Abstract
The recent development of two paradigms in the social sciences, social capital and the life-course perspective, has proven influential. Though these paradigms overlap, limited research has examined the accumulation of capital over the life-course. In this chapter, we consider the confluence of these paradigms in the context of gang membership; specifically how the onset, continuity, and desistance from gang membership influence the loss and formation of social capital. In addition, the emerging role of technology on the maintenance and creation of social capital for gang members is examined. Lastly, directions for future research explicitly examining social capital in the context of antisocial groups are presented.
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1 While we do not discuss what may constitute a gang in any depth, many definitions have appeared during this time period (see Ball & Curry, 1995). Of particular salience, with respect to this chapter, is the division in academia over whether gangs must be delinquent or criminal. Given our interest in the development of social and criminal capital through group embeddedness, we rely here on the conceptualization of gangs by Curry and Decker (1998)—that gangs are social groups who use symbols, engage in verbal and nonverbal communications to declare their “gang-ness,” exhibit a degree of permanence, possess a territory or turf, and engage in criminal behavior.
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Moule, R.K., Decker, S.H., Pyrooz, D.C. (2013). Social Capital, the Life-Course, and Gangs. In: Gibson, C., Krohn, M. (eds) Handbook of Life-Course Criminology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5113-6_9
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