ABSTRACT
This chapter reveals the story of the Del from formation to fragmentation and serves as a foundation to the individual analyses. It illustrates many of the Del were influenced and affected by the nature of the 'relationships' and associated social norms or behavioural 'patterns' they were exposed to. The chapter also illustrates the general conditioning structures precipitating individuals' involvement in the group which include exposure to childhood trauma, abuse and/or emotional disconnection within their families. It illustrates the role that some of the Del played in triggering a reflexive re-evaluation of their involvement in offending and in mutually supporting the early phases of each other's process of desistance. The chapter discusses the dynamics of offending, under the superordinate group theme 'the relational context of offending'. In so doing, the following sub-themes are elaborated: 'Becoming and Belonging'; 'The nature and dynamics of the group, lifestyle and behaviour'; 'Identity and identification to and with the group' and 'the fragmentation of the Del'.
