Definition and Nature of Gang Subculture
Gang subculture refers to a distinct social environment characterized by its own norms, values, and behavioral patterns that deviate from mainstream society. According to Albert K. Cohen's theory, a delinquent subculture is defined as "a way of life that has somehow become traditional among certain groups in society". This subculture emerges when juveniles, particularly from lower socio-economic backgrounds, collectively develop alternative value systems in response to their inability to achieve socially desired status through legitimate means.
Key Characteristics of Gang Subculture
Non-Utilitarian Nature
Gang activities are often committed "for the heck of it" rather than for economic gains. The delinquent acts are characterized by their malicious and negativistic nature, where members derive satisfaction from committing offenses that challenge societal norms.
Formation of Collective Identity
Gang subcultures provide a sense of belonging and identity for juveniles who feel marginalized or excluded from mainstream society. Being part of a gang offers a support system, camaraderie, and becomes a source of self-esteem and status for members who may lack these elements in their conventional social environment.
Development of Street Code
Gang subcultures operate under their own "street code" that governs behavior and conflict resolution within the group. This code emphasizes loyalty, respect, retaliation, and the use of violence as means of asserting dominance and protecting the gang's reputation.
Theoretical Framework Explaining Gang Influence
Social Learning Theory Application
According to Bandura's Social Learning Theory, juveniles learn delinquent behaviors through observation, imitation, and reinforcement within gang structures. Young members observe and imitate the behavior of more experienced gang members, perpetuating the cycle of deviance through social learning processes.
Cultural Transmission Process
Gang subcultures perpetuate themselves through intergenerational cultural transmission, where older gang members pass down their knowledge, values, and traditions to younger members. This process reinforces subcultural norms and maintains gang cohesion over time.
Differential Association Impact
The theory highlights how peer pressure and gang presence encourage juveniles to commit crimes in group settings. Research indicates that youngsters with criminal associates are significantly more likely to commit crimes themselves, as they learn criminal skills and attitudes from delinquent peers.
Social Factors Contributing to Gang Involvement in India
Poverty and Economic Deprivation
Studies reveal that 83% of juvenile offenders come from poor families. Economic hardship forces both parents to work outside the home for extended periods, leaving children unsupervised and vulnerable to gang recruitment. Poverty creates conditions where juveniles view crime as their only viable survival option.
Broken Family Structures
Research shows that 13.3% of juvenile delinquents come from broken homes due to parental death, illness, desertion, or divorce. The absence of parental control and supervision makes children easy targets for anti-social influences, including gang recruitment.
Peer Pressure and Social Acceptance
Peer influence emerges as a crucial factor in juvenile delinquency, as adolescents seeking acceptance and belongingness may succumb to negative peer pressure. The desire to be perceived as 'cool' or gain social status drives students toward risky behaviors and gang involvement.
Gang Involvement Patterns in Indian Context
Urban Gang Recruitment
In urban areas, gang involvement is a significant issue, with juveniles being recruited into gangs and participating in various illegal activities including theft, drug trafficking, and violent crimes. Gang recruitment often targets vulnerable youth from slum areas and economically disadvantaged communities.
Group-Based Criminal Activity
Studies indicate that delinquent behaviors are predominantly committed in groups. Shaw's Illinois Crime Survey revealed that in 90% of cases, two or more youths were involved in criminal activities, highlighting the collective nature of juvenile offending.
Exploitation by Adult Criminals
Recent trends show that gangs deliberately recruit juveniles because of the lenient treatment under juvenile justice laws. Adult criminals exploit the legal provisions by using minors to commit serious crimes, knowing they will receive lighter sentences.
Legal Framework under Juvenile Justice Act, 2015
Provisions for Gang-Related Offenses
The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 provides specific mechanisms to address gang involvement. Section 15 allows for juveniles aged 16-18 years accused of heinous offenses to be tried as adults after a preliminary assessment of their mental and physical capacity.
Assessment Procedures
The Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) must conduct preliminary assessments with the assistance of psycho-social workers, psychologists, and other experts to determine the mental capacity of accused juveniles involved in gang-related heinous crimes.
Rehabilitation Focus
The Act emphasizes rehabilitation over punishment, recognizing that gang involvement often stems from social, economic, and family-related factors. The legislation provides for individualized care and protection measures rather than purely punitive approaches.
Impact of Gang Subculture on Juvenile Behavior
Normalization of Violence
Gang subcultures often glorify violence and criminal behavior, making such activities appear normal and acceptable to impressionable youth. This normalization process leads to the adoption of aggressive behavioral patterns as standard responses to conflict.
Status Achievement Through Deviance
In gang subcultures, criminal behavior becomes a means of achieving status and respect. Young members engage in increasingly serious criminal activities to prove their worth and gain recognition within the group hierarchy.
Rejection of Mainstream Values
Gang subcultures typically reject conventional societal values and instead embrace alternative norms that offer empowerment and status within their immediate social environment. This rejection further distances gang members from legitimate opportunities for social advancement.
Prevention and Intervention Strategies
Early Identification and Intervention
Effective prevention requires early identification of at-risk youth who may be vulnerable to gang recruitment. This includes monitoring children from broken homes, poverty-stricken families, and those showing signs of academic disengagement.
Strengthening Family Systems
Prevention programs should focus on strengthening family bonds and communication. Research shows that improved family dynamics and parental supervision significantly reduce the likelihood of gang involvement.
Community-Based Programs
Implementation of community-based intervention programs that provide positive peer role models, educational opportunities, and skill development can offer alternatives to gang involvement for at-risk youth.
Educational and Vocational Training
Providing quality education and vocational training opportunities addresses the underlying economic factors that make gang involvement attractive to disadvantaged youth.
Gang subculture represents a significant causal factor in juvenile delinquency within the Indian context, operating through complex social learning processes, peer influence mechanisms, and the creation of alternative value systems that challenge mainstream societal norms. The Juvenile Justice Act, 2015 recognizes these complexities and provides a framework for addressing gang-related juvenile offenses while emphasizing rehabilitation and reintegration rather than purely punitive measures.
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