The Interaction of Psychological and Social Pulls Towards Gang Membership among Rural Jail Inmates

• In Event: The Psychological, Racial, and Social Underpinnings of Gangs and Violence

Abstract

Purpose: Gang research has typically focused on risk factors and consequences of urban gang involvement, resulting in little knowledge related to rural gangs. The emphasis on these factors has also often omitted examinations of psychological characteristics related to gang membership.

Design: The current study serves as an extension of prior work to further examine the relevance of various psychological variables, using DSM criteria, as they relate to gang membership using a sample of inmates collected in a rural Florida county. Data comes from the Psychological Assessment of Risk and Criminality (PARC) project conducted at the University of South Florida in conjunction with a local county jail.

Findings: Preliminary results indicate that certain psychological variables differ between gang members and non-gang members in the sample, such as prevalence of antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) and psychopathy. Examination of other psychological characteristics (I.e., depression, suicidal ideation, etc.) are proposed to mirror the current findings. Further results and implications for theory will be discussed.

Summary: Overall, future research should aim to bring in psychopathologies into gang research to better inform policy and services.

Authors

• Gloria Laugalis, University of South Florida

• Emily Walker, University of South Florida

• Courtney Weber, University of South Florida

• Bryanna Fox, University of South Florida

• Edelyn Verona, University of South Florida

• Richard K. Moule Jr., University of South Florida