Social Disorganization/Social Ecology*

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Social Disorganization/Social Ecology

• Kelly Cheeseman Dial, PhD
• AJ 325
• Some information taken from Texas police
  departments gang information webpages

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A few questions to consider

• What is social organization?
• What are the qualities of a desirable community?
  An undesirable community?

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The Beginnings

• Rise of cities in Europe
• Quetelet thermic law of delinquency
• Competition within communities
• This set of ideas is in direct challenge to
  biological determinism of the late 1800s

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The Chicago School

• University of Chicago (1920s and 1930s)
• Asked the questions
• If crime is a result of individual defects, why
  do some geographical areas have more crime than
  others?
• How is it that some neighborhoods have high rates
  of crime despite a complete turnover in their
  population?

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Park and Burgess
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Shaw and Mckay

• Juvenile Delinquency in urban areas ( 1942)
• Mapped addresses of delinquents
• What were the specific characteristics of the
  zone in transition?
• Population heterogeneity
• Population turnover
• Physical decay
• Poverty/inequality

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Explaining high crime in the zone of transition

• Social control
• Little community cohesion
• Weak community institutions
• Cultural transmission of values
• Once crime takes root
• Delinquent values are passed through to other
  generations

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Measuring Disorganization

• Census variables
• Age distribution, marital
• status, household income,
• ethnic heterogeneity,
• unemployment,
• residential mobility

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Crime and Economic Conditions

• Does poverty cause crime?

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Strain Theory is aboutDeviant Motivation

• Assumption 1 We are all naturally law-abiding,
  if given the chance
• Assumption 2 We break rules when we experience
  strain
• Assumption 3 Strain originates in our social
  experience

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What do you do when bad things happen?

• Someone abuses you physically? emotionally?
• You fail a test you studied for
• Your loved one dumps you
• Your parent dies suddenly
• Your parents get a divorce
• You become a crime victim

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Responding to Stress

• Stress responses occur at three levels
• Emotional responses
• Physiological responses
• Behavioral responses
• Emotional responses are usually negative and fall
  into three categories
• 1. Annoyance, anger, and rage
• 2. Apprehension, anxiety, and fear
• 3. Dejection, sadness, and grief

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Responding to Stress (cont.)

• However, stress can prompt positive emotional
  responses which in turn
• Increase creativity, flexibility in problem
  solving, and
• Enhance immune system functioning, increase
  valuable social support and promote proactive
  coping.

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Responding to Stress (cont.)

• Behavioral Responses to stress usually refer to
  coping, or active efforts to master, reduce, or
  tolerate the demands created by stress.
• Coping response may be either
• Healthy (e.g., actively trying to solve problem
  by asking for help or generating solutions) or
• Unhealthy (e.g., ignoring problem, indulging in
  alcohol or excessive eating). Criminal behavior?

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The Potential Effects of Stress

• Impaired task performance.
• Stress can cause people to freeze up, or crack
  under pressure.
• Elevated self-consciousness can disrupt attention
  to task.
• Disruption of cognitive function.
• Increased tendency to jump to conclusions.
• Decreased ability to carefully review options.
• Decreased memory function.

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The Potential Effects of Stress (cont.)

• Burnout physical and emotional exhaustion,
  cynicism and lowered sense of self-efficacy that
  is attributable to work-related stress.
• Factors in workplace that promote burnout include
  lack of control over responsibilities, work
  overload, and lack of recognition.
• Burnout can result in increased absenteeism,
  reduced productivity and risk of illness

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Figure 3.14
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The Potential Effects of Stress (cont.)

• Psychological problems and disorders.
• Stress may contribute to
• Poor academic performance
• Insomnia and other sleep disturbances
• Sexual difficulties and
• Substance abuse.

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Agnews (1992) Strain Theory
Blocked Goals
Corrective Actions
Negative Emotions (mostly anger, but also anxiety
and depression)
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The American Dream

• Culturally valued goals
• Money, status, material objects
• Legitimate means
• Hard work, perseverance

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Mertons (1938) Strain TheoryA Critique of U.S.
Society

• Critique 1 Our cultures requirement that
  people achieve success (i.e., wealth) is stronger
  than its requirement that they play by the rules
  to attain it
• Critique 2 There is a mismatch between our
  cultures universal success goals (wealth) and
  peoples differential access to the legitimate
  means to achieving those goals

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Mertons Adaptations to Strain
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Albert Cohen Strain Theory and Delinquent
Subculture

