Social Identity Theory: Understanding Gangs, Violence, and Identity

This essay delves into Social Identity Theory, examining how individuals' self-esteem and identity are shaped by their social group affiliations. It explores the theory's core concepts, including social categorization, social identification, and social comparison, and how these factors influence intergroup behavior. The essay specifically focuses on applying Social Identity Theory to understand gang membership and the commission of violent crimes. It discusses the dynamics within gangs, such as groupthink, polarization, and social cognition, and how these processes contribute to violence. The paper highlights the role of loneliness, the need for belonging, and the desire for protection as motivators for joining gangs. The essay also considers external factors like poverty and intimidation, which can influence gang involvement. Ultimately, the essay emphasizes the importance of social identity in shaping individual behavior within the context of gang culture and its implications for violence. It also explains the challenges in tracking gang activities and the need for further research in this area. The conclusion summarizes the discussed points to provide a comprehensive understanding of Social Identity Theory in relation to gang violence.

Running Head: SOCIAL IDENTITY THEORY
SOCIAL IDENTITY THEORY
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note

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Introduction
Social Identity theory is the theory of psychology wherein the person judges his or her
self-esteem and pride on the basis of their social categorization, social identification and social
comparison meaning that the individuals may thrive to maintain their social identity through the
group’s favorable social standing over that of relevant out groups. The main example of the
social identity theory is that the individual acts in a certain way in order to establish and increase
their self-worthiness on the basis of the person’s sense of belongingness in the group which gives
him the characterization as being the part of the group. The theory was developed by Tajfel &
Turner explaining that the groups and their existence depends upon the need of self-esteem and
such self-esteem is dependent upon the fact whether there in any existing or potential conflict
between the groups regarding the resources (Hogg 2018). Thus, Social categorization is the
phenomena, which establishes the feeling of the person towards the belongingness in the group,
and hence, it is the idea of self-categorization which establishes the foundation of self-esteem
and worthiness in a group. Self-identification plays the role of identifying the person’s image and
reputation in the group which establishes the ground for the assessment of identity of a person in
the group and among his or her peers. The factors for self-identification depends on the factors
such as age, gender, ethnicity, race, employment status and so on. Thus, the concept of self-
comparison establishes the ground for the assessment of intergroup behavior based on which the
person reacts to a certain situation and among his or her peers and group association. The growth
of groups being engaged in extreme violent acts have been largely blamed on the person’s idea
of social identity which is a retaliatory behavior from the behavior expressed by other members
of the group (Turner and Reynolds 2001).

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This paper discusses the concept of Social Identity Theory and provides an explanation as
to why the individuals join and carry out the extreme acts of violence, which takes place in
different gangs. It also discusses the gang memberships and tries to explain the dynamics, which
are considered to lead to the commission of various violent crimes, which are serious and grave.
Therefore, in conclusion it would be summarizing the points that have been discussed in the
paper.
Discussion
Social Identity Theory is considered to propose the ideology that by attaching some kind
of importance or significance to the groups in which they are considered to be a member would
make the individuals feel more positive about themselves and if there has been any kind of
discrimination against those groups then they would raise their voice against such discrimination
and such would help them view it and perceive it as a positive approach.
The concept of social identity can be seen as providing that an individual’s unfulfilled
need towards affection and towards connecting with other people can be seen as stemming from
their loneliness (Hogg 2018). One of the major reasons for the individuals towards forming
groups among the society is their loneliness and their constant need for connection with others.
Every group is seen to be formed with some personal purpose that helps in the justification of the
existence of such group. For example, the existence of a group can be seen as serving the
purpose of providing its members with a sense of protection and a sense of belonging like they
would normally get from a family (Herriot 2014). All members in a gang can be observed as
having their specific roles to follow. The process of decision making in a gang can be observed
as being influenced by way of different ways. The processes that can be seen as to be most
prevalent in the gangs are the group think, group polarisation and the social cognition (Hogg,

