ABSTRACT
Much of the emotional power that binds gang members together comes from the use of gang-related symbolism and from the legitimacy that they assert through the fictitious stories and myths they concoct about their origins. This chapter will look at the symbols and the thematic subtexts of the origin myths. Organized crime is based on culture-constructing strategies such as these, which allow the gangs to craft an image of themselves as legitimate social entities with a specific historical genealogy, imparting to the members a sense of belonging to something meaningful. Most of the foundation stories are based on the Robin-Hood principle that allows the members to feel pride in their actions, which would otherwise be seen as part of random self-serving violence, and to present themselves publicly as heroic. Understanding the raison d’être of criminal gangs starts with an understanding of the roles these stories play in the psychological make-up of organized criminal groups.
