Abstract
An issue concerning societal welfare that receives much exposure in the media is the existence of gangs and their effects on children. There is a perception that the level of youth related violence is going up while the age of gang participation is going down. Multiple sources (e.g., statistics from the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation) suggest that the extent of gang activity has risen dramatically over the last two decades and it is common to hear of stories concerning juvenile crime. Despite this apparent increase, psychological theory is rarely applied to the consideration of gang behavior. Therefore this paper offers a review of the growth and trends of gang participation among American youth, followed with an overview of research and theory taken from various domains within psychology, in an effort to offer explanations for why adolescents become involved with gangs. Although the psychological research and theory has much to say about adolescence, it does not speak directly to gang involvement. Nevertheless, there is a solid knowledge base from which to explore the issue and a consideration of psychological theory provides a number of research questions for those that are interested in further exploration of this area.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Asher, S.R., & Parker, J.G. (1987). Peer relations and later personal adjustment: Are low accepted children at risk?Psychological Bulletin, 102, 357–389.
Bandura, A. (1965). Vicarious processes: A case of no-trial learning. In L. Berkowitz (Ed.),Advances in experimental social psychology (Vol. 2). New York: Academic Press.
Bandura, A. (1986).Social foundations of thought and action: A social cognitive theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Berndt, T.J. (1979). Developmental changes in conformity to peers and parents.Developmental Psychology, 15, 608–616.
Bixenstine, V.E., DeCorte, M.S., & Bixenstine, B.A. (1975). Conformity to peer sponsored misconduct at four grade levels.Developmental Psychology, 12, 226–236.
Bouchard, T.J., Jr. (1994) Genes environment and personality.Science, 264, 1700–1701.
Bronfenbrenner, U. (1989). Ecological systems in theory. In R. Vasta (Ed.),Annals of child development: Vol. 6. Six theories of child development: Revised formulations and current issues. Greenwich, CT: JAI Press.
Bukatko, D., & Daehler, M. (1998). Peers: Children's friendships. In D. C. Lee, J. Knetzger, & C. Newman, (Eds.),Child development: A thematic approach. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Co.
Bukatko, D., & Daehler, M. (1998). Themes and theories. In D. C. Lee, J. Knetzger, & C. Newman, (Eds.),Child development: A thematic approach. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Co.
Campbell, A. (1990). Female participation in gangs. In C.R. Huff (Ed.),Gangs in America. (pp. 163–182). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
Centers for Disease Control, (1999). Magnitude of the problem.Youth Violence in the United States. [On-line] Available: www.cdc.gov/ncip/dvp/yvfacts.htm.
Chin, R. (1977). New York Chinatown today: Community in crisis.Amerisia Journal, 1 (1), 1–32.
Crane, J. (1991). The epidemic theory of ghettoes and neighborhood effects on dropping out and teenage childbearing.American Journal of Sociology, 96, 1226–1259. (pp. 1250).
Erikson, E. H. (1963).Childhood and society. (pp. 261–263). (2nd ed.). New York: W. W. Norton.
Erikson, E.H. (1968).Identity, youth and crisis. (pp. 28–135). New York: W.W. Norton.
Erikson, E.H. (1982).The life cycle completed: A review. (pp. 32–33). New York: Norton.
Federal Bureau of Investigation (1999).Uniform crime reports. [On-line] Available: www.fbi.gov/homepage.htm.
Feist, J. (1990). Erikson: Post-Freudian theory. In T. Buchholz, T. Gross, & E. Howard, (Eds.),Theories of personality. USA: Saunders College Publishing.
Feist, J. (1990). Bandura: social cognitive theory. In T. Buchholz, T. Gross, & E. Howard, (Eds.),Theories of personality, USA: Saunders College Publishing.
Finn-Aage, E., Winfree, L. T., He, N., Taylor, T. J. (2001). Youth gangs and definitional issues: When is a gang a gang and why does it matter?Crime and Delinquency, 47(1), 105–131.
Garbarino, G. (1999).Lost Boys, why our sons turn violent and what we can do to save them. (pp. 10–20). New York: Free Press.
