In Gridiron Gang, the character of Willie Weathery had many factors that could explain why he became delinquent. Family disruption, peers, gang membership, peer pressure, strain, community disorganization, social learning, low self-control and labeling are all theories and causes used to explain delinquent behavior and are all reasons why Willie Weathery engage in the delinquent act that landed him in juvenile detention. There is no single cause of delinquency. Many factors that combine to motivate a juvenile to engage in delinquent behavior.
FAMILY DISRUPTION
In the movie, Willie Weathery appears to live with his mother and younger brother. At no time during the movie does he mention his father nor is one present when scenes of his home appear or when conversations arise about his family during the movie. Thus, it is highly like that Willie was raised in either a single family home or his parents were divorced or separated. In some manner, Willie had family disruption in his life. Additionally, he mentions in the movie that his mother and brother moved from the city where he lived because his mother did not want his brother to associate with him.
Considerable research has been done on the effects family disruption has on delinquency. Studies have found that the “composition of a family is one aspect of family life that is consistently associated with delinquency” Children raised in homes with only one parent or in homes with divorced or separated parents are more apt to be involved in delinquent behavior than children raised in a two parent home. These homes are more likely to have stress and/or conflict mostly due to financial issues. These issues impact children in a significant way as they may have problems adjusting.
PEERS
Associating with delinquent peers increases the chance of a juvenile becoming involved in delinquent behavior. Studies have found that the delinquency of a juvenile’s peers is a very strong, if not the strongest, predictor of juvenile delinquency. Juveniles spend a considerable amount of time with their peers, give their peers significant importance and are strongly influenced by them.
Under the theories of socialization, individuals conform to the norms established by the norms of the group in which they associate. Thus, delinquent friends typically result in an individual choosing delinquent behavior. Opportunity to commit delinquent acts are more common for individuals that associate with delinquent peers. Also, while peers are present, delinquent acts are more easily engaged in and more likely to be rewarded. Peer association also presents opportunities for delinquent behavior. Juveniles spend a considerable amount of time with their peers, and typically this time is unstructured.
In this film, Willie Weathery associates with other juveniles that are delinquent. His cousin was recently released from juvenile detention, and his friends that approached him on the bikes early in the movie, asked him to participate in a delinquent activity. Willie’s involvement in the peer group was also strong as his peer group participated in gang membership.
GANG MEMBERSHIP
Over and above associating with peers who are delinquent is gang membership. “Gang membership intensifies delinquent behavior” . The role in a gang can be considered separately from peer association as contributing factors because not all delinquent juveniles are gang members.
Gang membership provides a juvenile with a sense of belonging that they may lack in their home life. Gangs also provide a child with something to participate in when they become bored. Gangs offer loyalty and acceptance and even a sense of identity to the kids. A sense of worth and status are also gleaned from gang membership by kids. These values are sought by everyone in life and most especially by young people who are still discovering who they are.
Willie Weathery belonged to an inner-city gang. Prior to participating in the football team while incarcerated, Willie received his only support from his associates in the gang. He was accepted in the gang and gang loyalty was very high. Willie’s seeking of revenge for the death of his cousin, as well as his disagreements with other prisoners, displayed his loyalty to the gang in which he associated. Willie’s membership in the gang attributed to his delinquent act also because he would not have had the gun to shoot his mother’s boyfriend.
PEER PRESSURE
Peer pressure often results in delinquent behavior. Teenagers want to fit in with other teenagers. As teenagers, relationship with peers are the most significant relationship in their lives. Yet, when teenagers take the advice of their peers, they have a strong likelihood of finding themselves in a compromising situation. The strong desire to belong has or can have the ability to cloud judgement. This is truer for teens that have a disruptive home life.
Willie Weathery in this film had a cousin and many friends who were engaged in juvenile delinquency. At one point in the movie, two of his friends approach him and his cousin and ask them to retrieve a stolen bike. He discusses participation in this activity with his cousin and ultimately decides to join his friends while his girlfriend walks away. His girlfriend was not a gang member, but the other boys were and they strongly influenced Willie’s behavior. His friends also urged him to retaliate after the death of his cousin. Willie would not have had the gun on him that he used to shoot his mother’s boyfriend had he not taken it to use it in the first place.
STRAIN
The strain theory suggests that delinquent behavior is a result of strain in relationships in an individual’s life. These relationships are negative and the individual believes that he or she is not being treated appropriately. These relationships produce strain in a child’s life which leads to negative emotions. In order to deal with the negative emotions, the individual feels the need or pressure to take corrective action. This corrective action for a child or teen can be in the form of delinquent behavior. The delinquent behavior is performed in the hopes of reducing or escaping from the strain, in trying to exact revenge or in attempt to reduce the negative emotions presented from the strain.
Not everyone responds to strain in the same manner. Thus, researchers have discovered that those who respond negatively to strain have certain personality characteristics. These characteristics include impulsiveness, risk-taking, irritability and insensitivity to others.
Nothing is known about Willie Weathery’s past, but assumptions can be made about the presence of strain in his life. His cousin was shot, and his relationship with his mother does not appear to be very positive. Also, the shooting occurred as an act of revenge as his mother’s boyfriend was beating her up. Willie likely sought to engage in delinquent behavior as described by the strain theory. His personality appears to fit the model that researchers describe as responding to strain. Willie is impulsive, as seen from the shooting itself as well as fights in the detention camp. He takes risks which also is seen in his act of killing his mother’s boyfriend. Also, Willie is very irritable and insensitive when he first gets to the juvenile camp which is likely his behavior prior to the shooting that got him there.
