Why Do Gangs Occur?
Gang behaviors, related incidents, and involvements are issues
that afflict the urban inner cities, as well as suburbs. It has ceased to be an
"inner city" problem. Its increased growth can be largely blamed on factors
surrounding the child’s current physical, mental, social, and family climate. The
following can be included in the list of why gangs occur.
Family: Growing up in a gang family could be considered
quite normal. The home environment a family provides for their children could be harmful
or neglectful. Abuse and neglect in the family could leave young members seeking care and
protection elsewhere.
Self: Young people seek out situations in which they can
be successful. Often, they do not consider if it’s right or wrong. The contributing
factors leading to this are:
- a total lack of self-esteem
- a loss of control over one’s life
- a lack of knowledge on how to handle peer pressure
- a lack of successful experiences
Other factors affecting the child's view of self are learning and
behavioral disabilities. Often these learning and behavioral problems result in poor
grades further lowering self-esteem.
Social: The social reasons why young people get involved
in gangs, (especially if they do not have the support of their families) are:
- the "glamorous" lifestyle of gang members
- the greed of money and the ease of making it
- a sense of social status by "hanging out" with the
"right contacts"
A mixture of these factors, as well as others, may be an
individual’s reasons for becoming part of a gang. Gangs occur due to voids that are
created in an individual’s life that cannot be filled. They happen due to a breakdown
in their family, social and individual environment.
Source: D. Bond, D. Drain, S. Simon
for Family Information Services, Minneapolis, MN ©C July, 1994.
