An Upper Middle Class Deviant Gang

Abstract

VioLit summary: OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study by Greeley and Casey was to explain middle class gang delinquency that could not be explained by traditional theories of deviance or deviant gangs. It was suggested that middle class subcultures, similar to delinquent gangs form as a result of not being able to maintain their status. METHODOLOGY: A non-experimental methodology was employed. The authors used a previous observation of a five member middle class gang with whom they were familiar to illustrate their theoretical perspectives. The nature of the observation was not specified. They did, however, include a clear description of the community and the gang. FINDINGS/DISCUSSION: The authors found that, surprisingly, anomie and social disorganization theories applied to middle class environments. They found that a majority of the members failed to have a consistent father figure in their lives and that this social disorganization influenced the feeling of anomie. Anomie was not specifically defined. They also found that the middle class gang was occupied by members whose family had recently made a quick transition from lower class to middle class status. None of the members' families represented old wealth or professional or business wealth. Rather, the families were from construction contractor, or labor leaders backgrounds. Feelings of anomie resulted from not having the same middle class values, attitudes, and type of behavior because they had not developed them. The authors attributed the slow process of assimilation to Bolke's notion of stratification inconsistency (p.35) where the difference in values and inability to maintain their status keeps them at odds with the middle class. The authors suggested that the frustration and anomie led to delinquency. The authors also found that a majority of the members were not academically inclined and did not have educational goals. This was in opposition with the majority of those in middle class status. The authors suggested that the difficulty or inability to attain complete middle class status or goals leads to the organization of a subculture. Subculture as defined by England and Coleman is where the group stresses delinquent values to compensate for their inadequate status as middle class. To this end the authors would predict that middle class gangs or youth groups will tend toward delinquency when (1) a majority of them are recently from a lower class status or are still in transition, (2) a majority of them fail to have a father figure present, (3) a majority of them are not academically inclined, and (4) there is an insufficient number of youth who oppose their deviant behavior. The authors also included their observational, theoretical, and validity weaknesses. They noted that it was an ex post facto explanation of a gang which had since been dissolved. Secondly, they recognized that their field work lacked organizational intent to record the gang's history of events. The authors also included that prior to their reading of Bolke's article they all had their own theories of explaining the gang and were uncertain how they related to the traditional anomie theory. The authors were also unable to validate their findings with the gang members. Finally, the authors noted that they were biased observers to the rise and fall of the gang. (CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado) Juvenile Gang Gang Membership Causes Socioeconomic Factors Sociocultural Factors Social Class Class Factors Middle Class Juvenile Offender Juvenile Delinquency Subculture of Delinquency Social Organization Environmental Factors Offender Characteristics Delinquency Causes 05-05