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

There has been a lot of recent public discussion on the topic of gangs in America. While there are similarities and discrepancies between media portrayals and FBI statistics on the issue, most would agree that any amount of gang activity is detrimental. Often overlooked, however, is the reciprocal relationship between gangs and mental health.

Though there is no universal definition, most experts agree that gangs are associations of people that adopt a group identity represented by specific names, colors and symbols. They have internal organizational structures, shared attitudes and sets of rules, with the primary purpose of using their influence, often through criminal activity, to preserve or enhance their power, reputation and economic resources.

Studies show that gang members exhibit notably higher rates of psychosis, anxiety, depression, substance abuse and anti-social personality disorder. Gang activity also contributes to mental health related challenges for people in communities affected by increased violence, fear and trauma.

Those involved in gangs may contend with moral dissonance, in which one experiences conflict between their actions toward others and their beliefs or values. Members often account for this by attempting to neutralize their behaviors, which can mean denying accountability, blaming fault on the other party or asserting 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 believing that their actions have a higher purpose or were better than the alternative.

If that all sounds familiar, we are coincidentally 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, espousing their adopted mantras and believing their cause to be the righteous purpose, dehumanizing and vilifying the opposition, allowing selected media outlets to confirm their “rightness” and justifying any and all means for victory. Yes, millions will visit the ballot box, eager to pledge support for members of their party, in allegiance to an association that requires obedience and loyalty or risk being ostracized.

Certain biases can make the gang and political landscapes even more tumultuous. Confirmation bias explains that people tend to surround themselves with others and search for evidence that confirms or supports that which they already believe, ignore contradictory data and interpret ambiguous information as supporting their current views. The fundamental attribution error describes how we attribute what we consider good or bad outcomes to either the actions of an individual or to outside circumstances depending on what better aligns with our existing beliefs. And the Dunning-Kruger effect demonstrates that the less a person knows, the more confidently they behave as people often overestimate their knowledge and abilities in specific areas.

Interestingly, these parallels between gangs and politics can have eerily similar impacts on our individual and collective mental health. The divisions, tensions, hostilities and aggression can increase stress, fear and anxiety, and induce or exacerbate trauma experienced by millions. Unfortunately, many of the same millions actively partake, consciously or otherwise, in the root causes.

As 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 comes responsibility. So, as we move throughout this election, I invite you to reflect on your own beliefs, potential biases and the role you might be playing in the challenges facing our country. Just as we all must come together to solve the challenges gang culture presents, we also must come together to address the much more widespread issue of general division across the fabric of our society.

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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 bryan.busch@thegazette.com.