TO DO:What do you think are the primary factors that might explain gang affiliation/aggression? Focus on one factor related to a theory of human motivation and specify the theory and it’s connection to gang affiliation. Further, what can communities do to address that specific factor? You may choose to bring in an empirical article source to support your points. TO DO: Focus your reply on additional evidence confirming or disconfirming the original author’s factor. Remember, your replies should be substantive- meaning they go beyond just agreeing and further the discussion in meaningful ways. Substantive replies should be at least 150 words and may include an outside source. REPLY TO THIS..I think the primary factor that influences gang affiliation is identity development. Early and mid adolescence children who don’t have good home environments including a lack parental figures seek out role models who provide them with options and instill a sense of connectedness. In a search for autonomy and responsibility youth in urban areas may turn to those who aren’t just accepted but respected in gang members. In a search for autonomy youth may want to make their own money which gangs can provide opportunities for which then builds status and respect. By then being established within the social system of a gang a persons social norms beliefs and goals may change and they may create a self theory that that is who they are making it hard to imagine a future outside of it. I think what could change this is the implementation of positive role models in areas where gang activity is higher. By creating youth centers where those with poor family lives can escape and find guidance through counselors and coaches rather than gang members the youth of the area would find it difficult to see a future in a gang rather than one without one. Aggression and Gangs INFO: -Many theories of motivation, when combined, can explain why individuals join gangs or act aggressively. Here are some factors that influence gang affiliation: -They watch violence on TV, which confirms their belief in a hostile and threatening world. (self-theory & explanatory style) -Further, violent youth tend to believe they are better than other people, but find themselves in situations that threaten that view of themselves, so they attack (Baumeister, et al., 1996) -Growing up in an environment that reinforces aggression. Further, they engage in aggression in gangs, which reinforces that the only way to get what they want is to act violently and aggressively. (extrinsic motivation & reinforcement theories) -They assume a social role expected of them characterized by traditional masculine norms of insensitivity, dominance, and hostility (possible selves theory) -Youth often feel isolated before joining a gang and the gang meets the psychological need for affiliation/relatedness. (psychological needs theory) -In terms of the psychological need for autonomy, the gang can enable the individual to feel more in control, with their limited territories, etc. (psychological needs theory) -Priming can make it more likely that someone might engage in aggression. (priming theory & unconscious influences on behavior) -Aggression can be a means for satisfying one’s power needs. (implicit psychological need for power) (Franken, 2007) Read about the connection between psychological need satisfaction and the motivation to join gangs here: Read about predictors of gang violence in this scientific study:
