Friendship and Delinquency: Selection and Influence Processes in Early Adolescence

Abstract

Positive association of relevant characteristics is a widespread pattern among adolescent friends. A positive association may be caused by the selection of similar others as friends and by the deselection of dissimilar ones, but also by influence processes where friends adjust their behavior to each other. Social control theory argues that adolescents select each other as friends based on delinquency. Differential association theory, on the other hand, argues that adolescent friends influence each other's delinquency levels. We employ new statistical methods for assessing the empirical evidence for either process while controlling for the other process. These methods are based on 'actor-oriented' stochastic simulation models. We analyze longitudinal data on friendship networks and delinquent behavior collected in four waves of 544 students in 21 first-grade classrooms of Dutch secondary schools. Results indicate that adolescents select others as friends who have a similar level of delinquency compared with their own level. Estimates of the social influence parameters are not significant. The results are consistent with social control theory but provide no support for differential association theory.

Predictors of Gang Involvement: A Longitudinal Analysis of Data From the Mobile Youth Survey

“…We found that higher levels of peer influence were associated with lower levels of initial gang involvement, a finding contrary to previous research that has found that increased time spent with delinquent peers not only increased the likelihood of engaging in delinquent acts (Keijsers et al, 2012) but also increased the likelihood of gang involvement (Howell & Egley, 2005). Further, delinquent children tend to seek out others who engage in delinquent acts (Knecht et al, 2010). We suspect that youths who are less involved in gangs perceive greater pressure from their peers to become involved.…”

“…Youth are at greater risk of gang involvement when other youths in the community are already in a gang (Hill et al, 1999). Increased time spent with delinquent peers increases an individual's chances of engaging in delinquent acts (Jennings, Maldonado-Molina, & Komro, 2010;Keijsers et al, 2012), and delinquent children tend to seek others who also engage in delinquent acts (Knecht, Snijders, Baerveldt, Steglich, & Raub, 2010). A predisposition to delinquent activity also increases the likelihood of gang involvement and violent delinquency (Gordon et al, 2004).…”

Sex differences in longitudinal pathways from parenting to delinquency

“…Of course, selection effects might play a role here as well. Instead of influencing each other, adolescents might select similar adolescents to socialize with, based on the level of self-control, attitudes or delinquent behavior (Chapple 2005;Knecht et al 2010).…”

Accounting for Projection Bias in Models of Delinquent Peer Influence: The Utility and Limits of Latent Variable Approaches

“…Specifically, the false consensus effect may artificially inflate the similarity that an individual perceives between his/her behavior and that of his/her associates. Thus, while studies using direct peer reports continue to yield equivocal evidence concerning whether socialization or selection better accounts for the correlation between personal and peer behavior (e.g., Kandel, 1978;Knecht et al, 2010, Weerman, 2011, they have simultaneously led some to conclude that "estimates of influence [i.e., socialization] are grossly overstated in analyses relying upon respondents' perceptions of their friends' behavior" (Aseltine, 1995:103; see also Haynie, 2001;Kandel, 1996;Meldrum et al, 2009;Weerman and Smeenk, 2005).…”