ABSTRACT
The assessment of the behavior of an adolescent juxtaposed against that of his or her family is a complex task that requires special skills on the part of clinician; add gang affiliation into that relationship and the task becomes even more daunting. One pervasive problem has to do with the nature of behavior assessments, irrespective of gang status. Families of gang members, like much of the general public, assume that gangs are exclusively committed to antisocial behaviors and a state of continuous antagonism with the larger society. The chapter explores strategies for completing clinically based assessments of the behavior of gang-affiliated youths and their families. It highlights autonomy, intimacy, loneliness and attachment, interpersonal relationships, and self-esteem. The chapter explains a scheme for describing and evaluating behavior in adolescents before and after gang affiliation. It discusses the strengths and weaknesses of that medical model.