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2016). The process of group thinking can be observed to occur when every member in a group is
in agreement with the decisions that have been taken by the leader for the sake of maintenance of
cohesion and peace in the gang (Mackie, Maitner and Smith 2017). Polarisation in the groups
can be seen as occuring when the initial of any individual is seen as becoming extreme after they
take part in the meetings that are held in the groups (Brown and Capozza 2016). The social
cognition concept can be seen as referring to the ability of an individual to process the
information received and how the blind following of ideas and ideologies without any question
can be considered to be a common issue(Jenkins 2014). The concepts of social influence can
further be seen as referring to the alterations of the ideologies that an individual has for making it
suitable in the social context. For being accepted in the gangs the members of such gangs are
seen as being highly of the risk of adhering to particular types of social influences.
The intergroup behaviour concept can be seen as referring to the influence that the
behaviour of individuals are on the behaviour of individuals in some other groups. There are
three levels in which the influences can be seen as occurring (Alleyne, Fernandes and Pritchard
2014). The first level includes the unconscious processes; the second level includes the
situational process which consists of an individual's interactions with others; the third process
includes the widespread ideologies of an individual which are the determinants of their
behaviours. As per the positional level concept the actions of the individuals are explained as the
intergroup behaviour of them which makes them act as per the rules provided by the groups(Woo
et al., 2015). The theories that can be seen as supporting this theory includes the realistic conflict
theories, relative deprivation theories and the theory of social identity.

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As per the social identity theory an individual’s relation to a specific group helps them to
be having a proper definition of themselves, which in turn might help them to get an outlook
towards their life in a more positive way.
The problems related to gang violence is not only national but can be observed to be a growing
social concern throughout the world. The way that the communications conveyed by, and the
challenges that are allied with, gang identities can readily be seen as invoking concepts and
procedures that are conversant towards the social psychological study of social identity,
communication, and relations between the groups, it might come as a surprise that the
advancement towards the study and the analysis of the gangs have almost being next to none
(Goldman, Giles and Hogg, 2014).
However the little researches in this field can be seen as revealing that although the
identification and cohesion of the groups are linked with behaviours among the members of the
gangs which might often be considered to be vehement and unlawful, but this types of
behaviours have not been find amongst the followers of other classes of peer groups that can be
found in the similar areas (Bubolz, and Lee, 2019). It has also been found that the relationships
existing between the cohesions among the gangs and the criminal and violent behaviour among
the gang members can be interceded in a complete way through the social identity theories.
However, this relation between the cohesions among the gangs and the criminal and violent
behaviour among the gang members were found to be non existent among the individuals who
are not a part of the gangs and in the situations where the concepts of deterrence had been
considered as being more of importance than the social identity or the cohesions among the
groups (Bubolz and Simi 2015). In the studies conducted for the establishment of such
relationships find the reasons for such difference to be because of the normative differences

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existing between the street gangs and the peer groups not falling in the categories of gangs.
Irrelevant of the concerns among the individuals, the stronger a person can be seen as identifying
themselves with the groups the more focused their normative expectations would be in relation to
the gangs.
Gang violence are considered to have members or individuals who are a part of a gang
committing some kind of an offence or at times they go through certain intense processes or
procedures whereby they get beaten up by the other gang members in order to be able to prove
their courage along with their fighting ability. These are considered to help them in gaining or
attaining recognition for their identity. Being a part of some gang helps and permits the members
of those gangs to achieve and accomplish a certain level of status which the individuals do not
get or attain outside the gang. The individuals also find a sense of protection after being a part of
some gang as they reside near the area of the gang and therefore are considered to be subject to
various rival gang violence. These gangs helps them, provides them with a sense of protection,
and guarantees support during any attack or retaliation for certain transgressions. The gangs also
help the individuals attain brotherhood along with fellowship. The gang members are majorly
dependent on their members and are considered to live as a family and they function in a manner
where they are considered to act as extensions of the family and thus, such provides with various
forms of companionship, which are lacking in the individuals who are considered to be members
home environment. The individuals at certain instances join a particular gang due to intimidation
by other members of a gang. These individuals are considered to be forced to join as their
membership would be considered to contribute towards the criminal activities that take place in a
gang. There are certain individuals who join a gang in order to intimidate other individuals in
any community who are considered to not be involved with criminal activities. There are several

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gangs, which are involved in certain criminal activities, involving narcotics activity and they
benefit from the profits of such activity as groups (Papachristos and Hughes 2015).
According to the author, the violence involved with gangs are considered to be a
difficulty in every city and the gang membership are considered to increase. It is difficult to track
the activities of the gangs and therefore, they are getting away easily. The gangs do not keep any
kind of official records for their membership. Therefore, the results for the police departments in
finding as well as catching the gangs are inaccurate. There can be various reasons for individuals
to be a part of a gang. The individuals are inclined to join a gang due to poverty. There are
several gangs which prevail or exist as that of a moneymaking enterprise. The individuals who
form a part of some gang are considered to commit crimes like theft or burglary or dealing with
drugs among other crimes (Kontos, Brotherton and Barrios 2003). These activities or crimes
involve large amount of money. The individuals who are considered to have faced poverty. The
individuals are engaged in such criminal activities due to lack of money. In order to obtain and
acquire money they get involved in different kinds of crime if they do not get the opportunity to
earn money with a legitimate job. Therefore, such provides an explanation as to the fact that why
such gangs are considered to be existing or prevailing in rundown areas or poor areas of the
cities. However, it has been stated by the author that all gangs do not suffer from poverty. The
gangs usually form in the cities and urban areas and not in the rural areas. The rate of gang
activities in the rural areas are considered to be surprisingly low (Papachristos and Hughes
2015).
Another reason that can be taken into account while understanding why the individuals
become members or parts of gangs would be peer pressure. Peer pressure is considered to be a
significant factor as majority of the gang members are considered to be young they tend to

