Lit Review
I.
Research questions:
a. Do adolescents commit delinquent acts because of peer influence?
b. Does the type of friendship group play a role in adolescent delinquency?
c. Do the size of friendship groups have an impact on adolescent delinquency?
i. Dependent concept: Juvenile Delinquency is the participation in illegal
acts by minors.
ii.
Acts that constitute juvenile delinquency include: alcohol use,
petty theft, etc.
1. Dataset that will be used: PROSPER Peers
II.
Describe the Theory
a. Differential Association Theory (Edwin Sutherland): Focuses less on why
individuals become criminals and more on how individuals learn to become
criminals.
i. Sutherland wanted to use this theory as a universal explanation of criminal
behavior that would identify those conditions that were always present
when crime was present and always absent otherwise (Matsueda 2001).
ii. Three concepts that surround Differential Association Theory:
1. Normative Conflict – Sutherland hypothesized that high crimes
rate are rooted in normative conflict. He defines normative conflict
as a society segmented into groups that conflict over the definition
of appropriate behavior
2. Differential Association – Criminal behavior is learned in a
process of communication in intimate groups.
3. Differential Group Organization – The crime rate of a group or
society is determined by the extent to which that group or society
is organized against crime versus organized in favor of crime.
iii. Focuses on the interactions and communication between adolescent
individuals and explains that the learning of criminal behavior occurs
within personal groups
III.
The size of a friendship group directly effects juvenile delinquency
a. Previous research on this topic such as “Routine Activities and Individual Deviant
Behavior” conducted by Osgood et al. proposes that situations conducive to
deviance are prevalent in unstructured socializing activities especially when they
occur in the absence of authority figures.
i. In large friendship networks, there are more opportunities to partake in
unstructured activities (i.e. drinking, drugs) because with more members
there are more resources (i.e. locations to “hang out”).
ii. Based on this and the article above, I hypothesize that due to an abundance
of opportunities (in activities), adolescents who are part of larger
friendship networks are more likely to be delinquent.
b. Additional research that analyzes the size of friendship groups and its effect on
juvenile delinquency is “Delinquency and the Structure of Adolescent Peer
Groups” conducted by Derek A. Kreager, James Moody and Kelly Rulison.
i. This study found that drinking seems to be positively associated with
group cohesion. From this, one can assume that there may be associations
between group cohesion and other delinquent acts, such as petty theft, as
well.
ii. Based on the above research, I hypothesize that due to a high level of trust
(or group cohesion), adolescents who are part of smaller friendship
networks are more likely to be delinquent.
iii. Will indicate to readers that we do not intend for the above hypothesis to
fit/relate with the one that states larger friendship groups are more likely to
be delinquent.
IV.
The size of a friendship group effects the type of friendship group (close or not) which
effects juvenile delinquency
a. Previous research conducted on this topic suggests that peer influence plays a
major role in the formation friendship networks and adolescents select friends
who are similar to themselves. (Osgood et al.)
i. In addition, previous literature also proposes that crime is a collective
behavior and juvenile delinquency is no different (Marr, 58).
ii. Based on this research, I hypothesize that friendship groups that are not
close are less likely to be delinquent.
V.
Within peer networks, the delinquency of friends has an effect on juvenile delinquency
a. Previous research completed on this topic resulted in mixed findings; however, in
the study “Peers and the Emergence of Alcohol Use: Influence and Selection
Processes in Adolescent Friendship Networks” Osgood et al. found a relatively
strong influence.
i. The evidence they found suggests that adolescents’ drinking has an
important influence on their friends’ drinking. In addition, they found that
individuals had a tendency to select friends who were similar to oneself
(Osgood et al.).
ii. Based on these conclusions that demonstrate the importance of peer
influence within friendship networks, I hypothesize that adolescents who
have friends that are delinquent are more likely to be delinquent.
VI.
Conclusion
a. Research problem: What is the effect of friendship/peer networks on juvenile
delinquency?
b. Hypotheses:
i. Adolescents who have friends that are delinquent are more likely to be
delinquent
ii. Due to a high level of trust, adolescents part of smaller friendship
networks are more likely to be delinquent
iii. Due to an abundance of opportunities (in activities), adolescents part of
larger friendship networks are more likely to be delinquent
iv. Friendship groups that are not close are less likely to be delinquent
Bibliography
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