NCJ Number
141019
Journal
Deviant Behavior Volume: 13 Issue: 1 Dated: (1992) Pages: 73-98
Date Published
1992
Length
15 pages
Annotation
The research presented in this article reports on the impact of informal peer sanctions in potential drunk driving situations.
Abstract
Data were obtained using self-administered questionnaires distributed in the fall of 1988 to a sample of 195 introductory sociology students at a southwestern university with a student population of 18,000. The age of respondents ranged from 17 to 60 years; 54 percent were under 21, 30 percent were between 21 and 25, and 16 percent were 26 and above. Respondents were asked to indicate the number of times they attempted to intervene in a potentially dangerous drinking and driving situation. Of the respondents, 83 percent indicated they had tried to intervene, and 81 percent of the attempts were successful. They were most likely to intervene in situations involving friends, and most reported interventions at parties, bars, or nightclubs, in contrast to home or work. Direct and assertive intervention techniques were most successful. 24 references and 6 tables