Dr Ian Millward, principal educational psychologist in Newham, London, said gang culture is "complex and prevalent" in urban communities.
Speaking at Nacro's annual conference in Nottingham, he highlighted adolescence as a time when children begin to experiment with the kind of person they are.
But he warned that if controls during that stage are too rigid it can risk them trying to find freedom elsewhere. "I struggle with the attitudes of some secondary schools," he said.
"Adolescence is a time when most young people are experimenting with the kind of person they want to be but it is a time when they crack down on allowing experiments because of fear and anxiety.
"When this isn't allowed, gangs are very quick to empower young people who are disaffected or don't feel safe," he added.
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