Introduction

Research on adolescent gangs originates with the seminal work of F. M. Thrasher, who systematically studied 1,303 gangs in Chicago over a number of years. Thrasher identifies gang members as juvenile delinquents, an association subsequently repeated so strongly and so frequently that delinquency is implicitly incorporated in the definition of gangs. Historically, research on gangs was focused almost exclusively on ethnographic approaches, outlining characteristics of gang members but neglecting the dynamics of gangs and the inner psychological life of gang members. Although some gang members do engage in violent acts, a distinction must be made between gang violence and violence committed by gang members acting on their own behest. Acts of violence that are planned and executed by gangs as a unit include drive-by shootings, looting neighborhood stores, and fighting with rival gangs. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.