Seeking a secure base: Gangs as attachment figures

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 754-769
Author(s):  
Katherine De Vito
Keyword(s):  
Research Study ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Gang Membership ◽  
Street Gangs ◽  
Secure Base ◽  
Gang Members ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Qualitative Research Study ◽  
Gang Involvement ◽  
Gang Prevention

Street gangs are problematic throughout the world. Youth involved with street gangs are at a higher risk for winding up seriously physically injured, dead, or incarcerated. The purpose of this qualitative research study was to examine (a) how the childhood experiences of former gang members shape their decision to join a gang and (b) the factors that contribute to former gang members’ decision to disengage from gang membership. This study will promote the use of attachment theory to analyze motivating/disengagement factors for gang involvement. The voices of 14 former gang members are heard through qualitative interviews. Thematic analysis was used to identify the following themes: Lack of Family Consistency, Brotherhood, Sisterhood, Unity: Gang as Replacement Family, “No other Option,” and “Jail, Death, or a Turnaround:” Making the Decision to Disengage. Findings could be used to aid in youth gang prevention and intervention.

scholarly journals “For Me, They Were the Good Old Days”: Retrospective Narratives of Childhood Experiences in ‘the Gang’

Genealogy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 71
Author(s):  
Dev Rup Maitra
Keyword(s):  
Gang Membership ◽  
Limited Attention ◽  
Gang Members ◽  
Childhood Experiences ◽  
Gang Involvement ◽  
Formative Time ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Outreach Workers ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
Gang Affiliation

Much of the existing scholarship on gang membership predominantly focuses on adolescence as being the formative time period for the development of gang identities; however, there has thus far been more limited attention towards the childhood experiences of gang members, (i.e., pre-adolescence). The organising principle of this paper is to articulate the retrospective accounts of gang members’ childhoods, and how these recollections form a central role to the emergence of gang identities. The data presented in this paper were collected during fieldwork in two adult, men’s prisons in England; interviews were conducted with 60 active and former prison gang members, identified through prison databases; a small number (n = 9) of interviews were conducted with ‘street’ participants, such as ex-offenders, outreach workers and gang researchers. This paper aims to show that many gang members romanticise accounts of their childhoods, in spite of often having experienced adverse childhood experiences:, so too do many gang members view their childhood experiences as part of their mythologised narrative of life in ‘the gang’. Nevertheless, a tension exists between how gang members seek to portray their childhood experiences around gangs and the negative labelling and strain they experienced during their childhood; often, romanticised accounts seek to retrospectively neutralise these harms. In so doing, the lens through which childhood gang membership is viewed is one which conceptualises childhood gang involvement as being something non-deleterious, thus acting as a lens that attempts to neutralise the harms and vicissitudes of gang affiliation.

Policing American Gangs and Gang Members

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madeleine Novich
Keyword(s):  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Nonprofit Organizations ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Geographic Location ◽  
Gang Membership ◽  
Gang Members ◽  
Drug Dealing ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Gang Involvement ◽  
Men Of Color

Gangs have been subjects of extensive empirical research since the 1920s. Scholarly interest in gangs was largely due to gang members’ increased likelihood of engaging in delinquent behavior. Gang members have been involved in criminal activities ranging from drug dealing to theft, property offenses, gun violence, and homicide. In the 1980s, there was nationwide concern about gangs as violent gang-related crimes increased and drew media attention. As a result, important legislation was implemented that made gang membership illegal. These policies were designed to curb gang involvement and de-escalate gang violence. The legislation included civil gang injunctions, the development of gang databases, and the formation and strengthening of gang task force units. Indeed, the policies resulted in an increase of gang unit officers focused on mitigating gang involvement and gang crime. Officer strategies focused on stopping, detaining, and arresting individuals who often fit certain stereotypes. Specifically, officers routinely based gang-related encounters on suspects’ race, age, clothing, gender, and geographic location, focusing mostly on young men of color in economically depressed neighborhoods. Perhaps unsurprisingly, a number of problems and concerns related to aggressive and biased police behavior surfaced, resulting in questionable outcomes of gang suppression. Research suggests that directed patrols and removing leadership might not be effective. Instead, alternate policies should include policing in conjunction with support from community-based nonprofit organizations and research that accounts for gang members’ experiences of law enforcement strategies.

scholarly journals Conducting Qualitative Research on Desertification in Western Lesvos, Greece

