Reflected appraisals across multiple reference groups: Discrepancies in self and individual delinquency

Thomas, Karen A.; O’Neill, Jennifer

doi:10.1016/j.ssresearch.2021.102613

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…Warr (1993) argued that there is a recognition that what is permissible in one group (e.g., stealing) may not be appropriate in another. Thomas and O'Neill (2021) drew on symbolic interactionist principles to assess how competing identities across reference groups influences individuals' behavioral tendencies. They found that when individuals had competing views of themselves in different reference groups-for example, identities as "conforming" with parents but a "rule violator" with friends-people offended less frequently when compared to individuals who held identities consistent with rule violation across both reference groups.…”

Section: Contextual Specificitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A central characteristic of deviance in this tradition, then, is the idea that it depends on the social context, namely, on a reference group, that provides the norms to which a person's behavior either is compliant or deviant. Individuals can have multiple reference groups that emphasize different normative standards (Thomas and O’Neill 2021). Indeed, Warr (1993) described deviant peers as providing a potentially alternate moral universe where moral codes and acceptable behaviors are relative to each specific group.…”

Section: Explanations For Contextual Generality and Specificitymentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Contextual Generality of Crime: Workplace and Street Crime

Nguyen

McNealey

Thomas

2023

Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency

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Objectives: We examine whether individuals engage in crime across a variety of different settings (contextual generality). Specifically, we assess whether individuals who engage in workplace crime will engage in street crime and whether certain individuals have a greater tendency to engage in workplace crime relative to street crime. We are guided by trait-based theories, learning theories, and strain theories to guide our expectations related to the contextual generality of criminal behavior. Methods: We analyze data from the National Youth Survey and conduct multinomial logistic regressions, item response theory, and ordinary least squares regressions. We supplement this with the Youth Development Survey and the Pathways to Desistance Study. Results: There is a small overlap between workplace crime and street crime. Participation in each context is related to context-specific perceived coworker/peer disapproval and deviant workplace definitions. There is a tendency for some respondents to specialize in workplace crime relative to street crime. Conclusions: Contextual generality in criminal behavior is a fruitful avenue to study theoretical debates between theories of population heterogeneity and theories that allow for specific types of offending. More studies are needed to extend this line of inquiry.

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Section: Contextual Specificitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Explanations For Contextual Generality and Specificitymentioning

confidence: 99%