Real Gangstas: Legitimacy, Reputation, and Violence in the Intergang Environment

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from the lecture notes on 'Real Gangstas: Legitimacy, Reputation, and Violence in the Intergang Environment' by Timothy Lauger.

Intergang Environment

The network of interactions between different street gangs within a given area, vital for understanding the daily concerns of gang members.

Dilution Narrative

A common interpretation of local gang life where many groups claim to be gangs, but are seen as weakened imitations or individuals perpetrating a fraud.

Original Gangstas (OGs)

Older gang members who differentiate 'real' from 'fake' gangs based on organizational sophistication and stringent standards for membership, often romanticizing the gangs of their youth or experiences in prison.

False Flagging

Falsely claiming gang membership, or an inability to demonstrate legitimate affiliation through knowledge of gang codes, manifestos, or rituals.

Paradox of Legitimacy

The troubling situation where gang members face constant pressure to validate their claims to gang membership in a skeptical environment that lacks clear, agreed-upon standards for establishing and maintaining legitimacy.

Boundary Work

The collective and continuous efforts of relevant actors to distinguish what belongs from what does not in a given social forum, such as defining 'real gang' versus 'fake gang'.

Reputation for Violence

A widely accepted perception of a gang or gang member's willingness and ability to use violence, crucial for establishing legitimacy in the intergang environment.

Street Beef

A prolonged intergang conflict that often stems from concerns about legitimacy and reputation, fueled by gossip and reinforced by repeated antagonistic interactions.

Foreground of Criminal Offending

The immediate context in which the decision to commit a crime is activated, where considerations of legitimacy and reputation intersect with an adversary unwilling to be intimidated.

Contagious Violence

A process where assaults or shootings ricochet back and forth between gangs, often escalating from a simple street conflict when neither side backs down.