Street Gangs

Question 1

Is it necessary for a group to be involved in criminal activity, in order for it to be considered a gang?

Answer 1

No. According to Alleyene and Wood (2010), if the ‘criminal activity’ criterion were non-existent, the definition of a gang would be too broad.

Question 2

Who agreed on a conventional definition of a gang which has 4 criteria? The _____ network of _____ researchers.

Answer 2

The European Network of Gang Researchers proposed a definition of a gang which includes 4 criteria.

Question 3

What are the 4 criteria of a gang?

Answer 3

1. Durability (it doesn’t mean much if it aint there for long!)
2. Street orientation (lecture theatre orientation doesn’t count)
3. Youthful (gang members generally aren’t old geezers)
4. ILLEGAL ACTIVITY

Question 4

Who found that gang members are more likely to engage in drive-by shootings, commit homicide, assault and robbery than other at-risk juveniles?

Answer 4

Huff (1998).

Question 5

According to Bendixen et al (2006), membership of a gang _____ the likelihood of committing crimes, EVEN for individuals who already engage in ____ behaviours before they were a member of a gang.

Answer 5

According to Bendixen et al (2006), membership of a gang increases the likelihood of committing crimes, EVEN for individuals who already engage in delinquent behaviours before they were a member of a gang.

Question 6

Who are more likely to use violent weapons? Gangs or delinquent youth who are non-gang members?

Answer 6

Gangs are more likely to use violent weapons than delinquent youth who are non-gang members (Kelin et al, 2006).

Question 7

It seems that there is something about gangs which makes a unique contribution to criminal behaviour, which prior delinquency cannot explain. In other words, it seems that gang membership ____ delinquency.

Answer 7

It seems that gang membership augments delinquency.

Question 8

One criminological theory of gang involvement is the theory of Social Disorganisation. Who proposed this theory?

Answer 8

Thrasher (1927) proposed the theory of social disorganisation.

Question 9

The Social Disorganisation Theory of gang involvement (Thrasher, 1927) posits that economic ____ leads to the ____ of institutions that may otherwise have provided consistency for youths, such as churches, schools, and family. In turn, gang members become attracted to gangs because they can ____ the consistency which other institutions lack.

Answer 9

The Social Disorganisation Theory of gang involvement (Thrasher, 1927) posits that economic INSTABILITY leads to the DISRUPTION of institutions that may otherwise have provided consistency for youths, such as churches, schools, and family. In turn, gang members become attracted to gangs because they can SUPPLEMENT the consistency which other institutions lack.

Question 10

Support for the Social Disorganisation Theory of gang involvement (Thrasher, 1927) comes from ____ (2003), who found that gangs tend to come from areas that are more ____ ____.

Answer 10

Support for the Social Disorganisation Theory of gang involvement (Thrasher, 1927) comes from RIZZO (2003), who found that gangs tend to come from areas that are more SOCIALLY DISORGANISED.

Question 11

Another theory of gang involvement is the theory of cultural transmission, which posits that delinquency and gang involvement is passed on to future generations. Support for the cultural transmission theory comes from Kakar (___), who found that gang members tend to have family members who are also involved in criminal activity.

Answer 11

Support for the Cultural Transmission Theory comes from Kakhar (2005).

Question 12

One theory of gang involvement ultimately posits that you ‘become who you hang out with’. What is the name of this theory?

Answer 12

The Theory of Differential Association posits that you become who you hang out with. If youths hang out with people who have pro-crime attitudes, they are more likely to have pro-crime attitudes themselves. Similarly, if youths hang out with people who have anti-crime attitudes, they are more likely to have anti-crime attitudes themselves.

Question 13

Amato and Cornell (2003) and Kakhar (2005) found that hanging out with delinquents is a _____ to gang involvement.

Answer 13

Amato and Cornell (2003) and Kakhar (2005) found that hanging out with delinquents is a PRECURSOR to gang involvement.

Question 14

____ (1938) proposed strain theory.

Answer 14

MERTON (1938) proposed strain theory.