• Strain Lower class youth fail to achieve middle
  class standards ( middle class measuring rod)
  -gt strain (status frustration)
• Reduce strain by creating an alternative status
  system - a group solution to the problem of
  strain
• Oppositional subculture
• Middle class values upside down
• Explains non-utilitarian deviance (e.g.,
  vandalism)

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Strain Anomie in Society

• Disjuncture between socially valued goals and
  legitimate means for achieving those goals
• Anomie a state of normlessness in society
• Rules inspire less commitment
• We dont trust that others will follow rules

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Overview of Strain Theories

• Agnews Strain Theory
• Blocked goals-gtnegative emotion-gtcorrective
  action
• Mertons Strain Theory
• Success is valued more than playing by the rules
• Differential access to legitimate means
• Cohens Strain Theory
• Oppositional/delinquent adaptation to status
  frustration

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Policy Implicationsof Strain Theory

• Equalize opportunities for success
• De-emphasize material success goals
• Re-emphasize playing by the rules

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Group Work

• If your neighborhood is a zone of transition
  what can be done to change it?
• How does fear influence crime and neighborhood
  interactions?
• Identify reasons why youths join gangs?
• Are neighborhood watch programs effective? Why
  or why not?

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Modern S.D. Theory

• Concentric Rings not necessary, modern SD
  examines at the basic neighborhood level
• Ecological characteristics have an effect on a
  neighborhoods level of informal social control
• What are informal social controls at the
  neighborhood level?

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Sampson and Groves ( 1989)

• British Crime Survey Data
• Population turnover
• Poverty/inequality
• Divorce rates
• Single parents
• Street supervision
• Friendship networks
• Participation in neighborhood organizations

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Sampson ( 1997)

• Replicated his results in Chicago
• Areas with concentrated disadvantage
• Poverty
• Family disruption
• Primarily minority
• Willingness to exercise control ( i.e. tell kids
  to quiet down)
• Willingness to trust or help each other
• Lack of collective efficacy
• This lack of collective efficacy increases crime
  rates

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Does poverty cause crime?5 things to consider

• Poverty is subjective
• Good economy low crime??
• Amount of time in poverty conditions
• Which factor is causing the crime?
• Difference between poverty and economic
  inequality.

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What is a Gang?

• Texas Penal Code 71.01(d) says Three or more
  persons having a common identifying sign symbol
  or leadership, who continuously or regularly
  associate in the commission of criminal
  activities.

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Recruiting
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Reasons for Gang Membership

• The gang provides needs Love, Compassion,
  Nurturing, and Financial gain
• The gang gives them a sense of security,
  structure, and respect that is often missing at
  home
• The gang is loyal and accepts them for who they
  are
• Peer pressure
• Excitement of gang activity

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The Three Big Lies

• The gang provides protection
• The gang will get you respect
• The gang will be your family and wont let you
  down

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Identifying Potential Gang Members (cont.)

• Imitation of the dress and/or behavior of a known
  gang
• Tattoos drawn on the body, either self made or
  professionally
• Glorifies or emulates a known gang members
  behavior or symbols
• Hanging out with a new group of friends
• Changes in personality or behavior
• Alcohol or drug abuse
• Frequently bruised or injured
• Carrying guns, knives or other weapons

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Types of Gang Activity

• Extortion
• Intimidation
• Burglary
• Face to face confrontations
• Fights
• Recruitment rituals jumping in/sexing in

• Graffiti
• Hand Signs flagging
• Tattoos
• Drive-by shootings
• Drug use and trafficking

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Stages of Gang Membership

• Wannabe/Gonnabe
• Wants to be a gang member
• Probably will be a gang member
• Peripheral
• One who hangs around with the gang
• May or may not engage in the gang activities

• Associates
• Actual gang members who have been jumped in
• Hardcore
• Lives only for the gang
• Most violent

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Physical Signs of Gang Membership

• CAPS/HATS
• Black, dark blue, and red are popular gang
  colors. Notice how the cap is worn, on one side
  or the other and look for writing either sewed
  onto the cap or under the bill.
• SHIRTS
• The styles of shirts can range from T-shirts to
  Pendleton shirts. How the shirt is worn is
  important. Look for writings or drawings on the
  shirt.

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Physical Signs of Gang Membership (cont.)

