Gangs Essays (1596 words) - Misconduct, Crime, Criminology, Gang

Gangs Psychology Gangs are a violent reality that people have to deal with in today's cities. What has made these groups come about? Why do kids feel that being in a gang is both an acceptable and prestigious way to live? The psychological answer to these questions can only be speculated upon, but in the immediate reasons and benefits are much easier to find. On the surface, they are a direct result of human beings' personal wants and peer pressure. To determine how to effectively end gang violence, we must find the way that these morals are given to the individual. Individually, these can only be hypothesised. However, by looking at the way humans are influenced by the cultural practices of society, I believe there is good evidence to point the blame at several institutions. These include the forces of the media, the government, theatre, illicit drugs and our economic system. On the surface, gangs are caused by peer pressure and greed. Many teens in gangs will pressure peers into becoming involved in a gang by making it all sound glamorous. Money is also a crucial factor. A teen is shown that he could make $200 to $400 for small part time gang jobs. Although money is a strong motivator, it is usually not strong enough to make kids do things that are strongly against their morals. One of the ways that children's morals are bent so that gang violence becomes more acceptable is through the influence of television and movies. The average child spends more time in front of a television than she or he spends actively participating in a classroom. Since nobody can completely turn off their minds, kids must be learning something while watching TV. Very few hours of programming are educational, and these are not often watched by children, so other ideas are being absorbed during this period of time. Many shows on television today are extremely violent and are often show a gang's perspective. An adult can see that this is showing how foully that gangs are living. However, to a child this portrays a violent gang existence as acceptable. 'The Ends Justifies the Means' mentality is also taught through many shows where the "good guy" captures the "bad guy" through violence and is then being commended. A young child sees this a perfectly acceptable because he knows that the "bad guy" was wrong but has no idea of what acceptable apprehension techniques are. Gore in television also takes a big part in influencing young minds. Children see gory scenes and are fascinated by these things that they have not seen before. Older viewers see gore and are not concerned with the blood but rather with the pain the victim must feel. A younger mind does not make this connection, thus a gore fascination is formed, and has been seen in several of my peers. Unfortunately kids raised with this sort of television end up growing up with a stronger propensity to becoming a violent gang member or 'violence- acceptant' person. "Gangs bring the delinquent norms of society into intimate contact with the individual."1, (Marshall B Clinard, 1963). So, if television leads a child to believe that violence is the norm, this will manifest itself in the actions of the child, quite often in a gang situation. This is especially the case when parents do not spend a lot of time with their children explaining what is right and what is wrong. Quite often newer books and some types of music will enforce this type of thought and ideas. Rap music is the most recent genre' to emerge promoting the gang lifestyle. While this music at first only attracted black youth, it has now infiltrated pop music culture. Groups such as the Gang Bangers and 2Pac Shakur glorify gang life and the privileges obtained through such associations. We all know that music is the most power influence in our society, whether blatant or subliminal, so the gang message is spread. Once this mentality is instilled in youngsters, they become increasingly aware of the advantage of using gang power in any situation, whether at home or elsewhere. For instance, in poor families with many children or upper-middle class families where parents are always working, the children will often feel deprived of love. Parents can often feel that putting food on the table is enough love. Children of these families may often go to the gang possibly out of boredom and to belong somewhere. As time goes on, a form of love or kinship develops between