Title: Criminal and Delinquent Subcultures | Encyclopedia.com
Headings: Criminal and Delinquent Subcultures
Criminal and Delinquent Subcultures
CRIMINAL AND DELINQUENT SUBCULTURES
THEORY AND RESEARCH
HOW DO CRIMINAL AND DELINQUENT SUBCULTURES GET STARTED?
LEVELS OF EXPLANATION OF CRIMINAL AND DELINQUENT SUBCULTURES
CONCLUSION
references

Content: Much delinquent behavior of highly delinquent gangs, for example, results from the operation of group processes rather than group norms per se (see Short 1997). The normative properties of groups vary greatly, but even the most delinquent gang devotes relatively little of its group life to the pursuit of delinquent behaviors. Further, when gangs do participate in delinquent episodes, some members of the gang typically do not become involved. This is so, in part, because subcultures typically consist of collections of normative orders —rules and practices related to a common value (Herbert 1998)—rather than norms oriented around a single value (such as being "macho," "cool," or exceptionally gifted in some way). In addition, individuals who are associated with a particular subculture tend also to be associated with other subcultures. Simply being associated with a subculture thus is unlikely to be a good predictor of the behavior of a particular individual. For analytical purposes it is important to distinguish between subcultures and the particular individuals and groups who share the norms, values, and interests of the subculture. While members of a delinquent gang may be the sole carriers of a particular subculture in a particular location, some subcultures are shared by many gangs. Conflict subcultures, for example, are shared by rival fighting gangs among whom individual and group status involves values related to the defense of "turf" (territory) and "rep" (reputation) and norms supportive of these values. Subcultures oriented to theft and other forms of property crime vary in the extent to which they are associated with particular groups.