Book contents
- The Cambridge Handbook of Social Problems
- The Cambridge Handbook of Social Problems
- Copyright page
- Contents
- About the Contributors
- Introduction
- Part I Problems Related to Health, Safety, and Security
- Part II Problems Related to Crime and Violence
- Chapter 12 The Problem of Crime
- Chapter 13 Corporate Malfeasance as a Social Problem
- Chapter 14 The Construction of School Bullying as a Social Problem
- Chapter 15 Rampage School Shootings
- Chapter 16 Understanding Sexual Violence: The Role of Causal and Precipitating Factors in Sexual Offending
- Chapter 17 Critical and Intersectional Understandings of Campus Sexual Assault as a Social Problem
- Chapter 18 Child Abuse and Neglect
- Chapter 19 Family Violence
- Chapter 20 Juvenile Violence
- Chapter 21 Gangs and Gang Violence
- Chapter 22 State Violence
- Chapter 23 Hate Crime
- Chapter 24 Police Brutality
- Chapter 25 Capital Punishment/Death Penalty
- Chapter 26 Wrongful Convictions: Comparative Perspectives
- Part III Problems of Global Impact
- Index
- References
Chapter 21 - Gangs and Gang Violence
from Part II - Problems Related to Crime and Violence
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 16 March 2018
- The Cambridge Handbook of Social Problems
- The Cambridge Handbook of Social Problems
- Copyright page
- Contents
- About the Contributors
- Introduction
- Part I Problems Related to Health, Safety, and Security
- Part II Problems Related to Crime and Violence
- Chapter 12 The Problem of Crime
- Chapter 13 Corporate Malfeasance as a Social Problem
- Chapter 14 The Construction of School Bullying as a Social Problem
- Chapter 15 Rampage School Shootings
- Chapter 16 Understanding Sexual Violence: The Role of Causal and Precipitating Factors in Sexual Offending
- Chapter 17 Critical and Intersectional Understandings of Campus Sexual Assault as a Social Problem
- Chapter 18 Child Abuse and Neglect
- Chapter 19 Family Violence
- Chapter 20 Juvenile Violence
- Chapter 21 Gangs and Gang Violence
- Chapter 22 State Violence
- Chapter 23 Hate Crime
- Chapter 24 Police Brutality
- Chapter 25 Capital Punishment/Death Penalty
- Chapter 26 Wrongful Convictions: Comparative Perspectives
- Part III Problems of Global Impact
- Index
- References
Summary
Gangs are a social problem because of the violence they cause in communities and because of the long-term deleterious effects that membership has on individuals who belong to gangs. There are no consensus definitions for gangs, gang members, and gang crimes, though the strengths and challenges of popular definitions are discussed in this chapter. Gangs develop from core structural problems and individuals join gangs as a result of a variety of socioecological factors. Meanwhile, gang violence occurs due to complex interplays between individuals and gangs. This chapter will delve into the historical development of gangs. Theoretical explanations for gang formation, gang joining, and gang desistence are examined along with the use of violence. Finally, attention is given to prevention of gangs, gang membership, and gang violence.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The Cambridge Handbook of Social Problems , pp. 363 - 380Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2018