Chapter 4-6 Assignment

Chapters 4-6 Assignment
There a variety of reasons on why a person joins a gang. In class, we discussed a variety of different risk factors that can help predict membership. In the video former gang member, Marlin Henderseon discussed his experience within the gang culture. One of the risk factors that we discussed in class involved the family structure. Since both of his parents were crack addicts, he did not get to bond a lot with his family. As a child, his parents were not always there for him considering they were immersed within the drug. He did not get the loving parents that were always there for him. In addition, the neighborhood he grew up in East Los Angeles had some violence, since many of the kids were being prejudice against each
This type of disorder can affect any person that experiences a traumatic event. I believe that nearly half of people living in poverty suffer from this disorder, which makes this a very serious health concern. This is a huge public health issue considering most do not think that PTSD can affect people living in violent neighborhoods. The truth of the matter is it is not only affecting almost the majority of the urban poor, but it is having a severe effect on the adolescents. Most of these kids are experience flashbacks of the event, hypervigilance, hypersensitivity, and efforts to avoid thoughts and feelings that can remind them of the event. Most of these kids had to adapt since violence has become part of their everyday lives. Most have become numb in order to avoid the emotions that come along with these traumatic events. These symptoms begin to have an impact on their academic performance. Some kids begin to have angry outbursts if they are looked at the wrong way or wearing the wrong color shirt. These situations can spark violence since it reminds them of the trauma. In addition, some kids begin to detach from school and peers, and eventually can suffer from depression. In most situations, these kids have no ambition to do well in school. They live in an environment where shootings, stabbings, and drugs are part of their everyday norm. They do not have much positive influences to help motivate them to excel in their education. After watching this video, I believe that it is an accurate statement that the American gang problem is similar to what veterans experience in war. They both suffer from the same symptoms, since they witness situations that are not normal. It is not normal to see someone you know take his or her last breath and die in front of you. As a result, both have a fight or flight mentality when something reminds them of the trauma. Both are overly conscious on what is