Gangs have been a growing problem today in America’s society. This is an epidemic problem that has been occurring for quite a few years now. Most of them join gang membership during their youth life. Since youths have been joining gangs, it is important to identify facts that may relate to why teenagers join a group. When children join a gang, they do it for various reasons ranging from peer pressure to poverty and drug abuse, among others. One thing that is confusing, however, is that they know the consequences of their involvement in such illegal groups, but they still join gangs. The research should bring attention to people to help convince the youths that joining a gang is not the solution to humanity. The literature review will focus on two central themes; one of the risk factors of joining a group and the protective aspects the youth may have. Two are the consequences of entering and leaving a gang. In their article Lenzi, Sharkey, Vieno, Mayworm, Dougherty, & Nylund‐Gibson (2015) explain that there are a risk and protective factors that can be used to predict an adolescent likelihood to joining a gang. The authors explain that although research has inconsistent findings regarding youth joining a gang based on family' factors, there is a significant correlation between an adolescent joining a gang and family management and parenting roles (Lenzi et al . 2015). When there is poor parenting, supervision, and lack of discipline, youth are likely to be deviant and end up joining gangs.
Similarly, when there is a history of some family members having joined a gang, then there are higher chances that youth from the same set up would-be gangsters. It is an aspect that is controversial because some studies indicate that there is no correlation between family history and gang behaviors (Lenzi et al . 2015). Besides, a poor socio-economic status that can emanate from single parenthood is also a risk factor for youth to joining gangs with a bid to access financial gain. The authors also explain that behavior and personal attitudes have a close correlation to delinquent habits where bad behavior and negative attitudes make the youth not to care about their involvement in gangs. Attitudes have made the youth not to be guilty and can indulge themselves in any delinquent behaviors (Lenzi et al . 2015). Also, the tolerant behavior in contemporary society is also another risk factor that has made the youth to join gangs as a result of permissiveness. There are also aspects of individual low self-esteem where youth feel worthless and can indulge in any criminal activity and ready for the consequences. Studies indicate that poor academic performance has made several youths lose interest in school, and as a result, they drop out. The idle youth are then prompted to join activities to keep them going and for self-validation, and this could be ganged among other criminal activities such as drug abuse. Although it is considered a weak point, it still counts among the risk factors of youth involvement in gang activities. Another risk factor for youth joining gangs includes peer pressure from the people one associates with. When a youth has ties with others who have deviant behaviors, then the chances of them joining gangs are higher. Also, when the youth involve themselves in antisocial groups, then they desist their engagement with pro-social groups, which would otherwise reinforce good morals and solid beliefs. Additionally, Martinez, Tost, Hilgert, & Woodard-Meyers (2013) look at the risk factors of adolescents joining a gang by exploring students from the eighth grade. Just like Lenzi e t al. The authors focus on family, peers, school, and individual aspects as risk factors to youth joining gangs. The authors, however, expand their scope of research to include the community as one of the risks and at the same time, protective factors relating to youth and their engagement in gangs. Martinez et al . (2015) explain that if the family does not instill sufficient discipline to the adolescents, they will end up in criminal activities such as gangs. The lack of enough discipline could result from single parenthood, alcoholic parents, lack of male figures to lead them home, and poor parenting (Martinez . et. al 2015). It also looks at peers as another risk factor where when youth engage with peers who are inclined towards criminal behavior, sell or distribute drugs, are antisocial they tend to copy the same behavior, and also become gangsters (Martinez . et. al 2015). The author touches on different aspects of individual aspect as a risk factor by explaining that youth join gangs because of aggression, lack of good friends to interact with, living in a permissive setup, and locura, among others. The author also states that communities also contribute to the risk factors of youth joining gangs. When there is the presence of gang activities in the setup, more youth are likely to join the group. Also, living in poverty-stricken areas also make the youth to be more prone to criminal activities. Furthermore, McDaniel (2012) looks at alcohol and drug abuse as one of the risk factors for youth joining gangs. The author states that the adolescents who consume in alcohol and drugs are likely to join gangs because of their association with people of the same category; they become antisocial and do not have meaningful relationships with people and a result they end up in gangs as a safe haven (McDaniel 2012). The research also indicates that depressed youth have high chances of joining gangs with a bid to finding a solution to their issues of depression. Another risk factor is that when youth have suicidal ideas, they are likely to join a gang because of their hopelessness and the ideation that they need to die, and they can do anything as they have negative thoughts and attitudes (McDaniel 2012). When adolescents are also victimized, they tend to be rebellious with a bid to seek revenge, and they can join gangs because of their unforgiving nature and the need to punish the offenders. One of the protective factors that Lenzi (2015) explains is the role of parents in giving empathy and support. When the youth are shown the support, they are likely to change because they feel valued and cared. Parents play this critical role in supporting their children to overcome the challenge, for instance, by taking them for guiding and counseling, ensuring that they meet all their financial needs, especially the basic ones (Lenzi 2015). The parents also need to empathize with their children by showing them that they understand their predicament, and through it all, they will be there for them. It is an assurance that helps the youth shape up their behavior and becomes responsible members of society. The author also explains that one of the protective factors is to apply coping skills for youth who are going through tough times, such as depression, having suicidal thoughts; among others, this will help them live positive lives and refrain from joining gangs for solace and validation (McDaniel 2012). McDaniel also explains that school connectedness is also a critical aspect that can help the youth from participating groups. When a school administration and teachers focus on students' emotional and psychological well being, they can know their challenges and guide them appropriately. Wu & Pyrooz (2016) explain that there several consequences of joining a gang. One of the penalties is that there is great victimization when people in a society have knowledge of the person in a gang set. They are badly treated and considered suspects whenever any criminal activity takes place. Youths who are in gang groups have bad relationships with the rest of the members in the society. The authors also explain that when a person becomes a member of a gang, they begin to have low self-control and can react to anything and everything increasing their chances of being victimized (Wu & Pyrooz 2016). People who have also joined a gang become impulsive, and they tend to do their things in a hasty way, an aspect which might not be healthy to them and other members around them. They also become short-sighted and cannot look at the future but only concerned about their current lives. In this regard, they don't have long term plans for their lives such as studying, investing saving, among others. The authors also state that gang members lack empathy once they join a group, and they can indulge in any criminal activity without fear or remorse. The above factors have been categorized into three major factors, and they include; self-control .cultural orientations and routine activity lifestyle (Wu & Pyrooz 2016)
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References
Lenzi, M., Sharkey, J., Vieno, A., Mayworm, A., Dougherty, D., & Nylund‐Gibson, K. (2015). Adolescent gang involvement: The role of individual, family, peer, and school factors from a multilevel perspective. Aggressive behavior , 41 (4), 386-397.
Martinez, J., Tost, J., Hilgert, L., & Woodard-Meyers, T. (2013). Gang membership risk factors for eighth-grade students. Nonpartisan Education Review , 9 (1), 1-31.
McDaniel, D. D. (2012). Risk and protective factors associated with gang affiliation among high-risk youth: a public health approach. Injury prevention , 18 (4), 253-258.
Wu, J., & Pyrooz, D. C. (2016). Uncovering the pathways between gang membership and violent victimization. Journal of quantitative criminology , 32 (4), 531-559.
