State of Mind: Gangs, politics eerily similar when it comes to mental health

There has been a lot of public discussion lately on the topic of gangs in America. While there are similarities and discrepancies between media reporting and FBI statistics on this issue, most agree that any form of gang activity is harmful. However, often overlooked is the reciprocal relationship between gangs and mental health.

Although there is no universal definition, most experts agree that gangs are associations of people who adopt a group identity, represented by specific names, colors and symbols. They have internal organizational structures, shared attitudes and rules, the main purpose of which is to use their influence, often through criminal activities, to maintain or increase their power, reputation and economic resources.

Research shows that gang members suffer significantly more from psychosis, anxiety, depression, substance abuse and antisocial personality disorders. Gang activity also contributes to mental health problems for people in communities affected by increasing violence, fear and trauma.

Those involved in gangs may experience moral dissonance, experiencing conflicts between their actions toward others and their beliefs or values. Members often explain this by trying to neutralize their behavior, which may mean denying liability, blaming the other party, or claiming that the other party has been just as bad. Some even actively justify their actions by dehumanizing the other party and convincing themselves that the other party deserved it or by believing that their actions have a higher purpose or were better than the alternative.

If all that sounds familiar, we happen to be in the final stages of the 2024 national elections. A time when individuals will come together as political parties, represented by their respective symbols and colors, will embrace their adopted mantras and believe that their case the righteous aim is to dehumanize and vilify the opposition, allowing selected media outlets to confirm their ‘right’ and justifying any means necessary for victory. Yes, millions will go to the polls, eager to show support for the members of their party, out of loyalty to an association that demands obedience and loyalty, or risk being left out.

Certain prejudices can make the gang and the political landscape even more tumultuous. Confirmation bias explains that people tend to surround themselves with others and look for evidence that confirms or supports what they already believe, ignore conflicting data, and interpret ambiguous information as supporting their current beliefs. The fundamental attribution error describes how we attribute what we perceive as good or bad outcomes to an individual’s actions or to external circumstances, depending on what better fits our existing beliefs. And the Dunning-Kruger effect shows that the less a person knows, the more confident he behaves, as people often overestimate their knowledge and skills in specific areas.

Interestingly, these parallels between gangs and politics can have eerily similar consequences for our individual and collective mental health. The divisions, tensions, hostilities and aggression can increase the stress, fear and anxiety and cause or exacerbate the trauma experienced by millions of people. Unfortunately, many of those same millions actively participate, whether consciously or not, in the underlying causes.

Because we are all human, none of us is immune to the psychological phenomena that play such a crucial role in these dynamics. However, with awareness also comes responsibility. So as we move through this election, I invite you to reflect on your own beliefs, possible biases, and the role you may play in the challenges facing our country. Just as we must all come together to solve the problems that gang culture presents, we must also come together to address the much more widespread problem of general division in the fabric of our society.

Bryan Busch is a licensed mental health counselor in Cedar Rapids. He also works at Folience, the parent company of The Gazette. He can be reached at [email protected].