Monster

In the book, Monster, Kody Scott is only 11 years old when he is initiated into a gang. He looks up to gang members and desired to be one. He described gangs as being, “… my destiny and the only thing in this life that has ever held my attention for any serious length of time”(p 5). For many juveniles this is the case. They have never felt truly part of something until they became part of a gang. They have a “family” who praises them when the commit crimes even when they are caught which is something that motivates youth to be a part of. He feels that is better to die being a gang member than to live and not be one. In fact the more suffering you go through for the name of the gang the more respect you are given. “Li’l Crazy de, for instance, has been shot thirteen separate times and is still committed to the ‘hood…he is loved by few, hated by many, but respected by all.”(P 105) He survives being shot six times and multiple stays in juvenile hall but continues to fight for his gang even if it means walking out on his family and his children. There were many gangs close by and just a block or two over you were in another gang’s territory. Being part of the gang meant being part of a tradition. Many gangs recruit new members in order to pass on the delinquent behaviors and traditions, this is known as cultural transmission. Anything from what colors were worn to gang signs were part of the tradition of the Crips that are passed down with every new member. Every new member is initiated by committing a crime. They will eventually gain a gang name. Kody got his name “monster” from beating a man so much that he disfigured him and ended up in a coma. From that point on each gang member spent their time working his or her way through the stages of reputation.
Social bonds are things that tie a person to the institutions and processes of society that include attachment, commitment, belief, and involvement. For Kody there was a lack of social bond in the form of attachment...