Gangs are variable, and difficult to define in precise terms.
In practice, the precise features of any youth group formation will vary greatly according to Howell and White. But if the group sees itself as a “gang”, and is perceived by others around them as a “gang”, primarily because of its illegal activities, then this constitutes the minimum baseline definition of a gang. But are all groups of young people gangs?
Gangs are diverse and vary greatly in ethnic composition, criminal activities, age of members, propensity toward violence, and organisational stability. They change and evolve due to both social and economic responses. Community reaction varies where gangs are concerned, some deny their existence while others sensationalise gang crime, some establish police and community action groups and task forces to address gang issues while others conduct research into nature and scope and possible solutions to tackling of gang problems thus attempting to address it.
One of the primary questions I am always asked to answer by police, communities and families is: for juveniles what is the attraction of joining a gang? So let’s explore some options.
The attraction of the gang for some juveniles is that the whole nature and propose of the gang, arouses their interest and gives them certain satisfaction. Gang life, in its own special way, meets particular fundamental human needs, which commonly, due to the nature of their backgrounds and circumstances may not be being met through the usual or natural channels.
THE NEED FOR TOGETHENESS AND COMERADESHIP
The gang provides an opportunity for the absorption of the socially maladjusted, lonely and rejected juvenile into a new friendship circle. Even though the nature of the group is anti-social the gang membership fulfils the juveniles need for companionship and allows him into a circle, where he is able to meet and socialize with other juveniles, who are experiencing similar issues in life and are just as much in need of camaraderie.
THE NEED TO BE RECOGNISED AND VALUED
In most gangs, individual members are recognized and valued because of their achievements or usefulness to the gang and its culture. For this reason, the juvenile needs to be able to attract the attention of the group and specifically its leadership by shining in terms of the norms of the group. If the gang is notorious for its dangerous and reckless behaviour and for its bravado and team spirit for example, then it would be brilliantly suited to satisfying the needs for achievement in juveniles who feel unappreciated and unrecognized in the context of their community and ordinary society. In the gang context the individual is afforded the opportunity to show off his criminal skills and techniques, he can consume alcohol, use drugs and boast of his sexual prowess. Gang members are often initiated into gangs by the commission of a criminal offence. They can be called on to participate in a gang rape or a murder for example. Once they have involved themselves in this type of behaviour, they become easier for the gang leadership to control and manipulate through coercion and threats. In certain gangs there is a “Blood in – Blood out” policy, death being the only way out for these juveniles.
THE NEED FOR SECURITY
A juvenile who is unsure of himself and insecure in his family or the community in which they reside, where they may receive little assistance in overcoming such feelings, can easily be attracted by the exclusiveness of belonging to a gang. Inside of the gangs closed circle the juvenile is assured the protection and loyal support of his group. Gangs will protect their members from those of other gangs and from what they conceive to be ill disposed individuals. They will act against, parents, police, the school, and any other person or body that they perceive as the threat to either individual members or the group as a whole.
THE NEED FOR FREEDOM
On entering puberty and adolescence, many juveniles who are insecure or lack a positive self-image feel that their “freedom” is threatened. Emotionally immature juveniles, especially those who have other adjustment problems, either emotional or psychological, may see, in the joining of a gang, a solution to the frustration they are feeling, caused from their perception of the “deprivation” of their freedom and the “grudging nature” of the privileges afforded them by what they believe are overprotective parents and other adults in authority.
By affiliating with or joining a gang the juvenile destructively breaks his bonds with his parents, his home, his work, and often his community. He thus believes that he has obtained the “freedom” that he has been seeking. Additionally, the activities of the gang, allow him to prove his new found freedom to himself and to others.