Question 15

According to Strain Theory (Merton, 1938), society sets certain goals for members to achieve, but the opportunity to reach these goals is ____. Gang members are individuals who experience strain due to low ____ _____. They then develop norms which counter societies’ norms as a means of retaliation. For these individuals, joining a gang is a viable alternative to living in a society where they feel _____ to achieve the goals which society has set for them.

Answer 15

According to Strain Theory (Merton, 1938), society sets certain goals for members to achieve, but the opportunity to reach these goals is UNEQUAL. Gang members are individuals who experience strain due to low SOCIAL STATUS. They then develop norms which counter societies’ norms as a means of retaliation. For these individuals, joining a gang is a viable alternative to living in a society where they feel UNABLE to achieve the goals which society has set for them.

Question 16

Evidence for Strain Theory (Merton, 1938), comes from Eitle (2004), who found that pre-teen stress (possibly down to not reaching society’s _____) is a contributing factor to gang involvement.

Answer 16

Evidence for Strain Theory (Merton, 1938), comes from Eitle (2004), who found that pre-teen stress (possibly down to not reaching society’s GOALS) is a contributing factor to gang involvement.

Question 17

Another theory of gang involvement is the Theory of Differential Opportunity. This Theory was proposed by ______ and Ohlin (196_).

Answer 17

The Theory of Differential Opportunity was proposed by Cloward and Ohlin (1961).

Question 18

According to the Theory of Differential Opportunity (Cloward & Ohlin, 1961), disadvantaged youth have relatively fewer positive opportunities than middle class youth, but disadvantaged youth have ____ opportunities to offend than middle class youth.

Answer 18

According to the Theory of Differential Opportunity (Cloward & Ohlin, 1961), disadvantaged youth have relatively fewer positive opportunities than middle class youth, but disadvantaged youth have MORE opportunities to offend than middle class youth.

Question 19

What does Social Bond Theory posit?

Answer 19

Social Bond Theory posits that having bonds with others inhibits criminal offending and anti-social behaviours.

Question 20

According to Control Theory, why does gang membership occur?

Answer 20

According to Control Theory, gang membership occurs because members want to gain short-term rewards in the quickest manner possible e.g. stealing cash to buy drugs.
In other words, these individuals have poor self-control capacity. Hence the name ‘Control Theory’.

Question 21

What is group-based retribution?

Answer 21

Group-based retribution is where a member of an ingroup is attacked by a member of the outgroup and as a result, the ingroup retaliate by attacking the outgroup.

Question 22

THEORETICALLY, under which two conditions is group-based retribution most likely to occur?

Answer 22

1. There is no central authority figure overseeing both groups
2. Resources are scarce and both groups are motivated to appear strong

Question 23

RESEARCH demonstrates that group-based retribution is increasingly likely to occur if three factors are present. What are they?

Answer 23

1. The provocation is INTERGROUP provocation
2. The individuals within the group have a strong ingroup identification, making them increasingly motivated to retaliate
3. The members of the ingroup perceive the outgroup as having high entitativity (a ‘tight unit’ with shared attitudes, values and goals)

Question 24

Interestingly, the positive relationship between perceived outgroup entitativity and group-based retribution only appears to exist for ____.

Answer 24

Interestingly, the positive relationship between perceived outgroup entitativity and group-based retribution only appears to exist for GANGS.

Question 25

Peripheral youths are young people who do engage in criminal activity but are ____ members of a gang.

Answer 25

Peripheral youths are young people who do engage in criminal activity but are NOT members of a gang.

Question 26

Research demonstrates that peripheral youths commit ____ crimes against the person than gang members.

Answer 26

Research demonstrates that peripheral youths commit MORE crimes against the person than gang members. Perhaps this is due to a desire to be accepted into the gang.

Question 27

A similarity between peripheral youth and gang members is that there is not significant difference in the amount of ____ crime committed.

Answer 27

A similarity between peripheral youth and gang members is that there is not significant difference in the amount of PROPERTY crime committed.

Question 28

What is displaced aggression?

Answer 28

Displaced aggression is behaving aggressively towards a person who is not responsible for the negative affect. Some people refer to displaced aggression as the 'kicking the dog effect'.

