A few summers ago, I had the opportunity to intern in Denver, Colorado at an organization called TASC. TASC is a diversionary program for juvenile delinquents. Here, I came into contact with numerous individuals - the majority of whom were involved in gangs. This is also when I became more interested in gang involvement, especially among adolescents.
According to the Violence Prevention Institute (http://www.violencepreventioninstitute.org/youngpeople.html), there are several reasons that an individual joins a gang.
1. To gain an identity
2. For protection
3. For fellowship
As we have learned in class, humans have a need for affiliation. We also know that we have a need for support and love. Reeve (2005) states that "the need for affiliation is rooted in a fear of interpersonal rejection" (p. 185). According to the website, research has demonstrated that gang members' families lack structure. This deficiency causes them to reach out to others to gain their sense of family, or the closeness that families are supposed to have. The gang culture allows them to achieve this intimacy and bonds that others receive from their family members - the understanding of unconditional love, having each others' backs, etc.
Another reason, according to the site, that individuals join gangs is for protection (#s 2 and 4). In "seedy" neighborhoods, some individuals fall victim to threats from other gangs. This causes them to join for protection from the rival gang or to join the gang threatening them to stop the harassment. Reeve (2005) discusses fear and anxiety as motivators to achieve our need for affiliation as well: "When afraid, people desire to affiliate for emotional support" (p. 186). For most of us, this is hard to understand, because whenever we were afraid or being bullied, our parents protected and comforted us. However, for individuals who eventually join gangs, their parents generally don't provide that support. Therefore, they join these gangs because they fear the repercussions of not joining and having protection. As many of us would do in a fear-producing situation, we do whatever we can to survive - joining a gang (whether to gain protection from a rival gang or because they know joining the gang will result in the threats ceasing) is their way to survive.
Overall, however, I believe that people join gangs to satisfy their need for affiliation. These individuals need for affiliation is higher because they lack social interaction. They feel lonely and/or rejected, and desire true interpersonal relationships. Whether they join out of fear, anxiety, etc., the underlying cause is for affiliation.