CrimSavvy: Birds of a Feather: Why Delinquent Friends Matter in Crime

Who you hang out with matters — a lot. In this video, we explore how peer influence shapes delinquency, why criminologists must control for delinquent peers in their models, and what major theories say about the mechanisms behind “birds of a feather” behavior.

Foundational Theories of Peer Influence
Differential Association Theory

Sutherland, E. H. (1947). Principles of criminology (4th ed.). J. B. Lippincott.
Sutherland, E. H., Cressey, D. R., & Luckenbill, D. F. (1992). Principles of criminology. Altamira Press.
• Explains how criminal behavior is learned through interaction with others.

Social Learning Theory

Akers, R. L. (1998). Social learning and social structure: A general theory of crime and deviance. Northeastern University Press.
Akers, R. (2017). Social learning and social structure: A general theory of crime and deviance. Routledge.
• Expands on Sutherland’s ideas by incorporating reinforcement, modeling, and definitions.

Social Bond (Control) Theory

Hirschi, T. (1969). Causes of delinquency. University of California Press.
• Argues that strong social bonds reduce the likelihood of deviance.

Group Contagion / Network Models

Haynie, D. L. (2001). Delinquent peers revisited: Does network structure matter? American Journal of Sociology, 106(4), 1013–1057. https://doi.org/10.1086/320298
• Demonstrates how peer network structures influence delinquent behavior.

Labeling and Identity Theories

Matsueda, R. L. (1992). Reflected appraisals, parental labeling, and delinquency: Specifying a symbolic interactionist theory. American Journal of Sociology, 97(6), 1577–1611. https://doi.org/10.1086/229940
• Shows how peer and parental labeling shape identity and behavior.

Empirical Findings on Peer Influence (& Model Misspecification)
Importance of Controlling for Delinquent Peers

Gottfredson, M. R., & Hirschi, T. (1990). A general theory of crime. Stanford University Press.
• Notes how failure to control for peer effects risks confounding causal explanations of delinquency.

Warr, M. (2002). Companions in crime: The social aspects of criminal conduct. Cambridge University Press.
• Provides detailed empirical evidence on how peers influence offending, including selection vs. socialization.

Thornberry, T. P., Lizotte, A. J., Krohn, M. D., Farnworth, M., & Jang, S. J. (1994). Delinquent peers, beliefs, and delinquent behavior: A longitudinal test of interactional theory. Criminology, 32(1), 47–83. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-9125.1994.tb01146.x
• Shows the reciprocal relationship between delinquent peers and behavior over time.