2014/07/25 by DANIEL T. RAGAN, Daniel T. Ragan · 11 citations
Social Sciences · Medicine · #Crime Patterns and Interventions #Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes #Crime, Illicit Activities, and Governance
paper · doi:10.1111/1745-9125.12044
deviant behavior is socially transmitted remain unresolved. In particular, much of the research examining peer influence is limited to peer behavior, despite a rich literature supporting the salience of beliefs, such as expectations and moral approval, in shaping behaviors. The current study takes advantage of advances in the modeling of peer influence and selection processes to re-examine the contributions of peer beliefs and behaviors to adolescent drinking. I employ longitudinal social network analysis to examine how peers contribute to the complex interplay between deviant beliefs and behaviors. I find evidence that beliefs related to peer drinking have both a direct and indirect impact on behavior and also play an important role in the friendship selection process. These results highlight the importance of understanding how peers influence deviant behavior and suggest that peer beliefs are an important part of this relationship.