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theodoros Iosifides ◽  
Theodoros Politidis
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Data Analysis ◽  
Land Degradation ◽  
Socioeconomic Development ◽  
Research Study ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Qualitative Investigation ◽  
Qualitative Research Study ◽  
Gradual Development ◽  
Land Degradation And Desertification

The main aim of this article is to present some critical methodological strategies employed in a qualitative research study on local socioeconomic development and desertification in western Lesvos, Greece. Through in-depth qualitative interviews with local producers in western Lesvos, Greece, an effort was made to identify and analyze the links between the local socioeconomic trajectory and environmental marginality. The article concerns the justification of the choice of qualitative investigation on the matter, the main methodological strategies employed in the field, and the basic data analysis processes. In particular, we discuss the gradual development of a coding framework and a conceptual model for understanding and explaining the interrelations between local socioeconomic development, and characteristics and problems of land degradation and desertification.

scholarly journals Qualitative Study of an mHealth Mindfulness intervention with Caregivers of Older Adults with MCI or Dementia

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 812-813
Author(s):  
Danielle Llaneza ◽  
XinQi Dong ◽  
Paul Duberstein ◽  
Elissa Kozlov
Keyword(s):  
Mobile Application ◽  
Mindfulness Meditation ◽  
Research Study ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Perceived Barriers ◽  
Time Constraints ◽  
Perceived Benefits ◽  
Qualitative Research Study ◽  
Growing Body ◽  
Future Work

Abstract Caregivers of patients with dementia experience high levels of emotional distress. mHealth interventions have the potential to feasibly address some needs of caregivers and reduce stress. This qualitative research study of (n = 15) caregivers of patients with dementia explored caregivers’ experience using a mindfulness meditation mobile application. The qualitative interviews were guided and structured to allow participants to share their perceived benefits, drawbacks, likes, and dislikes of using mHealth strategies to manage stress and anxiety. We asked about the caregivers' experience with mindfulness before the study, use of the app, their positive/helpful and negative/unhelpful app experiences, the perceived value of the app, and potential enhancements of the app. Caregivers reported that the app was easy to use, engaging and that there were many perceived benefits. They also noted multiple barriers to using the app including time constraints and implementation of mindfulness techniques outside of direct app use. Most of the caregivers recommended using the app to increase knowledge of mindfulness and to reduce stress. Our findings support the growing body of literature on the practical use of mHealth strategies for caregivers. Future work should address the perceived barriers caregivers encounter when using mHealth strategies.

Social dominance orientation and trust propensity in street gangs

2014 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 763-779 ◽  
Author(s):  
James A. Densley ◽  
Tianji Cai ◽  
Susan Hilal
Keyword(s):  
Path Analysis ◽  
Social Dominance ◽  
Social Dominance Orientation ◽  
Gang Membership ◽  
Street Gangs ◽  
Gang Members ◽  
Social Psychological ◽  
Trait Theory ◽  
Socialization Processes ◽  
Trust Propensity

The present research demonstrates that social dominance orientation (SDO) and trust propensity provide a valuable theoretical framework and methodological toolkit with which to both assess the concept of “defiant individualism,” Sánchez-Jankowski’s trait theory of gang membership, and understand social-psychological gang processes. The research samples 95 gang members in London, UK, while looking at the effects of age, contact with the gang, and position in the gang on the presence of SDO and trust propensity. Using path analysis, the research demonstrates gang tenure and rank are strong predictors of high SDO and low trust propensity, independent of time spent in the gang, which also significantly predicts high SDO and low trust propensity. High SDO and low trust propensity in gangs are also positively correlated. Gang members, it seems, exhibit a “defiant individualist” social character and both selection and group socialization processes are accountable. Such, in turn, may help explain intergang relations.

scholarly journals Gang Members, Gang Affiliates, and Violent Men: Perpetration of Social Harms, Violence-Related Beliefs, Victim Types, and Locations

2020 ◽  
pp. 088626052092237
Author(s):  
Jane L. Wood ◽  
Constantinos Kallis ◽  
Jeremy W. Coid
Keyword(s):  
National Survey ◽  
Gang Membership ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Gang Members ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Gang Involvement ◽  
Violent Men ◽  
At Home

