An Investigation of Juvenile Gang Membership and Psychopathic Behavior: Evidence from Multilinear Analysis

Abstract

The extant literature provides evidence that gang involvement increases and individuals propensity to perpetrate antisocial behavior. Furthermore, it has been empirically support that criminal involvement increases and individuals like-hood of experiencing victimization. Antisocial personality disorder is described as engaging in aggressive behavior that is socially unacceptable; irresponsible, impulsive behavior; merged with impaired ability to empathize with victims; indifference to social norms, and frequent substance abuse (Cox, Edens, Magyar, & Lilienfeld, 2013; Lilienfeld & Arkowitz, 2007). Therefore, it is logical to deduce that gang affiliation also increases the probability of victimization amongst juveniles, which has been supported by by several authors. Furthermore, considering the symptomology associated with conduct disorder and operational defiant disorder it is probable that gang membership and victimization may have a critical role in the externalization of this psychological disorders symptoms. To examine this question we utilize data gathered by the Gang Resistance Education and Training (G.R.E.A.T) program which consists of (N=5,935) eight grade students from 42 different schools. These schools are located in: Arizona, California, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin. The metropolitan regions the subjects reside during the data collection period are: Omaha, Las Cruces, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Torrance, Orlando, Pocatello, Will County, Kansas City, Providence, and Milwaukee. The results, limitations, and implications of the study will be discussed later.