Friendship Networks and Delinquency: The Relative Nature of Peer Delinquency

• NCJ Number: 196374
• Journal: Journal of Quantitative Criminology Volume: 18 Issue: 2 Dated: June 2002 Pages: 99-134
• Author(s): Dana L. Haynie
• Date Published: June 2002
• Length: 36 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: National Science Foundation; National Institute of Justice (NIJ)
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The article reports on a delinquency research study that incorporated actual friendship networks, allowing for a more rigorous conceptualization and measurement of peer delinquency based on clearly defined networks of adolescent friendships.

Abstract

It was found in this study that description and analysis of the friendship networks of adolescents provided unique insight into their social worlds and revealed that most adolescents belonged to friendship networks comprised of both delinquent and non-delinquent peers. By incorporating a social network approach, this project contributes to research and theory on peer influence and the transmission of delinquency via friendship networks. Indications were found that it was not the proportion of delinquent friends that was the most important influence but, rather, the homogeneity of peer influences in the network. And it was found that most adolescents were exposed to both delinquent and non-delinquent patterns and the ratio of these patterns was what influenced their behavior. It was concluded that the proportion of delinquent friends most influenced delinquency, not the absolute level of delinquency committed by the friends. It was noted that this study did not address the relative severity of the acts of delinquency involved in different networks and was unable to identify the precise causal mechanisms underlying the peer-delinquency association. In summary, it is recommended that building bridges that connect adolescents to non-delinquent others including peers, parents, neighbors, and community leaders will have the greatest potential for tilting the balance towards non-delinquent behavior by these young people. Suggested future research includes incorporating multiple dimensions of potential influence such as romantic partnerships, neighbors, siblings, and parents. Also, how peer influence varies by gender and race and incorporating the school and neighborhood context are recommended as considerations for future research. Tables, figure, references