CRM/LAW C109 Chapter Notes - Chapter 9: Peer Pressure, Anomie, Intergang
16 Jun 2018
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Chapter 9: Peers and delinquency
I. Adolescent peer relations
A. Peer relations and delinquency
1. Unstructured socializing related to delinquency for three reasons
a) Adolescents are exposed to delinquent peers without parental
controls
b) Exposure to delinquent peers affects the extent to which
adolescents perceive temptations to engage in delinquency
c) Exposure to delinquent peers affect adolescents tolerance for
substance abuse
2. Deviancy training
a) Close friends reinforce deviant behavior through talk and
interaction
b) Sensation seekers more likely to be influenced by friends than
passive teens
3. Romantic love
a) More frequent contact with their romantic partner
b) Argue more and more verbal conflict
c) Deterrent effect that encourages fight who have offended to
decrease their involvement
B. Impact of peer relations
1. Explanations for peer-delinquency link
a) Peer pressure can lead to delinquency
b) Peer relations controlled by flawed perceptions
c) Peer relations controlled by selecting similar friends
d) Troubled kids choose delinquent peers out of necessity than
desire
e) Labels and stigma control peer interaction
2. Do they really flock together
a) Many also hang out with youth who are not delinquent
b) Having delinquent friends increase social benefits
II. Youth gangs
A. What are gangs
1. Groups of youth who engage in delinquent behaviors
2. Gang delinquency
a) Long lived institutions that have distinct structure and organization
3. Group delinquency
a) Short lived alliance created to commit a particular crime
4. Gangs is an interstitial group (group that fills a crack in the social fabric
and maintains standard group practices)
5. Members have self recognition of their gang status
6. There is commitment to criminal activity
B. How do gangs develop