Question 29

What is triggered displaced aggression?

Answer 29

Triggered displaced aggression is where an individual is disproportionately aggressive towards a person who has committed only a minor provocation.

Question 30

Why should we expect gang members to have a tendency to displace aggression?

Answer 30

1. Gang members perform non-normative behaviours which bring them into conflict with innocent people, such as police. This can lead gang members to displace their aggression onto the police. 2. Gang members live in a social world where they are more likely to experience negative affect, which PRIMES aggressive responding. 3. Displacing aggression onto the innocent and being primed to respond aggressively may both contribute to rumination, which can be defined as provocation-focused thought. Rumination can maintain negative affect and cognitive representations of provoking events, leaving the individual primed for aggressive responding.

Question 31

Gang members are actually believed to ruminate ____ than non-gang members, because some gang members believe that anger is ____.

Answer 31

Gang members are actually believed to ruminate MORE than non-gang members, because some gang members believe that anger is USEFUL.

Question 32

Research shows that men are more likely to engage in displaced in displaced aggression if (2 points):

Answer 32

1. They are a member of a gang | 2. They are prone to rumination

Question 33

Research has found overwhelming similarities between European and ____ gangs (Klein et al, 2006) and consequently, the majority of what we know about gangs comes from research in the ____.

Answer 33

Research has found overwhelming similarities between European and American gangs (Klein et al, 2006) and consequently, the majority of what we know about gangs comes from research in the US.

Question 34

Who argued that there is a need to understand more about the psychology of gang involvement?

Answer 34

Alleyne and Wood (2010) argued that there is a need to understand more about the psychology of gang involvement.

Question 35

The lack of a precise definition of a gang has constrained ____ development.

Answer 35

The lack of a precise definition of a gang has constrained research development.

Question 36

A gang can be defined as 'a durable, street-orientated youth group whose involvement in illegal activity is part of their group identity'. Who proposed this definition?

Answer 36

Weerman et al (2009) proposed the definition of a gang.

Question 37

Interactional theory posits that gang membership results from a reciprocal relationship between an individual, their ___ group, social structures (i.e. family, neighbourhood, school), weakened social ____ and a learning environment which fosters and reinforces delinquency.

Answer 37

Interactional theory posits that gang membership results from a reciprocal relationship between an individual, their PEER group, social structures (i.e. family, neighbourhood, school), weakened social BONED and a learning environment which fosters and reinforces delinquency.

Question 38

Control Theory argues that people engage in antisocial behaviour when what weakens?

Answer 38

People engage in antisocial behaviour when their bond with SOCIETY weakens (Control Theory).

Question 39

Social Learning Theory fails to specify how much individuals need to favour _____ before engaging with like-minded individuals.

Answer 39

Social Learning Theory fails to specify how much individuals need to favour CRIME before engaging with like-minded individuals.

Question 40

What's the most at-risk age group for joining a gang?

Answer 40

12-18.

Question 41

Gangs are still predominantly comprised of which gender?

Answer 41

Gangs are predominantly comprised of males.

Question 42

Some gangs are ethnically heretogenous whilst others are ethnically heterogenous. In actual fact, gangs seem to represent what?

Answer 42

Gangs seem to reflect the ethnic make-up of their respective neighbourhood.

Question 43

2 individual risk factors for joining a gang include learning disability and ___ _____ problems.

Answer 43

2 individual risk factors for joining a gang include learning disability and MENTAL HEALTH problems.

Question 44

Gang members are found to come from a background of ____ socioeconomic status, from neighbourhoods with ____ gangs and from neighbourhoods which have a high rate of juvenile ____.

Answer 44

Gang members are found to come from a background of LOW socioeconomic status, from neighbourhoods with EXISTING gangs and from neighbourhoods which have a high rate of juvenile DELINQUENCY.

Question 45

3 familial factors which contribute to gang membership are:

Answer 45

1. Poor parental management 2. Crime within the family 3. Gang membership within the family

Question 46

Gang member selection is where gang members select youths who are ALREADY delinquent. In contrast, facilitation is ..

