"Social Instinct" vs "Gang Instinct"

Frederic M. Thrasher argues ganging is recognized by young age as “gang instinct.” However, Thrasher claims other writers have consider ganging a form of “social instinct” believing that youth behavior develop at a young age. A division between “gang instinct” and “social instinct” was characterized as a relation to individuals claiming instinct is a condition not a social relation.  While he stresses arguments of “gang instinct,” this article displays a developmental stage of mind and body. Thrasher examines the notable argument that “gang instinct” is false evidence to youth gang life.

Thrasher disputes the gang instinct as a natural characteristic of our social order and a formation of small groups. For instance, children developed their own groups in their living conditions and their surrounding environments. Small or big neighborhoods children find their way to develop their new cliques. The majority of gangs develop from spontaneous playgroups. Young boys come together to contribute in the pleasure, crowd, in the goal of forming a group. This gives an idea that play-group acquire a form of organization and a standing that leaders form. It does not become a formation of gang until opposition or enemies are presented. This shows that youth groups become “gangs” with opposition to other peer groups and adult suspicion or hostility. Thrasher gives an example of parents and neighbors step in and try to break up the play-group in suspicion of gang formation.  However, this only forms more conflict and greater acts of criminality. Professor Morrill discusses that most youth affiliations do not evolve into gangs but into clubs. Clubs referring to adult supervision comparable to Thrasher model of “Aunt Sarah’s Bunch” allowing boys to be free at her house. The boys had no formal organization nor anyone was considered the leader. Instead there was a group-consciousness that follows a form of structure.

Another point Thrasher explains is that many writers have consider the argument of “social instinct” a form of ganging indicating that human behavior is the main structure of forming a gang. For instance, a group of boys find themselves contributing to the idea of gang because they have similar interest or same age group who spend most of their time together and form the club.  This creates a situation complex as discussed in lecture is the idea getting actors and understanding their social organization in school or family. This relates to the idea point of “social instinct” showing a behavioral understanding to become a gang.

            According to “As Study of Social Psychology” by L.L. Bernard studies the nature of instinct and argues the idea “social instinct” a procedure of “not concrete facts.” He describes that instinct represents only biological and a mental process.  Instead Bernard presents the field of sociology to distinct his scientific study of discipline towards the contribution of environment and the control of “social instinct.” One can assume that Thrasher study demonstrates behavioral characterization of ganging and that “social instinct” is no longer the bases of human behavior.  

-Marisol Lopez

Thrasher, M. Frederic. The Gang A Study of 1,313 Gangs in Chicago. Chicago: University Press, 1927. Print.

“As Study of Social Psychology” by L.L. Bernard 
www.brocku.ca/MeadProject/Kantor/Kantor_1924_5.htmt