The Psychology of Fear: Mara Salvatrucha

Mara Salvatrucha, M-13, or MS, are different ways of naming the most dangerous criminal gang in latin america. MS was created in Los Angeles by Salvadoran immigrants  after the Central American civil wars of the 1980s. Originally, the gang's main purpose was to protect Salvadoran immigrants from other, more established gangs of the city, but through time they became the most powerful one in the zone. Many Mara Salvatrucha gang members from Los Angeles have been deported after being arrested. As a result of these deportations M-13 grew in Central American countries.

For identifying and communicating they use hand signs. One of the most commonly shown is the "devil's head" which forms an 'M' when presented upside down. Also MS mambers cover themselves in tattoos. Common markings include "MS", "Salvatrucha", the "Devil Horns"and other symbols. As well they show they taftnss through their initiation ritual, where each candidate must resist 13 seconds of repression without defending themselves. Mara Salvatrucha has become Central America’s greatest problem. In addition to violent acts committed by the gang against citizens and gang rivalries, also the gang had organize violent acts against the government. In 1997 the son of Honduras President Ricardo Maduro was kidnapped and murdered by MS-13 members Members also left a mutilated body with a note for the Honduras president that “more people will die, the next victims will be police and journalists.” Also in Guatemala n 2004 President Oscar Berger received a similar messages attached to the body of a mutilated man.

In an internal and external way MS instill fear. Inside the gang mistakes are a synonym of death. The severe punishment prevents people from betrayal, not obeying superiors, and from leaving the gang. Outside the MS, normal civilians also fear people involved with this criminal movement. Their harshness maintains people scared and unmorally they earn their respect. Their actions cause panic, and from them you learn to live trying not to have any type of contact and respecting them. If not you could lose your life. This gang is linked with fear because their inhumane ways of getting the attention of the government and in general from the country and their punishments inspire a sort of respect between people.