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succumb to peer pressure as the gangs are considered to recruit a bunch of teenagers
intentionally. The young people or the individuals are considered to be susceptible to the peer
pressure and if they live or reside in an area which is considered to be dominated by gangs then it
can be difficult to restrict or refrain them from joining or becoming members of any gangs as the
gangs have strong gang presence. Peer pressure is considered to be the driving force behind most
of the gang memberships which are prevalent in the affluent areas. However, there are
individuals who resist the temptation of being a part of the gangs but for others it is considered to
be easier to be a part of a gang and go along with the crowd or a majority.
According to the author, it has been stated that boredom can also be a reason which
would make an individual be attracted towards gang memberships as well as violence because
there is nothing to occupy the minds of the individuals and in order to entertain themselves they
become part of gangs and engage in gang violence. If there has been any strong gangs present in
an individual’s neighborhood then such can be used as an outlet. However, there are various
communities who are trying to combat these gangs by providing the individuals with some kind
of work. These programs can deter the individuals from joining any gangs, which are involved
with violence and other criminal activities and keep these individuals occupied (Papachristos and
Hughes 2015).
Lastly, it has been stated by the author, that despair can also be considered as an approach
towards building a gang and engaging in violence. If an individual were considered to be
suffering from poverty then such individual would also be in a despair, which is a state of mind.
If an individual has always lived their life in poverty with their parents and also alone. They do
not see themselves getting any kind of decent job or being able to live a normal and decent life.
Therefore, they switch to a life of violence and crime as such surround them. However, a gang in

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the neighborhood would seem like the family that the individual would have. Therefore, joining
a gang would help them gain a sense of belonging and make them feel like they are a part of
something important or significant. Thus, these become the possibility for joining a gang
(Papachristos and Hughes 2015).
The individuals who are involved with gangs are considered to be violent because they
are considered to live in a structured set of several social relations where the violence is
considered to be functional. The gangs are considered to carry extra-individual adversaries and
other allies who are considered to shape the choices of action of the individuals along with the
selection of the different crimes and the victims who would be associated with the crime. The
violence is considered to prevail and function because of the fact that such prevents subjugation
to any other gang members. Gangs are considered to establish their status through various
individuals as well as collective displays of unity and solidarity (Lauger and Densley 2018).
The scenarios can be divided into two context. First being the scenario involving
displaced aggression expressed by the person. This is the behavior which is an outcome of
warranted and justified provocation. However, the factor making such aggression as displaced is
that the warrant of aggression is much more than the reasonable aggression expected from such
provocation. The acts involving drive-by shootings against the members of the rival gang group
or the beatings of relatives, romantic partners and the siblings of people to whom the members of
the group may have strong linkage to wherein the person associated with the person involved in
the aggression is also at the greater risk and hence such behavioral pattern where the provocation
puts the person as well the other people related to the targeted person are at risk which forms the
bubble of greater risk for such targeted people and their linkages form the part of displaced
aggression. These form an essential goal in order to control violence because it has been

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observed that the instigation and provocation forms the basis for the person to act in the form of
displaced aggression in the manner of gang violence. However, the time factor between the
provocation and the trigger forms the essence for the triggered displaced aggression. The other
form is Rumination wherein it can be explained that the self-focused attention towards the
thoughts off people and feelings and acting upon the same to maintain self-esteem causes some
violence which unlike the displaced aggression may not put the close relatives and linkages of
the targeted person in danger but involves higher degree of violence in social issues because the
act is an outcome of angered feelings and aggression-related cognitions. Such forms and form
the basis for the aggressive behavior for long periods of time. As a result of which the rumination
can be triggered into displaced aggression. The factors .like strong humiliations and physical
assaults form the basis for stronger ruminations where the trigger and the provocation has
severely long time gaps as compared to that of displaced aggression (Newson 2019).
The factors contributing to the social identity categorization and identification and
comparison among the members of gang groups are multi fold. The most important factor is the
perseverance of the person and tolerance towards anger, provocation and aggression. It can be
explained that anger and temperament moments arising from instigations can be a part of
normative behavior among the members of the gang. Normative behavior explains the behavioral
patterns, which defines the factors from which the person derives utmost happiness and such
happiness is the key to self-esteem and establishment of personal and social identity among the
members of the group or the gang. The activities or the behavioral patterns from which the
person derives utmost happiness is generally the acts of typical aggression and subsequent
response to provocations. The other contributing factor to their aggressive behavioral norm is the
cultural context which establishes the background for the retaliatory behavior. Such cultural