• PANTS
• The color and style of pants may or may not be
  important blue, black and khaki pants are
  popular. How are the pants worn? If a belt is
  being worn is the buckle facing to the left or
  the right.
• COATS/JACKETS
• University and Professional sports teams jackets
  are popular.
• SHOES
• Plain high top and low top basketball shoes are
  popular. Doc Martin and military style lace-up
  boots are popular with Skinheads. Look at the
  color and name brand of the shoes along with the
  color of the shoelaces.

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Physical Signs of Gang Membership (cont.)

• BANDANAS/TOWELS
• Notice how the bandana is folded and the color.
  Gang members have started carrying face towels in
  the gangs colors due to the attention being
  brought by the bandanas.
• GRAFFITI
• Check for graffiti on school books, papers,
  clothing, etc.
• JEWELRY
• Neck chains are the most popular. Also look at
  ring and earring styles. They may depict
  violence or wealth.

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Physical Signs of Gang Membership (cont.)

• TATTOOS
• Tattoos may identify the person as a gang member
  by showing the gangs initials, gang sign or the
  name of a fallen gang member. Tattoos may also
  show the members street name or the 3 dots.
• SPEECH
• Prolong use of gang slang during a conversation
  is an indicator of gang association or awareness.

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Graffiti

• First indication of gang activity
• Newspaper of the streets
• Used to mark turf
• Declares allegiance to the gang
• Advertises the gangs power or status
• Challenge to rivals by crossing out rival
  gang/RIH
• Occasionally will contain street names of gang
  members
• Used to pay respect to fallen gang members
• Report graffiti to law enforcement
• Cleanup as soon as possible leaving it there
  implies that the gang is accepted

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Graffiti Examples
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Alphabets
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Alphabets (cont.)
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Tattoos

• Show allegiance to the gang
• Usually contain name of the gang
• Members street names
• Three dot tattoos Mi Vida Loca/My Crazy Life
• Thespian faces Smile Now, Cry Later

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Hand Signs

• Cryptic messages
• Usually in the form of a letter
• Originated with Black Gangs
• Used to tell a story, challenge rival gangs, and
  brag
• Identifies which gang a gang member belongs to

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Types of Gangs

• Social Gang
• Relatively permanent group that hangs out at a
  specific location
• Members have a sense of camaraderie
• Often engage in organized group activities
• Usually the more stable youths with norms and
  values of society in general
• Delinquent Gang
• Organized for monetary gain from delinquent
  activities
• Members depend on one another to carry out
  activities and provide back-up
• Most common type
• Violent Gang
• Obtain emotional gratification from violent
  activities
• Tend to be emotionally unstable have a need to
  control others
• Tend to overestimate their importance, size, and
  power
• Usually have inner group violence

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Gang Behaviors

• Creatures of habit
• Always have a back-up
• Natural fear of failure
• Love to brag
• Documentation of crimes in graffiti and personal
  writings
• Perceive fear as respect

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Major Gang Nations

• Crips
• Formed in 1968 by black high school students Ray
  Washington and Stanley Tookie Williams in
  Compton, California ghettos
• Identify with the color blue
• Align themselves with the Folk Nation
• Enemies of Bloods and People Nation
• Refer to Bloods as Slobs or Blobs

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Major Gang Nations

• Folk Nation
• Formed in late 60s by David Barksdale the
  founder of the Black Gangster Disciples in
  Chicago, Illinois
• Adopted the Jewish Star of David as main symbol
  in honor of Barksdale
• Motto All is One
• Identify to the right
• Pitchfork up means Mind, Body, and Soul coming
  together in one nation
• Align with the Crips

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Major Gang Nations

• Bloods/Pirus
• Formed in reaction to the Crips by Sylvester
  Scott and Vincent Owens
• Smaller than the Crips but more cohesive
• Violence makes up for the smaller numbers
• Identify with the color Red
• Align with the People Nation
• Enemies of the Crips and Folk Nation
• Refer to Crips as Crabs

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Major Gang Nations

• People Nation
• Formed by members of the Black P Stone Rangers in
  Chicago, Illinois
• Five point star is main symbol
• Identify with the number five
• Identify to the left
• Motto All is Well
• Pitchfork down
• Eye, Pyramid, Sun, and Half Crescent Moon
• symbols

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Gang Dress Tattoos
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CRIP TATTOOS
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BLOOD TATTOOS
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SUR 13 TATTOOS
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Gang Homework?
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Gang Homework?
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Gang Life
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Three goals that parents and communities should
seek to reduce the adverse impact of gangs, its
associated violence and its devastating life-long
impacts are

• Raise your gang awareness level.
• Supervise your children.
• Get involved with your children, your
  neighborhood and your community.