Findings reemphasized the importance of analyzing the youth gang phenomenon in specific social contexts that take into account immediate ecological factors. Locally, nongang youth have developed a capacity to adapt to the presence of gangs; variations in responses are contingent upon the geographic proximity to specific types of gangs and upon student age. Students demonstrated a critical awareness of gangs and considerable self-confidence in their ability to handle encounters with gang members. Nongang youth singled out wannabes as more prone to violence than known gang members. Findings suggest that future studies on the impact of gangs on everyday, nongang youth may produce more useful results if they use alternative conceptions and definitions of gangs and gang membership. In addition to emphasizing practical education concerning gangs, preventive programs should be directed toward middle school students; special attention must be directed toward wannabes. Finally, adolescent attitudes toward authority may represent a significant obstacle to the development of new programs. Tables and 37 references