Various models have been put forth to extrapolate the underlying causative factors that lead to the participation of an individual in an active crime. This matter has created a wide debate among philosophers just as the models explaining the connection between delinquency and peer influence. Violent crime refers to criminal activities in which the criminal threatens to or uses force on their victims. Learning and control models such has socialization/facilitation theory and selection theory have proved beneficial in explaining violent crimes.
Facilitation or socialization model
This model identifies the presence of environmental factors that includes both psychological and social inputs in determining the participation of an individual in criminal activities. It postulates that external factors encouraging crime participation must be present to educate and motivate an individual to take up crime (Conis, 2017). Therefore, the significance of a gang in brooding criminal minds is obvious.
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Selection model
Selection model is opposed to facilitation theory. It suggests that there must be an innate tendency in an individual that motivates him to participate in criminal activities such that when a gang is available it becomes a field of expressing the criminal tendencies (Conis, 2017). It insists that a gang does not make one a criminal but that a gang is merely the collection of individuals with like minds. The differences between the selection model and facilitation theory are obvious.
Figure 1 facilitation model versus selection model.
As seen from the diagram, facilitation model entails gang membership, which translates to development of criminal tendencies while selection model is limited by the ability to control self.
Conclusion
Facilitation and socialization models of gang behaviors however varied from one another provide a succinct explanation of two possible mechanisms involved in developing criminal tendencies. They can be applied in further research of gang behaviors.
References
Conis, P. J. (2017). Violent Offenders . Jones & Bartlett Learning.
