These groups tend to represent a source of social support and protection from those around them who react negatively to their new deviant status. Bernberg and colleagues also argue that unlabeled youth often feel uncomfortable and tend to exclude labeled youth. Social exclusion from mainstream groups leads to even greater participation in gangs and further deviant behavior. Another reason for getting involved in a gang may be the company of those who share a similar self-perception. Formal adjudication for a crime can create a child's reputation as a criminal in his community, but especially among his peers at school and among other parents in the same community.