behaviors such as alcohol and drug abuse, fornication, among others and gang membership cannot be excluded from this list. According to myelsie.org (2010), “young people are very susceptible to peer pressure.” One reason for this is that young people always want to identify with friends and when it comes to choosing between friendship and conscience, most of them will definitely choose friendship even if it means that they would have to tolerate and involve themselves in criminal activities. In the US, it is a fact that gang membership is highly prevalent in schools and even if a child comes from a family that is opposed to gang membership and activities, he or she may end up joining the gangs so as not to be rejected or harassed by his or her peers (myelsie.org 2010). Poverty is blamed for numerous atrocities and gang behavior is one of such. Everyone wants to lead a comfortable life, to drive beautiful cars, drink high quality beer or wine, to live in a luxurious home among others. Whereas it is difficult for a normal civilian, especially from poor neighborhoods, to acquire these items, it is highly possible to persons who involve themselves in crimes especially such as drug trafficking and robbery with violence. Joining a gang offers one a chance to access the means of acquiring these luxuries due to the availability of guidance and instruments such as guns and other small weapons, which facilitate the execution of crimes and which does not require one to be educated in order to fit in. In deed, myelsie.org (2010) observes that, “the allure of making money, selling drugs, and having nice cars and nice clothes,” are some of the major push factors that majority of young gang members acknowledge as the reasons why they are involved in gang activities. More often than not, people who adopt gang behavior due to poverty have other issues such as marginalization, which usually occurs due to lack of proper representation at the political level such that they end up feeling as if they are second class citizens. If the government fails to provide quality education and fair employment to a group of citizens, they end up holding the government and the rich people responsible for the miseries they undergo and based on the fact that the government has the instruments to suppress individual criminals, gang membership become the best option. Insecurity is also a major factor which motivates people to form and join criminal gangs (Myelsie.org). This is especially possible in circumstances where minority groups live in neighborhoods that have existing gangs, and where the security apparatus in such a society have no capacity or the will to offer protection. Most of the gangs, as stated earlier, are violent in nature and will always be in need of opportunities to make money and to achieve this, they use unconventional means such as mugging, and extortion among others. When the victims feel that they can no longer withstand such atrocities, they eventually form gangs and recruit members from their tribe or social class to act as a unified force capable of defending their interests. Mara Salvatrucha, for example, is a notorious gang, which was formed in early 1980s with an initial intention of protecting Salvadorian immigrants in Los Angeles, who were always vulnerable to attacks from some of the local gangs, which they found in that area especially those of African American and Mexican origins. Gang behavior is also influenced by the greed for power and influence (Deal.org). In this context, it may be true to say that criminal gangs do not follow or abide by the laws of any given society. This makes them powerful as this impunity makes them able to control neighborhoods and the people living there to the extent that they are feared more than the authorities. For that matter, young people will always want to be associated with these gangs, so that they can be in control and be able to intimidate other law abiding citizens. To the common man, gangs and gang members are untouchable and the unity and spirit of brotherhood helps to promote fear by way of conducting revenge attacks on anyone who is seen as opposed to the gang ideologies in a certain society. In addition, lack of self esteem among the youths makes them desire to adopt gang behavior owing to the fact that doing so gives them an opportunity to show that they are not cowards and that they deserve to be respected. However, they only realize later that joining criminal gangs is far from their expectations as there are difficult responsibilities that accompany such an identity. For example, the initiation process demands that a person conducts an atrocity such as murder in order to prove him self loyal and capable of following orders. On becomes alienated and more of a slave since once he joins a gang, there is no chance of going back to normal civilian life as deserters are always viewed as traitors and the punishment for that may sometimes include death. Media influence has also been noted as a key contributing factor towards gang behavior. According to Reavy (2007), experts believed that the media has a great role in the rising cases of juvenile delinquency and other criminal activities such as gang violence in Utah. Majority of youths have access to television, internet among other mass media, which are perceived as highly influential towards behavioral change in young people. This occurs due to exposure to violent music such as gang rap as well as numerous images that promote gang ideologies. Reavy (2007) observes that,” The mass media, whether music, television, movies or video games, desensitizes juveniles,” and goes ahead to use the Jagglos and Insane Clown Posse music groups as an example. These two groups are known for producing violent music, and their followers are said to be actualizing this violence. Conclusion Gang behavior is influenced by various factors. These are for example poor parentage and family involvement in gang activities. Peer pressure is also a key push factor towards youths joining gangs for the purpose of maintaining friendships and obtaining a sense of belonging. Gangs offer economic opportunities for the marginalized and the poor and this is a major pull factor, which promotes gang behavior. Insecurity in gang dominated neighborhoods also creates an environment for gang creation and membership, as a way of self protection. The need to feel in control and the media has also been discussed as some of the factors, which, if not addressed, will continue to influence gang behavior. Works Cited Carlie, Mike. Into The Abyss: A Personal Journey into the World of Street Gangs. 2002.15 December 2011 Deal.org. Gangs. Royal Canadian mounted Police.15 December 2011 Myelsie.org. Gang-Related Pressures. 2010. Elsie Allen Health Center. 14 December 2011< http://myelsie.org/pp_gang.html> NCJRS. Highlights of the 2009 National Youth Gang Survey. 25 October 2011. US Department of Justice. 15 December 2011 Reavy, Pat. Gang Expert Blames Violence on Mass Media. 30 March 2007. Dessert News.15 December 2011< http://www.deseretnews.com/article/660207399/Gang-expert-blames-violence-on-mass-media.html> Read More