ABSTRACT This paper explores the role of local structural conditions that facilitate or hinder violence when enmity is present between parties, by examining shooting-involved violence among street gangs in Long Beach, California. Using structural balance theory, this paper investigates whether certain triadic structures in which two rival gangs i and j are related to a third gang is associated with the levels of violence that i will inflict upon j. Based on multiple regression quadratic assignment procedure to adjust for the dependent structure in the network, the results show that after controlling for individual and dyadic explanations, structural conditions are robust predictors of the levels and the directions of inter-gang violence. Structural imbalance indicates a lack of clear dominance in relations and predicts increased violence. Balanced structures tend to be much less violent; however, a gang will initiate violence if by doing so it expects to reinforce its dominant position.

中文翻译：

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“平衡”中的暴力：对竞争对手，盟友和第三方如何塑造帮派内部暴力的结构分析

摘要本文通过研究加利福尼亚州长滩市街头帮派之间与枪击案有关的暴力行为，探讨了当事方之间存在敌意时促进或阻止暴力行为的当地结构条件的作用。本文使用结构平衡理论，研究了两个敌对的帮派i和j与第三个帮派有关的某些三合会结构是否与我将对j施加的暴力程度相关联。基于多元回归二次赋值程序以调整网络中的依存结构，结果表明，在控制了个人和二进解释之后，结构条件是帮派之间暴力行为水平和方向的可靠预测指标。结构性失衡表明在关系中缺乏明显的支配地位，并预示着暴力事件会增加。平衡的结构往往没有那么暴力。但是，如果该团伙希望加强其支配地位，就会发动暴力。