title: Predictors and Consequences of Gang Membership: Comparing Gang Members, Gang Leaders, and Non-Gang-Affiliated Adjudicated Youth.
abstract: This 7-year study of 1,170 male adjudicated youth examined how self-esteem, psychopathy, and psychosocial maturity relate to gang status (low-level member, leader, and non-gang member). Low temperance, perspective, and responsibility predicted being a low-level gang member, whereas only lower temperance predicted being a gang leader. Low self-esteem predicted gang membership (low-level and high-level) at a younger age (i.e., during adolescence). However,higherself-esteem and grandiose-manipulative traits predicted being a gang leader during young adulthood. Over time, low-level members became more psychopathic and less psychosocially mature. Gang leaders also became more psychopathic and undercontrolled (as indicted by lower temperance). However, their perspective and responsibility aspects of psychosocial maturity were not affected.
authors.affiliation: University of Denver Frontier Hall, 2155 S. Race Street Denver, CO 80208.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dmitrieva
authors.affiliation: Temple University Department of Psychology Philadelphia, PA 19122.
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.affiliation: Temple University Department of Psychology Philadelphia, PA 19122.
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Steinberg
authors.affiliation: University of Texas at Dallas Program in Criminology 800 W. Campbell Road, GR31 Richardson, TX. 75080.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piquero
authors.affiliation: Columbia Law School 435 West 116th Street New York, NY 10027.
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fagan
keywords: adolescents; gang status; grandiosity; psychopathy; psychosocial maturity; self-esteem