A Qualitative Test of Deviant Modeling

• In Event: Qualitative and Quantitative Research on Intimate Partner Violence, Interpersonal Violence, Peer Influence, and Deviant Modeling

Abstract

The relationship between peer deviance and individual deviance is among the most well-established in criminology. However, the literature has been largely unable to determine whether peers have a causal influence on personal deviance. To examine the effect of deviant peer behavior on theft, we conducted a randomized control experiment among a sample of approximately 350 undergraduate students in which peer offending was manipulated. This paper presents the results of qualitative interviews conducted after session debriefs in which participants were asked about their behavior during the session. Specifically, participants were queried about their perceptions regarding the actions of research confederates, and whether or not the confederates’ actions influenced their own behavior. Participants who committed theft nearly universally cited peer influence as directly contributing to deviant behavior. These participants also cited the notion that they felt cheated out of a full reward for participation as contributing to stealing. Those who did not steal tended to cite personal values, risk/reward calculations, not feeling significant enough pressure from confederates, fear the lab possibly had surveillance equipment, greater interest in participation than personal gain, and suspicion regarding the true objective of the study.

Authors

• Patrick C. Lalonde, University of Waterloo

• Owen Gallupe, University of Waterloo

• Holly Nguyen, Pennsylvania State University

• Jennifer L. Schulenberg, University of Waterloo