Motivations of Street Culture and Criminal Behavior

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The research is designed to follow 106 students who were in their final year of education before departing to a destination school or college. There were multiple interviews and questionnaire which structured the research in a good fashion. The findings of the research suggested many of the young students spent most of their time hanging on the streets. During the time of being in the streets, most of the students then experienced with the uses of alcohol, drugs, and tobacco. Pavis and Cunningham explain about the research by sharing, “A young man (14–15 years) approached from over the street. One of the young men I was with shouted, `hey, `Billy' do you have any thingme'. This is the first time I have heard this term for cannabis. . . The young man walked up to the group and told them he had `a half ounce'. The group began to negotiate with the young dealer. He asked if the group wanted a `half quarter'. They shuffled around and he asked if they had any money”. The age of the young man goes to show the reader how young the street culture can affect an individual. Bad influences can ultimately happen to anyone consisting of all ages, males or females.

In conclusion, both of the articles discussed can give an outlook on how street culture can influence criminal behaviors. Both articles also gave an in depth look on how negativity behaviors can start at young ages and lead into their adulthood. The second article showed how the street culture can affect adolescents of young males opposed to Jacobs and Wrights article which discussed criminal behaviors of individuals who have committed and are committing armed robberies. After reading both articles, I took in information that can ultimately benefit my understanding of the way in which the youth culture can be affected.

Bibliography

Jacobs, B., & Wright, R. (2006). Stick-Up, Street Culture, And Offender Motivation. Criminology , V. 37. 149-174.

Pavis, S., & Cunningham, S. (1998). Male Youth Street Culture: understanding the context of health related beahaviors . Health Education Research , V. 4. 583-596.