Middle Class Delinquency to Gangs Research Paper

Middle Class Delinquency to Gangs - Research Paper Example As Lowney (2009: 527-38) observed, in a gang, a youth will find money, friendship and above all to get what they need. The paper will discuss the middle class delinquency relationship to the gangs. In order to understand the relationship between the middle class delinquencies to gang, it is of great importance for five issues to be addressed. To begin, gang must be differentiated from other forms of peer groups. Gao (2002: 8-26) observed that some youths are organized into groups but are not gangs. Secondly, attention must be paid to the relationship strength between being in a gang and the delinquency of the members. Thirdly, the focus should be on the importance of learning from the peers despite being generalized into gangs. The fourth issue involves the peer group solidarity effect in causing delinquency. Because of the importance of giving consideration to the similarity of the peers to a gang, getting involved in delinquency and other activities, and the peers solidarity should be treated as variables. Peer groups that resemble a gang among the middle class stimulate delinquency when the members feel the strong solidarity sense in their group. Furthermore, it may be that the likeness of the gang is related to the delinquency of the individuals when combined with the delinquency of other members. ... According to Myerhoff et al (2001: 328-335), the popularized gang ideas are used by all types of youths in different sorts of communities. Moreover, the disorganized communities act as the delinquency locations, predominantly the male gangs. Greeley et al (2005: 33-41) suggested the strain theory that was introduced by theories such as Albert Cohen as the model that can explain how factors in the middle class such as homelessness, poverty, lack of opportunity and lack of parenting are the major contributors of crime and formation of delinquent sub cultures like the gangs. According to Greeley et al (2005: 33-41), the strain theory forms part of the objectivists perspective that believes that behavior is socially created, assumes consensus of value and is observable. Furthermore, the theory comprises of the two other separate theories, that is, Anomie and Social Disorganization Theories. According to Lowney (2009: 527-38), both theories suggests that the less presence of integration, cohesion and solidarity within a community, group or society, the higher the rate of crime and deviance. Gao (2002: 8-26) indicated that the term Anomie refers to condition of lack of norms, that promotes in most cases higher suicide rates. Using the concept of anomie, The Theory of Anomie and Social Structure was drawn. The Theory of Anomie and Social Structure gives a logical explanation of the reasons why most crime activities are found in middle class and the lower class urban areas. According to Salzinger et al (2006), social structure balance and culture are the necessary components that form an integrated society. Therefore, anomie is the direction that disintegration of the society takes when there is dissociation between legitimate societal means and valued cultural ends