Personality and Involvement in Gangs Membership, Embeddedness, Centrality and Ties

Abstract

The association between psychopathy and gang involvement remains uncertain. Despite criticisms for the Boldness domain, several Triarchic Model of Psychopathy (TriPM) domain traits show potential for associations with gang membership and membership qualities. The present study aims to add to a growing body of literature by assessing the relationships between psychopathic traits, gang involvement and gang membership qualities. Five hypotheses are proposed: (1) Individuals who experience moderate to high levels of Boldness will experience greater levels of gang membership, (2) Individuals who exhibit optimal levels of leadership traits are expected to experience high levels of embeddedness, centrality, and leadership roles, (3) Individuals who exhibit optimal levels of general criminality traits are expected to experience high levels of embeddedness, and centrality, (4) Individuals who exhibit high levels of the necessary gang traits are expected to experience high levels of embeddedness, centrality, and emotional gang ties, and (5) Individuals who exhibit high levels of social ability traits are expected to experience high levels of embeddedness, centrality, leadership roles and social ties. In the data analytics plan, hypothesis 1 will be tested using logistic regression, hypothesis 2 and 3 will be tested using quadratic regression, and hypothesis 4 and 5 will be tested using linear regression. Significant bivariate associations in hypothesis 2-5 will also be assessed using a multivariate regression. Boldness may indirectly relate to group-based antisocial behavior through gang involvement. Although this research may not be representative, it is novel. Future research should assess for the directionality of the potential resulting associations.

Faculty Supervisor: Dr. Kevin Douglas, Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University