Reading this week’s chapter reminded me of one of the sections we focused on during my freshman criminology class. When we were discussing Aker’s (1973) social learning theory of crime, we also discussed Bandura’s (1977) social learning theory and Anderson’s (1999) code of the street. What I found most interesting was Anderson’s (1999) code of the street that drew on field research conducted in inner-city communities to present its subculture of violence. The code of the streets, “amounts to a set of informal rules governing interpersonal public behavior, including violence” (Anderson, 1994). Not only is the heart of the code, respect, but it also governs the proper ways to respond if challenged and regulates the use of violence. This code pressures minority youth in inner cities to respond to shows of disrespect with violence.
Although not all youths accept the underlying values of the code of the streets, they feel an overwhelming pressure to conform to the code because, “Knowledge of the code is thus largely defensive; it is literally necessary for operating in public” (Anderson, 1994). Everyone must know the code to negotiate in the inner-city environment and also must look or play the part. By adolescence, most youths have internalized the code or learned the need to behave in accordance with its rules because of their experiences living in inner cities. Furthermore, they must portray that they are capable of violence if the situation requires it; for example, having a mean walk or facial and verbal expressions. Additionally as part of the code, during a physical altercation, an individual must fight and can not run or will lose all respect. After the altercation, it is necessary for the individual to seek the people who assaulted them and avenge themselves to restore their respect.
The precipitating factor of the code of the streets is the adaptation to the lack of faith in the police and judicial system. In inner cities
The police are most often seen as representing the dominant white society and not
caring to protect inner-city residents. When called, they may not respond, which
is one reason many residents feel they must be prepared to take extraordinary
measures to defend themselves and their loved ones against those who are inclined
to aggression (Anderson,1994).
Because the police and system do not respect and protect those in inner cities, they have learned to employ their own system that values respect and takes care of each individual. Many people who conform to the code of the streets are more worried about the threat of “justice” at the hands of peers than at the hands of the police. In some cases, going to prison can actually enhance one’s reputation on the street.
A perpetuating factor that continues the cycle of the code of the streets is what the children in inner cities are learning from their parents and those around them. Children who come from very low income households in inner city neighborhoods are often taught through viewing adults with short-tempers around them as role models, to fight at a young age. By the children being exposed to verbal disputes, physical altercations, or worse, they understand to defend and hit those who go against them, thus, continuing the cycle (Anderson, 1994). Another important aspect that children from inner city neighborhoods learn at a young age is having to fend for themselves. A majority of parents in inner city neighborhoods are often at work and have little time to spend with their children at home. After being exposed to repeated absences, the child learns another lesson, survival, and comes to the ultimate conclusion that they themselves have to fight for their place in the world.
References
Anderson, E. (1994, May 1). The Code of the Streets. The Atlantic.
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1994/05/the-code-of-the-streets/306601/
The code of the streets was very insightful. Especially if a person comes from a low income area, its hard not to be affected by crime. The norm of social crime or crime seen growing up is so common that people think that’s the norm. We see how social psychological model of criminal behavior is embedded in people and the risk factors that people are affected by: “onset of antisocial behavior, conducive to criminal activity, antisocial attitudes, values, and believes, procriminal peers and low level of school, negative family relations, poor time to enjoy recreational activities, and abuse of drugs and/or alcohol” are all attributes for the person (Gruman, 374). I seen how even the color you wear plays a part, one side blue one side red. It’s hard to see how the environment even affects people. The code of the streets does play a huge part of their lives and survival. I wonder if the attributes of the negative, hostile environment is changed, it would change their whole life.
Gruman, J. A., Schneider, F. W., & Coutts, L. M. (2016). Applied Social Psychology: Understanding and Addressing Social and Practical Problems (3rd Edition). SAGE Publications, Inc. (US). https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/books/9781506353951