THE NEED FOR NEW EXPERIENCES
The emotionally immature juvenile, with an abundance of unbridled energy, often feels an inner emptiness. They experience boredom which may result in a craving for sensation, accompanied by a desire to explore the dangerous side of life and seek thrills and excitement. This behaviour is a telling example of compensation and an escape from self. They have a continuous need for strong stimuli from the outside of a strong external locus of control with weak internal controls. This results in them, understandably, finding their imaginations captivated by the various activities in which gangs commonly participate. It is the exciting, impulsive and often dangerous character of the gang and its activities, as well as the heightened thrill experienced by the juvenile that arouses the longing for greater and greater excitement and makes gang membership so much more appealing to the juvenile than conventional youth groups.
THE INFLUENCE OF GANGS ON THEIR MEMBERS
Group or Mob Psychology clearly indicates how individuals are swallowed up by the groups they are members of. Individual judgment seems to fall in line with group judgment and thus they operate on the same level. A members attitude and actions can be guided to such an extent by group opinion and behaviour, that they can be said to tied in action and thought, despite their freedom as an individual to do and thing as they like. Thus groups radically influence and affect the lives of people in general.
Gang psychology is group psychology. Individuals in gangs gradually come to accept gang norms as their own. This often results in the moral standards of the individuals, radically shifting to align with that of the group. Their sense of responsibility and self control is frequently undermined, often resulting in them participating in behaviour that they would never even had contemplated on their own. The carrying force of the gang, suppresses and ultimately casts away the members earlier fears and conscientious objections, although, it is questionable whether the gang can sweep away all the moral resistance of an individual. The upbringing of the juvenile will ultimately determine this, as well as the possibility of their later rejection or modification of moral values.
This explains why not all socially maladjusted juveniles join gangs and why all gangs are not equally dedicated to crime. It also explains why not all members choose to remain in gangs indefinitely.
In determining the criminogenic influence of the delinquent gang, it is important to bear in mind that the juvenile seeking gang membership, for whatever reason, is already predisposed to misconduct and delinquent behaviour. The gangs influence usually dominates all others and the member assumes the gangs morality. Gang life is a predisposing factor to criminal behaviour in other words it creates the immediate opportunity for delinquency. The gang furthermore acquaints its members with the methods and techniques it uses to commit crimes effectively acting as a “school for crime”. Often the law and its enforcement agents are scorned by gangs, who impart these attitudes onto members.
An individual who is committing crime on his own, can be brought by threat and often fear, to desist from his behaviour. However a gang member acts, knowing that he enjoys protection from the gang. They are additionally motivated to further the gangs interests through an awareness of collective responsibility which can further stimulate delinquency. There is often an element of hero worship by the juvenile, for the leadership of the gang. The praise and recognition received from leaders is a powerful motivator and they will go to extremes to live up to the expectations of the gang as well as to promote their perceived image to the gang, the community and the world, “better off dead than afraid”.
Members admitted to the inner circle of gangs are privy to sensitive, intimate and often dangerous information and knowledge of the gangs workings and are not simply allowed to leave. Gangs have a strict hierarchy and demand total subordination to the authority of the gang leader. Loyalty is a primary expectation and a traitor is an archenemy. Juveniles do not generally try to, or indeed want to break away from their gangs on their own accord. Often when, due to circumstances, they are forced to do so they will later return to the gang, given the opportunity.
Gangs afford young inexperienced criminals the chance to meet and be mentored by experienced and seasoned offenders. The are assisted by hardened criminals in a kind of criminal school, where they become masters of criminal enterprise. Gangs promote both delinquency and recidivism in antisocial juveniles.
Criminologists, due to their extensive knowledge of the causes, explanation and prevention of crime, have an imperative role to play in the control of crime in the commercial environment. To this end Attorney Tshepiso Lediretse and I have established a consulting firm – Expert Profiling contactable on Tel: 390 9957 which is ideally placed to assist.
THANK YOU TO THE BOTSWANA POLICE
On a exceptionally positive note I would like to extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to the Botswana Police, who attended an attempted housebreaking at my home in Phakalane. The manner in which they handled the incident was commendable. They were kind, considerate and supportive to me as well as being extremely professional. What a positive experience, out of a traumatic incident. THANK YOU to all involved.
