Understanding The Motivation: Why Do People Join Gangs?

Whether you have been personally affected by gang violence or are concerned about gangs in your city or neighborhood, it can be hard to understand why young people might join gangs. he psychology of gang membership has been quite well-studied. There are several risk factors that can make young people more likely to join a gang, but one of the core motivations is thought to be related to a lack of a sense of belonging.

How gang membership can be harmful

The National Gang Intelligence Center reports that 48% of violent crime in most jurisdictions is attributed to gangs, and that this figure is as high as 90% in some areas. Gang activity is generally a danger for community members, even for those who are not involved or affiliated. However, gang membership itself can also be very dangerous. A 2014 study shows that youth involved in gangs are at risk of experiencing “physical violence, incarceration, substance abuse, and unemployment.” It is also one of the strongest predictors of antisocial behavior, which has been shown to have links to negative outcomes later in life, such as cardiovascular and psychological illness, self-injury, heavy regular drinking, and low job status. With such serious risks involved, why would a young person join a gang?

Why do people join gangs?

There are many factors that may put a young person at higher risk of getting involved in a gang. These might include:

• Low self-esteem
• Feeling hopeless about the future due to a lack of educational and/or financial opportunities
• Significant unstructured free time outside of school hours
• Minimal adult supervision
• A family history of gang involvement or affiliation
• A childhood and/or adolescence in an area with heavy gang activity
• No positive role models, and exposure to media that glorifies gang violence
• Underlying mental health disorders, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or depression
• Alcohol and/or drug use among peers

Other risk factors that frequently underpin many of those on this list is a lack of adequate social support and an unmet need for community and belonging. Since this is typically such a core component of why gangs exist at all, let’s take a closer look at it.

The fundamental human need for belonging

Psychologist Abraham Maslow developed a theory of human motivation in 1943 that revolves around understanding basic human needs, and it’s still widely referred to today. Known as Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, it puts physical needs like food and water at the base, with self-actualization at the top. In the middle is the need for belonging—to feel accepted, loved, and a part of something. This need may be satisfied through family, friendships, romantic attachments, social or hobby groups, and faith communities. Some aspects of the human experience that can contribute toward satisfying this need are typically friendships, romantic attachments, family, social or hobby groups, church groups, etc.

Maslow linked the need to belong with the need to feel loved, which he defines as a yearning for a sense of friendship and belonging both in groups and one-on-one. He adds that individuals will "strive with great intensity to achieve this goal.” Joining a gang, by definition, means being part of a cohesive group with a common identity, which can fill that need for love and belonging—especially in young people.

Gang membership: a psychological perspective

Joining a gang, by definition, means being part of a cohesive group with a common identity, which can fill that need for love and belonging—especially in young people.

Research has consistently demonstrated that gang-involved youth tend to lack close ties with their families, friends, and schools, so it’s easy to see how the allure of joining the close-knit environment of a gang can attract young people in this type of situation. In fact, one study found that young people who perceived fair treatment from teachers and other adults at school and those who felt a sense of belonging at school were more likely to avoid joining a gang. The same was true for those who lived in neighborhoods with the presence of adult support.  

 In the absence of healthy connections, gangs may satisfy their needs through gangs due to the group dynamics that govern them:

• Provides a sense of family: For individuals lacking strong family bonds or coming from broken homes, gangs can offer a semblance of family and acceptance. The close-knit nature of these groups mimics familial relationships, providing emotional support and a sense of belonging.
• Offers community and identity: Gangs often provide a strong sense of community and a clear identity to their members. This is especially appealing to young people searching for a place where they feel they fit in or for those who struggle with a sense of identity in their personal or social lives.
• Gives purpose and status: Membership can give individuals a purpose and a role within a group, which can be empowering. The status attained within the gang or the wider community as a result of being a gang member can also contribute to a person's sense of self-worth and belonging.
• Ensures protection and safety: The protection that comes from being part of a gang can create a bond similar to that found in close-knit communities or families. This sense of safety can be both physical and emotional, as members often protect each other from external threats.
• Fosters loyalty and support: Gangs often have strong codes of loyalty and support among their members. This loyalty can fulfill emotional needs for trust and reliability that might be missing from members' other relationships.
• Offers unconditional acceptance: Gangs may provide unconditional acceptance to individuals who feel judged or ostracized by society. This acceptance is crucial for those who have experienced rejection from other social groups or institutions.
• Provides an avenue for emotional expression: Within the gang, individuals might find opportunities for emotional expression and understanding that they do not find elsewhere. The shared experiences and challenges can foster deep emotional connections among members.
• Encourages mutual dependence: The interdependence within a gang—where members rely on one another for emotional, physical, and financial support—can deepen the sense of belonging and significance within the group.

While gang membership may provide some short-term psychological benefits, the long-term consequences can be detrimental and far-reaching, affecting individuals, their families, and communities as a whole.

Prevention

It can be important to remember that Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs places the need for a sense of love and belonging just above the one for physical safety. While safety is a need we can all easily recognize and prioritize, belonging is one that often isn’t discussed or emphasized enough. Making sure all children and young people have safe, healthy ways to fulfill this need can be an important part of helping them avoid gang membership and other unhealthy or dangerous situations in their adolescence.

One academic paper cites the following as the most mentioned reasons why some people can avoid gang involvement: education, alternative activities, and social and community support.

Programs to promote all of these would all likely need to be emphasized and supported at both local and national levels in order to affect meaningful change for gang prevention. However, this is almost certainly not the only component of the solution. Systemic factors that lead to socioeconomic disparity often play an outsized role in outcomes like gang membership for young people. Other things that can possibly contribute to why someone might be drawn to gang involvement include:

• Lower-quality education due to poor funding
• Parents or family members who are incarcerated or have to work multiple jobs to make ends meet and therefore aren’t as available for supervision or bonding
• Drug use and/or sale, perhaps due to lack of employment opportunities
• A negative view of or lack of mental health resources 

Unfortunately, improving these elements may be easier said than done for many communities; because several of these risk factors can be tied to institutional oppression and inequity, change would likely have to be linked to shifts in public policy.

Impact of adequate mental health care for affected populations

Whether due to gang activity itself or difficult life experiences, vulnerable young people often face significant mental health challenges. They may have experienced violence, substance abuse, and difficult upbringings, which can lead to a range of mental health issues including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and complex trauma.

As such, therapy is often recommended for people who are healing in the aftermath of gang membership. There are also therapeutic treatment programs for at-risk youth to help decrease the likelihood that they may turn to gang involvement to fulfill their need for belonging, or because of other risk factors outlined here.

Online counseling platforms

While high-risk populations often experience significant barriers to these types of care, schools, faith communities, community groups, and public health organizations can all be resources of mental health and social support, as well as affordable, accessible online therapy platforms.

For young people looking to heal from trauma and make healthy life choices, online therapy may be a worthwhile consideration. Online counseling platforms are one avenue for easier reach to these services; without having to pay for overhead costs, many professionals who operate online can offer more affordable rates, and some, including BetterHelp, offer financial assistance to help disadvantaged populations access care. 

In addition to being a source of healing and guidance, online therapy may also help promote feelings of emotional support and closeness. Research suggests that virtual treatment may be easier and more cost-effective than in-person treatments while still providing similar benefits.