NCJ Number
168547
Date Published
1995
Length
14 pages
Annotation
More than 35 open-ended interviews of police, probation officers, community program directors, political figures, and current and former Hispano American gang members in a barrio in East Los Angeles formed the basis of an analysis of the subcultural values of the barrio and whether they require or condone violence.
Abstract
Results revealed that Chicano culture places a strong emphasis on values such as courage and dignity for males. However, the ways in which these values are manifested in behavior depends heavily on the broader context in which people function. These values can lead to a high incidence of violence in an estranged setting but not in a non-estranged setting. Thus, the barrio values do not require or condone violence. Instead, violent behavior may be a product of the way in which conditions limit the expression of those values. 18 references