Adult gang involvement attracts little empirical attention, so little is known about how they compare to nongang violent men in social harms beyond gang contexts. This study, based on unpublished data of 1,539 adult males, aged 19 to 34, from the Coid et al. national survey, compared gang members’ (embedded in a gang; n = 108), affiliates’ (less embedded in a gang; n = 119), and violent men’s (no gang association; n = 1,312) perpetration of social harms by assessing their violence-related dispositions and beliefs, victim types, and locations of violence. Results showed that compared with violent men, gang members and affiliates were equally more likely to: cause social harms to a wider range of victims, including family and friends; seek violence; be excited by violence; and carry weapons. Gang members and affiliates were equally more likely than violent men to be violent at home, in friends’ homes, and at work; they also thought about hurting people, but felt regret for some of their violence. A decreasing gradient was identified in gang members’ (highest), affiliates’ (next highest) and violent men’s (lowest) beliefs in violent retaliation when disrespected, the use of violence instrumentally and when angry, and worry about being violently victimized. Implications of findings are that interventions need to address anger issues across all levels of adult gang membership. Importantly, adult gang members’ regrets regarding violence and anxiety about being violently victimized could be key factors that interventions could use to help them relinquish their gang involvement.

Overcoming Stigma and Discrimination: Challenges for Reinsertion of Gang Members in Developing Countries

2018 ◽  
Vol 62 (15) ◽  
pp. 4758-4775 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan D. Rosen ◽  
José Miguel Cruz
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
El Salvador ◽  
Central America ◽  
Gang Membership ◽  
Street Gangs ◽  
Gang Members ◽  
Street Gang ◽  
Employment Opportunities ◽  
Stigma And Discrimination ◽  
Depth Interviews

This article is an effort to better understand the discrimination mechanisms that ex-gang members perceive upon leaving the gang and seeking to reinsert themselves into a society marked by high levels of violence and inequality, as in Central America. Based on 24 in-depth interviews with former members of MS-13, the 18th Street gang, and other street gangs in El Salvador, this article analyzes the different mechanisms of discrimination perceived by respondents as a result of the stigma of past gang membership. This article also documents how these perceptions of discrimination can affect individuals who are searching for employment opportunities and seeking to reinsert themselves into society.

scholarly journals ‘If You’re Down With a Gang Inside, You Can Lead a Nice Life’: Prison Gangs in the Age of Austerity

Youth Justice ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 128-145
Author(s):  
Dev Rup Maitra
Keyword(s):  
American Literature ◽  
Gang Membership ◽  
Street Gangs ◽  
Gang Members ◽  
Prison Violence ◽  
Staffing Levels ◽  
Prison Gangs ◽  
Unintended Effect ◽  
First Time ◽  
Gathering Data

In many countries, there has been growing academic attention towards the activities of street and prison gang members. However, while much of the American literature explores the experiences of prison gang members, such investigation has been notably absent in the English context. This article seeks to address this deficit in the literature. Through gathering data from interviews with active prison gang members, it shows how reduced staffing levels in English prisons has led to an increasingly ‘ungovernable’ prison space. This, in turn, has led to an increase in levels of gang membership. Most notably, the high numbers of street gangs ‘imported’ into prisons has had the unintended effect of creating several ‘in prison’ gangs, which form for the first time in prison, with their members seeking protecting from more established gangs. This proliferation of gangs has had a significant impact on rates of in-prison violence, and how prisons are managed.

Cross-Group Investigations: Youth Gangs in Medellin, Colombia

2016 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-100
Author(s):  
Holli Drummond ◽  
John Dizgun ◽  
David Keeling
Keyword(s):  
Survey Data ◽  
North American ◽  
Behavioral Outcomes ◽  
Selection Model ◽  
Gang Membership ◽  
Gang Members ◽  
Youth Gangs ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Gang Involvement

The present study evaluates adolescent gang involvement using cross-sectional survey data from 1,475 adolescents living in a disadvantaged Comuna in Medellin, Colombia. Specifically, we examine the prevalence of former and current gang membership, affiliation with gang members, and lives untouched by any gang association. Once these groups are established, we identify variation in membership on the basis of demographic and theoretical variables, and determine whether such variation can be described by using the selection, facilitation, and enhancement models developed by Thornberry et al. While our results, consistent with many prior findings using North American samples, support the selection model for most theoretical variables and enhancement for behavioral outcomes, our strongest contribution is our study’s ability to demonstrate the temporal impact of gang involvement.

Searching for hope in brain, lung, and pancreatic cancers: A collaborative qualitative research study

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Pearson ◽  
Maureen Rigney ◽  
Anitra Engebretson ◽  
Johanna Villarroel ◽  
Jenette Spezeski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Research Study ◽  
Qualitative Research Study ◽  
Pancreatic Cancers
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document