This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Esbensen, F.-A. Articles by Weiher, A. W. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Gang and Non-Gang Youth: Differences in Explanatory Factors

David Huizinga

Anne W. Weiher

An apparently common assumption about juvenile gangs is that they are composed of individuals who are substantially different from other youth that are not gang members. Little empirical evidence exists to support such an assumption. This can, in part, be attributed to the fact that most knowledge about gangs has been derived from data gathered by police gang units or from observational or case studies. Very little information has been derived from surveys or interviews with a general sample of youth. In this paper, data from the Denver Youth Survey, a longitudinal study of families, are used to examine the characteristics of gang members and to explore the extent to which gang members differ from non-gang members on key theoretical variables. Findings suggest that while gang members differ from non-offending youth on a number of social psychological variables, they do not differ from other youth involved in serious "street" level offending.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. Tita and G. Ridgeway The Impact of Gang Formation on Local Patterns of Crime Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, May 1, 2007; 44(2): 208 - 237. [Abstract] [PDF]

				V. J. Webb, C. M. Katz, and S. H. Decker Assessing the Validity of Self-Reports by Gang Members: Results From the Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring Program Crime Delinquency, April 1, 2006; 52(2): 232 - 252. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. C. Howell and A. Egley Jr. Moving Risk Factors into Developmental Theories of Gang Membership Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, October 1, 2005; 3(4): 334 - 354. [Abstract] [PDF]

				P. J. Schram and L. K. Gaines Examining Delinquent Nongang Members and Delinquent Gang Members: A Comparison of Juvenile Probationers at Intake and Outcomes Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, April 1, 2005; 3(2): 99 - 115. [Abstract] [PDF]

				F.-A. Esbensen and F. M. Weerman Youth Gangs and Troublesome Youth Groups in the United States and the Netherlands: A Cross-National Comparison European Journal of Criminology, January 1, 2005; 2(1): 5 - 37. [Abstract] [PDF]

				R. L. Dukes and J. A. Stein Gender and Gang Membership: A Contrast of Rural and Urban Youth on Attitudes and Behavior Youth Society, June 1, 2003; 34(4): 415 - 440. [Abstract] [PDF]

				K. A. Yoder, L. B. Whitbeck, and D. R. Hoyt Gang Involvement and Membership among Homeless and Runaway Youth Youth Society, June 1, 2003; 34(4): 441 - 467. [Abstract] [PDF]

				X. LI, B. STANTON, R. PACK, C. HARRIS, L. COTTRELL, and J. BURNS Risk and Protective Factors Associated with Gang Involvement among Urban African American Adolescents Youth Society, December 1, 2002; 34(2): 172 - 194. [Abstract] [PDF]

				F.-A. ESBENSEN, E. P. DESCHENES, and L. T. WINFREE Jr. Differences between Gang Girls and Gang Boys: Results from a Multisite Survey Youth Society, September 1, 1999; 31(1): 27 - 53. [Abstract] [PDF]

				K. G. HILL, J. C. HOWELL, J. D. HAWKINS, and S. R. BATTIN-PEARSON Childhood Risk Factors for Adolescent Gang Membership: Results from the Seattle Social Development Project Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, August 1, 1999; 36(3): 300 - 322. [Abstract] [PDF]

				F.-A. ESBENSEN and D. W. OSGOOD Gang Resistance Education and Training (Great): Results from the National Evaluation Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, May 1, 1999; 36(2): 194 - 225. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. MILLER Gender and Victimization Risk among Young Women in Gangs Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, November 1, 1998; 35(4): 429 - 453. [Abstract] [PDF]

				K. M. THOMPSON and R. BRAATEN-ANTRIM Youth Maltreatment and Gang Involvement J Interpers Violence, June 1, 1998; 13(3): 328 - 345. [Abstract]

				R. L. DUKES, R. O. MARTINEZ, and J. A. STEIN Precursors and Consequences of Membership in Youth Gangs Youth Society, December 1, 1997; 29(2): 139 - 165. [Abstract]

				L. T. Winfree JR, F.-A. Esbensen, and D. W. Osgood Evaluating a School-Based Gang-Prevention Program: A Theoretical Perspective Eval Rev, April 1, 1996; 20(2): 181 - 203. [Abstract] [PDF]