Once we finished watching the documentary about Los Angeles street gangs, two theories predominated in my mind as to why there were gangs forming in this region. The first being Travis Herschi’s “Social Connections.” Second, Walter Miller’s “central concerns.” Social bond theory is not a theory of the causes of crime but a theory of pro-social behavior that helps explain deviance. This theory identifies four social bonds that promote adherence to the laws and values ​​of society. The four links are: attachment, commitment, involvement and belief. If there was a weakness in any of these four areas, it would explain the cause of the delinquency. The theory of focal concerns is different from many other theories because it is not about the rejection of middle class values ​​but the reasons for this behavior come directly from the lower class values ​​themselves. Miller identified six areas in which lower-class men focus their attention: trouble, tenacity, intelligence, excitement, luck, and self-reliance. The more an individual participates in one of these areas, the more respect he or she will gain. The reason I chose these two theories is based primarily on what gang members said directly about their own situations and how documentarians explained the gangs. According to social bond theory, the first of four bonds is likely the primary reason young men join gangs. Attachment can take three different forms in this theory; attachment to parents, school and peers. When many gang members were asked if they had families, we found that many lived in broken homes. Either the mother or father is in prison or dead due to gang violence. Many of these teenagers do not have a parental figure to look up to and idolize. Also once...... middle of paper ......ted to create their own freedom. Once we finished looking at Los Angeles street gangs, I realized that there were many other things that could contribute to the formation of gangs, but the theories I chose to show, I believe, the main reasons for the formation of gangs and deviant behavior. If I could do anything to help stop gang formations and deviant behavior, it would probably be through school. I feel like if there was a better school system in place, individuals would have a place to go and not engage in bad behavior and there wouldn't be as much gang formation. This could mainly apply to the theory of “social bonds”. The only thing I can think of that can be done to change the theory of central concerns is to try to instill a new set of standards for the lower class so that they feel equal to everyone else and don't not have to stray into delinquent activities..