Biological theories can be used in explaining female gang behavior, owing to certain physical and biological characteristics. Several studies have focused on female personality factors, which are important in understanding gang behavior. These elements come as a result of environmental and biological conditions under which the women live. Scientific findings have revealed that these biological traits are hereditary to some extent, though some are acquired through environmental interactions (Lattal & Chase, 2003). Indeed, researchers have ascertained that these biological traits are strongly influenced by environmental conditions, which encourage female gang behavior.
Besides, these biological factors have a very strong link with the emotions of individuals. It has been witnessed that women with negative emotions are likely to experience aversive behavior and react aggressively to issues, and this can lead to some malicious acts. Those women who have low constraints on their characters are prone to reacting to impulses, which might result in delinquent gang behavior. Therefore, there is a strong reason to make people believe that biological traits are responsible for gang behavior among women, especially those who have high negative emotions and low constraints (Malott, 2008).
Psychological theories postulate that there are certain factors, which are linked to psychology, and are responsible for females’ access to both the legitimate and illegitimate roles. Focusing on legitimate roles, women can achieve certain goals and status in society. However, illegitimate routes still allow the female to engage in certain activities, which include delinquent behavior. Several psychological and psychiatric factors are responsible for female gang behavior, which include internalizing disorders such as anxiety, nervousness, worrying, and withdrawal (Baum, 2005).
Moreover, there are sociological theories that can be used to explore female gang behavior. In fact, sociological theories are important in understanding female gang behavior since they are highly associated with processes that lead to criminality. These sociological theories analyze criminal behavior in terms of social structure and organization. Two main approaches used in analyzing sociological theories of female gang behavior include conflict and consensus.
In addition, these consensus approaches focus on laws, mores, and folkways that reflect the societal values as a result of group sharing, especially through holding meetings. Consequently, some acts are regarded as criminal or wrong, while others are viewed by society as functional and inevitable. Consequently, a struggle emerges in society, thus some individuals win while others lose, but since the women do not want to be left behind, they tend to engage in delinquent behaviors by breaking the established societal laws (Staddon, 2001).
Generally, feminist criminology is mainly concerned with female victimization. Criminal issues such as women’s inequality, prostitution, and gang behavior in either law or criminal justice arrangements draw strong attention from the public in recent times. The feminist theories are concerned with the female’s oppression and gender inequality before the criminal justice system and other possible strategies that can change the unfair system (Mills, 2000).
In sum, it is important to understand the complex historical, cultural as well as social factors that influence women to commit crimes such as gang behavior. Though the female gang behavior has its roots in biological and psychological factors to some extent, much emphasis should be drawn on the social factors and social injustices such as gender inequality, which prove the women’s engagement in delinquent behaviors.
References
Baum, W. (2005). Understanding behaviorism: Behavior, Culture and Evolution. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.
Lattal, K & Chase, P. (2003). Behavior Theory and Philosophy. Cambridge: Plenum Publishers.
Malott, R. (2008). Principles of Behavior. New Jersey, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall Publishers.
Mills, J. (2000). Control: A History of Behavioral Psychology. New York, NY: New York University Press.
Staddon, J. (2001). The new behaviorism: Mind, mechanism and society. Philadelphia, PA: Psychology Press.