Prisoners’ gang-related activity: the importance of bullying and moral disengagement

Wood, Jane L.; Moir, Alice; James, Mark

doi:10.1080/10683160802427786

Cited by 46 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Although the cross-sectional nature of the current data means that it cannot speak to changes in moral disengagement over time, it is possible that moral disengagement may play a role in the developmental trajectory of gang membership (Thornberry et al, 2003). This also chimes with prior research, which suggests that moral disengagement may play a role in the 'progression' from individual bullying to engagement in a wider range of negative behaviours, within a prison setting (Wood et al, 2009). The tendency to morally disengage may act as a process through which gang membership facilitates engagement with anti-social behaviour over time (Thornberry et al, 2003).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 72%

“…This provided a total of 316 questionnaires and an overall response rate of 27%. Response rates across other studies utilising similar samples vary (e.g., between approximately 45% and 48%, Ohlsson & Ireland, 2011;Wood, Moir, & James, 2009;19%, Archer & Southall, 2009). Potential reasons for low response rates within a forensic environment have been outlined elsewhere (e.g., Ireland & Archer, 2002;Wood, 2006).…”

Section: Participants and Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…The scale is not only able to assess whether an individual is willing to set aside their moral standards in order to achieve a desired outcome but also identify the specific cognitive strategies used to do so . Minor amendments to the original wording of the scale were made in order to make the scale more suitable for use with a prison population, as suggested by Wood et al (2009). The scale has previously demonstrated good internal reliability with community (α = .82; Bandura et al, 1996a) and offender samples (α = .87; Kiriakidis, 2008).…”

Section: Mechanisms Of Moral Disengagementmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The role of moral disengagement in street gang offending

Niebieszczanski

Harkins

Judson

et al. 2015

Psychology, Crime & Law

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Previous research indicates a strong association between gang membership and increased offending behaviour. Several risk factors for gang membership have been identified and incorporated into integrated and developmental theories of gang membership. Despite this, little is known about the psychological processes that underpin gang membership and enhance the rate of offending within this context. Even less is known of the differences in such psychological processes between gang offenders and those who offend in other contexts. The current study builds on previous research by exploring the role of moral disengagement as one potential process in a prison sample of 269 offenders. The first part of the study found that street gang offenders were more likely than non-street gang offenders to utilise moral disengagement strategies in order to deactivate their usual moral standards. The second part revealed that street gang offenders were more likely than individual offenders or those who have affiliated, but not offended with, street gangs to morally disengage. There was no difference in the tendency to morally disengage between street gang and group offenders. Overall, certain conditions that exist within a street gang and other group contexts may increase an individual's tendency to morally disengage and enhance offending behaviour.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 72%

Section: Participants and Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 95%

Section: Mechanisms Of Moral Disengagementmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

The role of moral disengagement in street gang offending

Niebieszczanski

Harkins

Judson

et al. 2015

Psychology, Crime & Law

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…For example, prior research has found that moral disengagement is both correlated with and predictive of offending (Shulman, Cauffman, Piquero, & Fagan, 2011), and it acts as a mediator for the following relationships: neighborhood impoverishment -antisocial behavior, empathy -antisocial behavior (Hyde, Shaw, & Moilanen, 2010), bullyingperceived importance of social status (South & Wood, 2006), and bullying -prison gangrelated activity (however only partially; Wood, Moir, &James, 2009). Furthermore, Bandura andcolleagues (1996) found a link between moral disengagement and aggressive behavior.…”

Section: Social Cognition and Criminalitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Denying humanness to victims: How gang members justify violent behavior

Alleyne

Fernandes

Pritchard

2014

Group Processes & Intergroup Relations

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The high prevalence of violent offending amongst gang-involved youth has been established in the literature. Yet the underlying psychological mechanisms that enable youth to engage in such acts of violence remain unclear. One hundred eighty-nine young people were recruited from areas in London, UK, known for their gang activity. We found that gang members, in comparison to nongang youth, described the groups they belong to as having recognized leaders, specific rules and codes, initiation rituals, and special clothing. Gang members were also more likely than nongang youth to engage in violent behavior and endorse moral disengagement strategies (i.e., moral justification, euphemistic language, advantageous comparison, displacement of responsibility, attribution of blame, and dehumanization). Finally, we found that dehumanizing victims partially mediated the relationship between gang membership and violent behavior. These findings highlight the effects of groups at the individual level and an underlying psychological mechanism that explains, in part, how gang members engage in violence.

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“…Wood et al, in press;Wood, Moir, & James, 2009;South & Wood, 2006) and street gangs where both core and peripheral members value social status more than do nongang youth (e.g. .…”

Section: Intergroup Conflict and Status Enhancementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gang Membership: The Psychological Evidence

Alleyne

Wood

2011

Youth Gangs in International Perspective

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That gangs facilitate increased levels of deviancy in members is a consistent research finding.However, it is not fully clear why this is so. This chapter seeks to explain this effect by examining first the likely impact that group processes have on gang members and second the likely social cognitive effects that gang membership is likely to elicit. It concludes by noting the importance of psychology in gang membership and how psychologists need to develop further research to explain the specifics of gang membership as it impacts on youth.

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Prisoners’ gang-related activity: the importance of bullying and moral disengagement

Cited by 46 publications

References 28 publications

The role of moral disengagement in street gang offending

The role of moral disengagement in street gang offending

Denying humanness to victims: How gang members justify violent behavior

Gang Membership: The Psychological Evidence

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