Conformity and Individual Offending

• In Event: Poster Session I

Abstract

This paper examines the influence of the general tendency to conform on individual offending behaviour. It also aims to point out the lack of literature testing conformity on deviant acts. The analysis presented by the current study implies that a general tendency to conform is not related to individual offending (p=0.91) in a sample of 512 undergraduate students collected over the course of two waves of survey data from three universities in North America. The tendency to conform does not have a significant relationship with individual offending even when interacting with the importance of friendships and perceived criminal behaviour of peers. However, the ability to exercise self-control (b=-0.16 p=0.00), selection of criminal friends (b=0.08 p=0.02), and perceived criminal behaviour of peers (b=0.09 p=0.02) are found to be related to offending. Potential reasons for these results along with suggestions for future research analyzing peer influence and conformity are discussed.

Authors

• Ashley Lauren Ryan, University of Waterloo

• Owen Gallupe, University of Waterloo