COMMUNITY DISORGANIZATION
Community disorganization has found to be a factor in creating delinquent behavior. In communities that are disorganized, relationships, bonding as well as supervision are lacking. The community with instability and significant numbers of single parent homes or broken homes have low levels of socialization and supervision. The community also has an absence of social bonds and institutional controls. It is the community that actually poses the risk of delinquency upon the individual.
Although it is not really presented in the movie, it can be assumed that the community in which Willie Weathery resides is disorganized. The scenes of Willie’s neighborhood present it as an urban area with poverty. The building appears run down and there did not appear to be any neighborhood support or activities. This is another factor attributing to Willie’s delinquent behavior.
SOCIAL LEARNING
The Social Learning theory posits that delinquent behavior is learned through close relationships and the establishment of criminal definitions and reinforcement. In these relationships, the individual learns what behavior is appropriate and what is not appropriate, not according to the law, but rather, according to the relationship . Rewards that follow the delinquent act are reinforced in this type of relationship.
As presented by theorists, the social learning theory claims that the likelihood of an individual to engage in delinquent behavior increases when individuals have close associations with others who engage in delinquent acts. This is similar to the idea that peers influence delinquent behavior. However, this theory goes further by alleging that there are four premises underlying the delinquent behavior. These principles include differential association, definitions, differential reinforcement and imitation.
Differential association is the direct association of individuals with others who engage in delinquent acts. The group of individuals an individual associate with reinforces the delinquent behavior. The group may consist of family members as well as friends. The group attributes to the attitude and values of the individual. Definitions under the social learning theory are the defining values and attitudes that an individual chooses to adopt. These are learned from the individual’s differential association. Differential reinforcement can be understood as consequences. If a consequence for a delinquent act is seen as a positive reward, the delinquent behavior will continue. Finally, imitation as an aspect of social learning, posits that individuals will participate in delinquent acts as seen by others in their peer group.
The principles underlying the cause of Willie Weathery’s delinquent acts can be seen in each aspect of the social learning theory. Willlie associated with others who engage in delinquent acts as evident from this relationship with his cousin as well as the him being given a gun by a peer. The definitions in Willi’s situation were the values he adopted from this peers, including his willingness to carry a gun and his willingness to seek revenge for the death of his cousin, as well as in the fight he engaged in with this mother’s boyfriend. In the movie, we are not clear about the differential reinforcement Willie received as a result of his delinquent act. However, again, assumptions can be made as we see Willie being held in high esteem by other members of his gang. Finally, imitation is presented as an aspect of Willie’s behavior as displayed by his association with his cousin who already did time for his delinquent acts and by his willingness to take the gun from others and his agreement to take revenge as asked by him by another member of his gang.
LOW SELF-CONTOL
Under the control theory, delinquent behavior is attributed to low self-control. This theory of delinquent behavior claims that the trait of low self-control underlies delinquent behavior (. This characteristic, much like that of the individual belying the strain theory discussed above, is impulsive and takes considerable risks. The individual also is seeks immediate gratification, has little planning, as well as no respect to the pain of others. these theorists also allege that low self-control began in the individual’s life due to the failure of the parent to induce proper socialization, including the failure to punish the child for inappropriate behavior, and being neglectful, uncaring and unattached .
Willie Weathery obviously has low self-control. This trait is reflected in many of his actions prior to incarceration and while being incarcerated. He decision to engage in delinquent behavior with his friends and cousin was impulsive and risky, as was his decision to seek revenge. Also, his decision to shoot his mother’s boyfriend was impulsive. Although we are not aware of how Willie was raised, assumptions can be made from his actions.
LABELING
The labeling theory posits that delinquent behavior occurs because the delinquent obtains and adheres to the label of delinquent received due to past delinquent behavior. According to the labeling theory, the stigma of being labeled delinquent increases the probability that an individual will engage in delinquent acts. Being labeled a delinquent, increases the chances that an individual will continue to behave in delinquent acts and further embeds the individual to become and stay involved in delinquent behavior.
Group associations provide support to the individual labeled as delinquent. The group provides the individual with “social shelter” from those who have labeled the individual delinquent and have a tendency to “react negatively” toward the labeled delinquent.
Although we are not given information about the past delinquent acts of Willie Weathery in the movie, assumptions can be made that this was not his first delinquent act. These assumptions arise because of various clues in the movie. Willie’s cousin had been engaged in some type of illegal act. He was willing to accept the gun from his peers. And, he had strong ties and associations with other members of his gang. Additionally, we are not given a lot of information about Willie’s father, but he does indicate that he has resentment and anger toward his father for his father’s labeling of him as a “loser”. Being labeled a delinquent had at least some influence on why Willie engaged in the delinquent act that landed him in juvenile detention.
CONCLUSION
Willie Weathery had many factors that led to his delinquent behavior in the movie In Gridiron Gang. There are indications that Willie did not have a strong family structure. The peers Willie associated with were individuals who also chose to engage in delinquent behavior. Will’s was an active member of a gang when he shot his mother’s boyfriend. Willie may have been impressed upon with by peer pressure. The strain upon Willie to engage in the crime planned by his peers. Although there are not blatant indications that Willie’s community is disorganized. there are some signs presented throughout the movie. Willie also likely had some social learning that resulted in his delinquent act. Also, Willie displayed high indications of low self-control which can be attributed to his engagement in delinquent behavior. Finally, there is some indications in the movie that Willie engaged in the delinquent act that put him in juvenile camp due to labeling.
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