Gangs

1. Gangs Is it an issue?

2. What is a gang? Gang: people who form groups closed to the general public, for certain common business or nonprofit purposes that may include violent criminal activity Gang experts say at least 21,500 gangs - with more than 731,000 members - are active nationwide.

3. What’s the issue? Teens in gangs are more likely to commit violent crimes Factors: poverty, divorced families, alcohol and drug abuse, family history of gang involvement, an "us against them" mentality, previous violent and anti-social behavior.

4. Groupthink Groupthink is a term developed by Irving Janis, a psychologist. It describes a process that happens to groups that cause them to make bad or irrational decisions. Members conform their own ideas to create group consensus.

5. Groupthink • Illusion of invulnerability • Unquestioned belief in morality of the group • Rationalization of group's decisions • Shared stereotypes of non-group members, particularly opponents • Illusion of unanimity • Self-censorship; members withhold criticisms • Self-appointed "mindguards" protect the group from negative information • Direct pressure on dissenters to conform