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context includes the culture of honor which is a significant norm among the gangs and groups
involved in violent activities. This means the person having the most aggressive behavior shall
be honored most and thus instigating the members of gang into revenge planning and fantasizing
of acts and executing them in violent manner so that the person with the most aggressive
behavioral manner shall have the highest honor and such honor defines the self-categorization,
identification and comparison of esteem with that of other members of the team to which the
person belongs and also to the members of other or rival gangs.
The gang based violence is largely based on the group based retribution based on which
the self-esteem and reputation is judged by the ways of retributive violence or extreme blood
feuds among the rival gangs. However, it can be explained that rival wars do not contribute much
to the violence committed by the gangs (Hennigan and Spanovic 2012).
According to the author, it has been stated that in order to reduce and decrease the
amount of criminal activities and gang violence there have been various models and initiatives
taken and implemented by the government. The prevention efforts are considered to be targeted
at restricting and putting a limitation on the involvement of young individuals in the gangs as
such would constitute as an integral part, which would promote the well-being of the individual
along with the community especially in the areas, which involve gang activity, and the areas,
which are vulnerable to such. These initiatives can be through the mobilization of the
communities where the local citizens would be involved with the former members of any gang as
well as the community groups and other agencies. These need to be in coordination with the
programs along with other functions that happen across the various agencies. It can also be
through numerous opportunities in the form of education or training and several other
employment programs, which would be targeting the gang-involved youth. Social intervention

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would also be a great initiative where the youth serving agencies along with schools, faith based
organizations, street outreach workers, law enforcement agencies, grassroots groups and several
other criminal justice organizations would reach out who would be acting as links between any
gang-involved along with their youths and their families. These would lead to a conventional
world and help the others in getting services. There are several informal as well as formal social
control procedures. These would also be including monitoring of gang youth agencies and these
might lead to suppression of violence. The organizational change as well as development is
considered to be necessary for the execution as well as the implementation of the policies which
would help in effectively addressing the gang problem. Therefore, these are considered to be
essential facets which would help in preventing individuals from being involved in gang violence
as such would help in reducing the problem (White 2008).
However, it has also been stated that these gang problems arises due to various conditions
and these can be related to the social identity theory as the members are considered to involve in
activities in order to determine their personal identity which would help them in gaining
recognition. They would also have a sense of personal achievements after being part of a gang
and being involved in crimes and violence they would feel like they belong which would
increase their self-esteem. Therefore, it can be understood that the gang violence is considered to
be related to the social identity theory as the factors are considered to be similar which makes
them be involved with violence. The theory provides a brief understanding about the gangs being
involved in extreme acts because it helps the individuals find a place where they belong and in
order to fit into a group they surrender to extreme acts of violence. It feels like that is their best
option in order to gain and acquire money. Thus, the members of a gang commit extreme acts of

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violence in order to find their identity, which would help in gaining recognition and such, would
also provide personal accomplishments, which would boost their self-esteem (Garot 2015).
Conclusion
The theory of social identity has however been criticized by a number of theorists like
John Turner, who consider the concept of self-esteem is non-related to the theory of social
identity theory It has been argued that the self-esteem hypothesis does not co-exist with the
distinction between the social identity and the personal identity. In other words the critics have
established that the social identity and personal identity are two various concepts which has been
falsely understood by the scholars of social identity theory. Further Turner and Oakes 1997 have
explained a complex concept of social identity in the form of concept of self-esteem, which
explains that the self-esteem is nothing but the thoughts and ideologies of the society regarding
the person, which has been perceived by him or her. Therefore, it can be understood that, the
theory of social identity theory would be used in relation to gang violence to determine their
characteristics in order to understand why the individuals get involved in such extreme acts and
the various factors, which contribute in making these things, happen. Thus, the gang violence is
considered to happen when the individuals do not feel like they would be getting any
opportunities to live a decent life and get a decent job. They would be having a problem in living
a normal life. In order to earn money the individuals get involved with the dealing of drugs and
narcotics, theft, burglary and other criminal fights which would constitute as violence. Thus, to
conclude, it can be said that the social identity theory helps in explaining the concept of gang
violence.

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