Answer 46

.. where gangs provide opportunity for delinquency to youths who were not delinquent beforehand.

Question 47

What is 'enhancement' in relation to gang member recruitment?

Answer 47

Enhancement is where gang members select youth who are from a high risk population who, as gang members, become more delinquent.

Question 48

Contributory psychological factors towards gang membership include having low confidence, low self-____ and susceptibility to peer pressure.

Answer 48

Contributory psychological factors towards gang membership include having low confidence, low SELF-ESTEEM and susceptibility to peer pressure.

Question 49

If a gang member wanted to leave a gang, this would require a high level of self-esteem. Why is this a problem?

Answer 49

Many gang members have joined gangs BECAUSE they have low self-esteem. This perpetuates the problem of gang membership as these individuals are particularly unlikely to have the guts to leave.

Question 50

Impulsivity and ___-seeking have also been linked to gang membership and related criminal behaviour.

Answer 50

Impulsivity and RISK-SEEKING have also been linked to gang membership and related criminal behaviour.

Question 51

Delinquent beliefs can be defined as the belief that..

Answer 51

.. it is acceptable to be delinquent.

Question 52

Gangs exert 2 types of social power which attract youth: 1. Coercive power (they exert threat) 2. Power to delegate status and ___ to its members

Answer 52

Gangs exert 2 types of social power which attract youth: 1. Coercive power (they exert threat) 2. Power to delegate status and RANK to its members

Question 53

The first level of moral disengagement mechanisms serve to reinterpret the ____ of the harmful act and include 3 techniques:

Answer 53

The first level of moral disengagement mechanisms serve to reinterpret the NATURE of the harmful act and include 3 techniques: 1. Moral justifications 2. Euphemistic language 3. Advantageous/exonerative comparisons

Question 54

The second level reinterprets responsibility for the act using displacement of responsibility, ____ of responsibility and ____ of consequences.

Answer 54

The second level reinterprets responsibility for the act using displacement of responsibility, DIFFUSION of responsibility and DISTORTION of consequences.

Question 55

The third level of moral disengagement strategies involve distorting information concerning the victim by ____ or ____ them.

Answer 55

The third level of moral disengagement strategies involve distorting information concerning the victim by DEHUMANISING or BLAMING them.

Question 56

Gang members hold negative attitudes towards figures of authority like the police. So much so, priming gang identity has what consequence on anti-authoritarian attitudes?

Answer 56

Priming gang identity can serve to increase anti-authoritarian attitudes.

Question 57

Persistent contact with authority, such as police, may ____ gang identity.

Answer 57

Persistent contact with authority, such as police, may reinforce gang identity.

Question 58

Youth who become involved in gangs may be those who experience most ____ from others.

Answer 58

Youth who become involved in gangs may be those who experience most THREAT from others.

Question 59

____ youth are those who do not identify themselves as gang members but DO participate in illegal activity.

Answer 59

PERIPHERAL youth are those who do not identify themselves as gang members but DO participate in illegal activity.

Question 60

Girls are becoming ____ gang involved- in the study by Wood and Alleyene (2010), there was no significant difference in gender make-up between gangs, peripheral youth and non-gang youth.

Answer 60

Girls are becoming MORE gang involved- in the study by Wood and Alleyene (2010), there was no significant difference in gender make-up between gangs, peripheral youth and non-gang youth.

Question 61

The ethnic composition of a gang is ____ of its community.

Answer 61

The ethnic composition of a gang is representative of its community.

Question 62

Gang members committed more minor offences than ____-____ youth, whilst peripheral youth committed more crimes against ____ than non-gang youth.

Answer 62

Gang members committed more minor offences than NON-GANG youth, whilst peripheral youth committed more crimes against PEOPLE than non-gang youth.

Question 63

In the study by Alleyene and Wood (2010) there was no significant difference between gang, peripheral youth and non-gang youth in terms of property crime, supporting the idea that gangs facilitate ___ crime but not ____ crime.

