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Youth Gangs and Youth Violence: Charting the Key Dimensions
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-16, 17:47 authored by Robert WhiteRobert White, Ronald MasonRonald MasonThis article examines issues surrounding the relationship between youth gangs and violent behaviour by considering the complex definitional and methodological problems surrounding these matters. By drawing upon a recent survey of school students in Perth, Western Australia, it highlights the importance of and need for developing increasingly sophisticated ways of interpreting youth group formations and group activities. For example, a distinction can be made between gangs and gang-related behaviour. The importance of gang membership and nongang membership in shaping social behaviour also needs to be acknowledged. We argue that most teenagers appear to engage in very similar types of activities, including violence. However, the intensity and dynamics of this behaviour varies greatly depending upon the type of group membership in question.Typologies are presented to show the differences in antisocial behaviour depending upon gang or non-gang membership
History
Publication title
The Australian and New Zealand Journal of CriminologyVolume
39Pagination
54-70ISSN
0004-8658Department/School
School of Social SciencesPublisher
Australian Academic PressPlace of publication
Bowen Hills, QueenslandRights statement
Copyright © 2006 Australian Academic PressRepository Status
- Restricted