Looking for a Better Affiliation through Disaffiliation? The Complex Journey of Haitian Ex-Gang Members
Disaffiliation from street gangs is a complex process that follows a long and winding path. This paper presents the psychological dynamic underlying this process, through psychodynamically oriented qualitative research. Three ex-gang members, second-generation Haitian immigrants, agreed to participate in life-story interviews. Our qualitative analysis is based on conceptualization through categorization. A global metaphor helps integrate the three main dimensions of the process that emerged : involvement in interviews, an evolving story, and the psychological steps of passage out of street gangs. These findings support our discussion of innovative interventions that could be used with this specific population.