Developmental pathways of youth gang membership: a structural test of the social development model

Abstract

As a result of nearly 40 years of research using a risk and protective factor approach, much is known about the predictors of gang onset. Little theoretical work, however, has been done to situate this approach to studying gang membership within a more comprehensive developmental model. Using structural equation modeling techniques, the current study is the first to test the capacity of the social development model (SDM) to predict the developmental pathways that increase and decrease the likelihood of gang membership. Results suggest that the SDM provides a good accounting of the social developmental processes at age 13 that are predictive of later gang membership. These findings support the promotion of a theoretical understanding of gang membership that specifies both pro- and antisocial developmental pathways. Additionally, as the SDM is intended as a model that can guide preventive intervention, results also hold practical utility for designing strategies that can be implemented in early adolescence to address the likelihood of later gang involvement. Three key preventive intervention points to address gang membership are discussed, including promoting efforts to enhance social skills, increasing the availability of prosocial opportunities and rewarding engagement in these opportunities, and reducing antisocial socialization experiences throughout the middle- and high school years.

Deviant Group Membership – Joining, Leaving, and Behavior in Criminal Groups

“…The current study revealed some valuable findings in regard to the reasons why young people join deviant or criminal groups. In connection to what other research has found in regard to why young people become involved in groups such as street gangs (e.g., Bishop et al, 2017;Densley, 2019), there is a clear connection between early socialization and life experiences, differential association, lack of social control, social learning, and subsequently becoming involved in one of these types of groups. Friendship, family, respect, money, and protection are among the top reasons that young people often become active in criminal groups.…”

“…There are many different reasons as to why a young male or female may make the decision to join a deviant group (e.g., street gang). Based on the most relevant research, some of the more common reasons appear to involve poor parenting, lack of proper social controls, inadequate schools, lack of positive role models, antisocial socialization experiences, family dysfunction, and having a family member/sibling involved in a deviant group (Bao, 2018;Bishop et al, 2017;Garduno & Brancale, 2017;Medina, Ralphs, & Aldridge, 2012). There are different social, psychological, and interpersonal reasons that people are drawn toward a deviant lifestyle.…”

“…academic failure, truancy, school dropout, parental criminality, child maltreatment, poverty, and community disorganization. Several researchers have made sense of joining delinquent or criminal groups through the perspectives of social bonds, differential association, strain theory, subcultural theory, control theory, social learning, and conflict theory (e.g., Bishop et al, 2017;Densely, 2019;Schaeffer, 2018). Schools also appear to be a primary place where young people are drawn into gang lifestyles.…”

Newcomer youth: how integration pitfalls may lead to participation In illegal activities

“…According to this theory, behaviors and attitudes develop in response to reinforcement and encouragement from the people around us and is often used in reference to deviant and criminal behaviours. Social learning theory specifies the general social, emotional and cognitive learning mechanisms by which the rationalizations, norms, rules, and motivations of behavior are learned and perpetuated (Bishop et al, 2017). Similarly to functionalist theory, it places partial responsibility on society for the development of one's self.…”

“…Alternatively, if involvement and interactions with those engaged in antisocial behaviors are experienced as rewarding, they reinforce the development of bonds to antisocial others and perceptions that antisocial behavior will be rewarded (Bishop et al, 2017). If newcomer youth are welcomed and their positive behaviours are rewarded, according to this theory, they will most likely continue to behave in a positive manner.…”