Transnational Organized Crime and Gangs. Robert M. Brzenchek

participative, and achievement-oriented. A directive leader clarifies expectations by offering detailed guidance to subordinates for them to meet the desired expectations and comply with performance standards per organizational guidelines. The directive style is the best leadership approach when subordinates are unfamiliar with standard operating procedures. It is also appropriate in situations that require a swift legalistic and or bureaucratic response. Conversely, seasoned subordinates will likely find the directive style aggressive, controlling, and oppressive. In fact, the only time the directive style of leadership is preferred when managing longtime employees is when their specific position lacks structure. A supportive leader is responsive to his or her subordinates. The friendly ambience a supportive leader creates intrinsically motivates subordinates. A key characteristic of a supportive leader is public recognition. Supportive leaders gleefully acknowledge every subordinates’ favorable actions and dole out awards based on clear expectations. This style of leadership exemplifies respect for subordinates by treating everyone equal and displaying genuine concern for their well-being. Reardon and Rowe said that supportive leaders “learn by observing outcomes and how others react to their decisions.” Per the path goal theoretical model, a supportive leadership style is most appropriate when leading subordinates who demonstrate lack motivation and demonstrate some insecurity in their aptness to satisfactorily preform job functions. The participative leader takes has a tenancy to consult with subordinates and accept suggestions prior to resolving managerial matters. Participative leaders involve subordinates in planning, decision-making, and execution phases of the overall goals. This style allows subordinates the freedom to take ownership whereby they become self-directed and offer collective innovative input. The participative style is appropriate when guiding subordinates with a history of poor decision-making and disregard for written procedures. Leaders who adopt an achievement mode set challenging goals for their subordinates. Moreover, they encourage subordinates to complete tasks far above satisfactory levels. The achievement-oriented leader continuously seeks improvement in performance and is confident that the subordinates will contently master the challenges in front of him. Each of the four path goal styles can be exercised by leaders in any combination with various subordinates and within different organizational environments and situations. Path goal theory is an important framework for the given dissertation on rationale for predictive criminal gang prevention programs because these new programs will require innovative team efforts from law enforcement. If law enforcement leaders pattern their leadership styles in ways that foster creativity from subordinates by considering individual backgrounds, personalities, and unique characteristics, the level of intrinsic motivation will allow departments to sustain new programs, multiyear.

      Research on the path goal theory includes dependent variables that are comprised of a range of subordinate outcomes. This is based on two assumptions: One, it assumes that behavior is consistently situational, and two, it assumes all leaders have the capacity to adjust their style at will. The path goal theory fails to shed light on the effects leaders have on their subordinates. R. J. House and G. Dessler stated that the theory’s intention was to identify the “precise psychological mechanisms underlying the effects of leaders on others”; nothing more. Ultimately, the path goal theory proposes that if a subordinate receives guidance and appropriate supports from his/her superior regarding work functions, the leader’s behavior is considered acceptable and can lead to a motivated, satisfied subordinate.

      Moreover, the leader’s behavior will be viewed as acceptable only when subordinates perceive it as an either an immediate or future source of job satisfaction. By extension, supervisory support is positively correlated with organizational allegiance and dedication. To put it differently, subordinates form an emotional attachment to the organization that is directly correlated to the relationship they have with direct supervisors. There is no correlation between effective allegiance to organizations and a subordinate’s professional performance. Therefore, it seems possible that if there is a significant positive relationship between the dependent variables of path goal theory, namely: intrinsic and extrinsic satisfaction, satisfaction with superior, performance satisfaction, and overall job satisfaction, then a subordinate’s commitment to his/her leader may be a significant dependent variable with the implication of increased obligation to successfully bond with leadership, forming a satisfactory collaboration.

      Social Control Theory

      The concept of social control has been a part of sociology for almost a hundred years. The theory identifies institutional mechanisms within society that manage both group and individual conduct through the process of socialization. Therefore, these public and private institutions maintain order in society. T. Hirschi’s 1969, 1977 theory of social control assumes that individuals who carry out deviant behavior, as a means of securing social bonds, negatively affecta the whole of society. Hirschi’s concept of social bonding is hinged on the following four attributes: attachment, commitment, involvement, and beliefs. Attachment refers to the symbiotic linkage between a person and society. Individuals with secure attachments to persons and institutions within society are considered less likely to breach social mandates and vice versa. The chances of deliberately engaging in behavior that may upset group attachments is not likely from someone with secure attachments because they are more likely to avoid deviant behavior to avoid being shunned by valued attachments.

      Commitment refers to the investment an individual has in social activities and institutions. Hirschi’s commitment construct identified an association between an individual’s level of commitment and their predisposition for delinquency. The more an individual invests time, energy, and resources into social conformity, the less likely he or she is to deviate from norms. This in in stark comparison to someone who has not made a comparable investment. Hirschi found this to be true because individuals heavily invested in social conformity have more to lose. Consequently, deviant behavior is less appealing to individuals with strong commitments. Involvement, with regards to the concept of social bonding, conceptualized the limited time individuals have daily. If the time spent engaging in conventional endeavors reduces the time available for deviant and criminal activities, Hirschi contended, that involvement, such as being a parent or maintaining a job, fosters discipline and regimen, and the discipline and regimen encourages a resolve to resist deviant or criminalistic behaviors.

      According to Hirsch, belief in the moral validity of shared social values and norms will serve as an invisible barrier against one’s proclivity for deviant behavior, ultimately, suggesting that persons who strongly believe in moralistic social norms are less likely to deviate from them and vice versa.

      Summary

      We learned in this chapter most gang members are recruited between the ages of six and fifteen. Recruiters seek out vulnerable youth from challenged neighborhoods whose parents are not present. There is a period of the recruiting process where at-risk youth are courted. During the courting period, the recruiter treats the recruit like family and offers them money, drugs, and security. The need for family ties and security in rough neighborhoods makes recruiting easy. The recruit is increasingly placed in risky situations and assessed for certain skills until the official approach to join. By this time the approach is only a formality and the youth don’t have an actual choice. Hearing these details is shocking on how calculated gangs are. Finally, the goal of gangs is to make money; there are millions of dollars at stake.

      If children were counseled to develop goals and intentionally pursue them, would it be as easy for gang recruiters to manipulate their subconscious need for family and belonging? If children were taught to recognize and embrace their need for family and belonging through acceptable outlets like sports and youth clubs, would they continue to be preyed upon by gang recruiters? Would it empower children to learn that choosing not to choose is why the adults in their immediate impoverished surroundings have little to no control over their own lives?