Geen, R.G. (1995). Human aggression. In A. Tesser (Ed.),Advanced social psychology. USA: McGraw-Hill.
Goldstein, G.P. (1991).Delinquent gangs: A psychological perspective. Champaign, IL: Research Press.
Goldstein, G.P. (1993). Gang intervention: A historical review. In C.R. Huff & G.P. Goldstein (Eds.),The gang intervention handbook. Research Press, Illinois.
Goldstein, G.P., & Soriano, F.I. (1994). Juvenile gangs. In L.D. Eron, J.H. Gentry, P. Schlegel (Eds.),Reason to hope: A psychosocial perspective on violence and youth. American Psychological Association: U.S.A.
Hagan, Frank (1994). Crime and disrepute.Introduction to criminology: Theories, methods and criminal behavior. Third Ed. Chicago: Nelson Hall.
Hagedorn, J. (1998).People and folks: Gangs, crime and the underclass in a rustbelt city. Chicago: Lake View Press.
Harris, J. R. (1995). Where is the child's environment? A group socialization theory of development.Psychological Review, 102 (3).
Horowitz, R. (1990). Sociological perspectives on gangs: Conflicting definitions and concepts. In C.R. Huff (Ed.),Gangs in America. New Bury Park, CA: Sage.
Huff, C.R. (1993). Gangs in the United States. In C.R. Huff and G.P. Goldstein (Eds.),The gang intervention handbook. Research Press, IL.
Kagan, J., Arcus, D., & Snidman, N. (1993). On the temperamental categories of inhibited and uninhibited children. In K.H. Rubin & J.B. Asendorpf (Eds.),Social withdrawal inhibition and shyness in children. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Kwong, P. (1987).The New Chinatown. New York: Hill & Wang.
Lightfoot, C. (1992). Constructing self and peer culture: A narrative perspective on adolescent risk taking. In Winegar L.T., Valsiner, J.,Children's development within social context (pp. 229–245). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Earlbaum Associates.
Marcia, J.E. (1976). Identity six years after: A follow up study.Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 5, 145–160.
Meeus, W. (1996). Studies on identity development in adolescence: An overview of research and some new data.Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 96, 569–597.
Minneapolis Star Tribune (1998):Gangs: Violence on the rise in U.S. Schools. Sec A, p. 5.
Myers, D. G. (1993). Conflict and peacemaking. In J. D. Werkman (ED.),Social psychology (4 ed.), (pp. 543–582). New York, NY: Mcgraw-Hill Book Company.
Nawojczk, S. (1997). The coroner's report.Information and resources on gang intervention and prevention [On-line]. Available: www.gangwar.com/.
Needle, A., & Stapleton, W.W. (1983).Police handling of youth gangs: Reports of the national juvenile assessment centers. Sacramento, CA: American Justice Institute, Off. of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Report (1999).JJ facts and figures. [On-line] Available: www.ojjdp.ncrs.org/.
Prager, K. (1986). Identity development, age, and college experience in women.Journal of Genetic Psychology, 147, 31–36.
Sherif, M., Harvey, O.J., White, B.J., Hood, W.R., & Sherif, C.W. (1954).Experimental study of positive and negative entergroup attitudes between experimentally produced groups: Robbers Cave experiment. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press.
Sherif, M., Harvey, O.J., White, B.J., Hood, W.R., & Sherif, C.W. (1961).Inter-group cooperation and competition: The Robber's Cave experiment. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press.
Sherif, M., & Sherif, C.W. (1953).Groups in harmony and tension. New York: Harper.
Spergle, I.A., Ross, R.E., Curry, G.D., & Chance, R. (1989),Youth gangs: Problem and response. Washington, D.C.: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
United States Department of Justice, (1994).Crime in the United States. Washington D.C.: Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Wheeler, J. (1998).Gangs: Frequently asked questions. [On-line] Available: www.ci.madison.wi.us/police.
Whyte, W. F. (1943).Street corner society. The University of Chicago Press: Chicago, Il.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hitchcock, H. Adolescent gang participation: Psychological perspectives. J Police Crim Psych 16, 33–47 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02805179
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02805179