Answer 63

In the study by Alleyene and Wood (2010) there was no significant difference between gang, peripheral youth and non-gang youth in terms of property crime, supporting the idea that gangs facilitate VIOLENT crime but not PROPERTY crime.

Question 64

Both gangs and peripheral youth saw social status as ____ important than non-gang youth.

Answer 64

Both gangs a peripheral youth saw social status as MORE important than non-gang youth.

Question 65

Gang members used more ____ and blamed their victims ____ than non-gang youth.

Answer 65

Gang members used more EUPHEMISMS and blamed their victims MORE than non-gang youth.

Question 66

Peripheral youth displaced responsibility for their actions _____ than non-gang youth.

Answer 66

Peripheral youth displaced responsibility for their actions MORE than non-gang youth.

Question 67

Gang members feel ____ by their membership and do ____ see other groups as a threat.

Answer 67

Gang members feel PROTECTED by their membership and do NOT see other groups as a threat.

Question 68

Wood and Alleyene (2010) found that gang members make ____ effort to disregard or minimise the consequences of their actions and, for the most part, they seem to accept ____ for the actions they take.

Answer 68

Wood and Alleyene (2010) found that gang members make LITTLE effort to disregard or minimise the consequences of their actions and, for the most part, they seem to accept RESPONSIBILITY for the actions they take.

Question 69

Research suggests that females age-in and age-out of gangs _____ than males do.

Answer 69

Research suggests that females age-in and age-out of gangs EARLIER than males do.

Question 70

As yet, no current gang interventions use a cognitive-behavioural approach.

Answer 70

:(

Question 71

Gang members are how many more times likely than at-risk youth to participate ina drive-by shooting?

Answer 71

Gang members are 20x more likely than at-risk youth to participate in a drive-by shooting.

Question 72

Gang members are __x more likely to commit a homicide than at-risk youth.

Answer 72

Gang members are 10x more likely to commit a homicide than at-risk youth.

Question 73

Gang members are ___x more likely to commit robbery than at-risk youth.

Answer 73

Gang members are 8x more likely to commit robbery than at-risk youth.

Question 74

Gang members are _x more likely to commit an assault in public, compared to at-risk youth.

Answer 74

Gang members are 3x more likely to commit an assault in public, compared to at-risk youth.

Question 75

Gang members are more likely to possess illegal weapons, carry a ___ to school, and use a gun whilst committing a violent crime.

Answer 75

Gang members are more likely to possess illegal weapons, carry a GUN to school, and use a gun whilst committing a violent crime.

Question 76

The link between gangs and violence is so profound that fluctuations in US cities are attributed to..

Answer 76

.. variations in gang activities.

Question 77

The Eurogang network distinguished between gang definers and gang ___.

Answer 77

The Eurogang network distinguished between gang definers and gang DESCRIPTORS.

Question 78

The 4 elements of a gang are:

Answer 78

1. Durability 2. Youth 3. Street orientation 4. Illegal activity

Question 79

Differential Association Theory argues that people develop criminal ideologies by associating with '____' of criminal norms.

Answer 79

Differential Association Theory argues that people develop criminal ideologies by associating with 'CARRIERS' of criminal norms.

Question 80

Some evidence suggests that there is ___ link between low socioeconomic status and gang membership.

Answer 80

Some evidence suggests that there is no link between socioeconomic status and gang membership.

Question 81

Strain Theory argues that society sets expectations but only makes the opportunity to meet those expectations available to ___ people.

Answer 81

Strain Theory argues that society sets expectations but only makes the opportunity to meet those expectations available to SOME people.

Question 82

Youth who: 1. Live in a disorganised neighbourhood 2. Have psychopathic tendencies (i.e. hyperactivity, low anxiety) are __x more likely to become gang members than youths without this configuration.

Answer 82

Youth who: 1. Live in a disorganised neighbourhood 2. Have psychopathic tendencies (i.e. hyperactivity, low anxiety) are 5x more likely to become gang members than youths without this configuration.

Question 83

High levels of delinquency prior to joining a gang ___ predicts the duration of gang membership.

Answer 83

High levels of delinquency prior to joining a gang POSITIVELY predicts the duration of gang membership.