Delinquent Peers and Drift: Assessing Between- and Within-Individual Differences in Deviant Peer Thresholds

• In Event: Group Processes and Crime: New Insights on Gangs, Peers and Co-offending

Abstract

Matza (1964) embraced Sutherland’s idea that delinquent affiliations play a prominent role in one’s willingness to deviate from social norms. Through a process called “conversion”, there is a relative threshold in the exposure to delinquent peers at which individuals become willing to engage in delinquent conduct (e.g., an individual will deviate once 50% or more of their friends do). According to Matza, this threshold is likely to vary both between- and within-individuals. There are between-individual differences in the affinity or propensity to commit crime, resulting in some individuals requiring more delinquent peers before being willing to deviate. Within-individuals, there are crime-type differences in the factors that restrain behavior (e.g., delinquent attitudes), resulting in a higher delinquent peer threshold for some crime-types compared to others. Using two data sources, this study assesses susceptibility to peer influence by examining between- and within-individual differences in the proportion of deviant peers necessary to commit crime. The results offer insight into the complex ways in which offending behavior is influenced by peers.

Authors

• Kyle Thomas, University of Missouri - St. Louis

• Timothy McCuddy, University of Missouri - St. Louis