The Interaction Between Negative Peer Influence and Short-Term Mindsets in Adolescent Delinquency: A Systematic Literature Review

• In Event: Contexts, social media and virtual reality: Novel approaches to studying peer offending

Abstract

Being surrounded by delinquent peers is one of the most robust risk factors for delinquency, particularly during adolescence. Still, not all adolescents are equally susceptible to peer influence, with some being more vulnerable than others. This raises the central question: What could explain this variability? According to the Short-Term Mindsets Theory (STMT, van Gelder and Frankenhuis, 2024), a present-oriented mindset focused on immediate rewards rather than long-term consequences (i.e., short-term mindsets) lies at the centre of previously identified individual differences (e.g., self-control or impulsivity) linked to crime. Unlike traditional trait-based theories, STMT emphasizes the dynamic nature of short-term mindsets, which fluctuate based on situational and environmental contexts. Under this framework, we reason that trait short-term mindsets could interact with delinquent peers to predict individual’s delinquency.

This systematic literature review uses an extensive search across four databases to examine associations among peer influence, resistance to peer influence, short-term mindsets, and adolescent delinquency. Only peer-reviewed primary studies published in English, involving non-clinical populations and employing quantitative, observational, or mixed-method designs, will be included. Specifically, the review addresses one primary objective: the associations between peer influence, trait short-term mindsets, and delinquency by examining (a) whether STMs moderate the relationship between negative peer influence and delinquent behavior, and (b) whether STMs affect adolescents' likelihood of associating with delinquent peers. The findings will both inform future directions in peer research and the development of the STMT.

Authors

• Linda Rosar, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law

• Yikang Zhang, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law

• Jean-Louis van Gelder, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law