Social networks and aggressive behavior: Peer support or peer rejection?

Cairns, Robert B.; Cairns, Beverley D.; Neckerman, Holly J.; Gest, Scott D.; Gariépy, Jean

doi:10.1037/0012-1649.24.6.815

Cited by 790 publications

(631 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…More contemporary work indicate, however, that the connections between girls, delinquency and peers are more complex than previously assumed (Giordano, 2009). These studies demonstrate, in contrast to early notions, that delinquent females indeed participate in peer groups and that peer relationships are important for both delinquent and nondelinquent females (e.g., Cairns, Cairns, Neckerman, Gest, & Gariepy, 1988;Demuth, 2004;Giordano, Cernkovich, & Pugh, 1986;Haynie, 2001Haynie, , 2002Vásquez & Zimmerman, 2014). For example, it has been demonstrated that, similar to other adolescents, delinquent females establish meaningful, high-quality friendships and often identify at least one close friend whom they trust (Cairns & Cairns, 1994).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adolescent Female Offenders’ Subjective Experiences of How Peers Influence Norm-Breaking Behavior

Azad

Hau

Karlsson

2017

Child Adolesc Soc Work J

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Delinquent peers have a strong influence on adolescent delinquent behavior. However, few studies have investigated adolescents', and in particular young females', own perspectives of the role of peers on their delinquent behavior. The purpose of the present study was to explore how young female offenders described their delinquent behavior and more specifically the role they assign to peer relations in committing or avoiding delinquent acts. Nine female adolescents, sentenced to youth service, were interviewed, and the data was analyzed using the Consensual Qualitative Research (CQR) method. The results showed that committing crimes and taking drugs with peers were portrayed as a way for the female delinquents to socialize. Delinquent and pro-social activities with peers appear to serve similar developmental functions in the sense that it is described to fulfill the same developmental needs. The young offenders also described collectively created pressures and norms in the peer group as the main contributing factor to their norm-breaking behavior, where they described being both recipients and producers of influence in the group. Another important finding was that the female offenders showed an awareness of the importance of pro-social peers and the need to eliminate delinquent friends from their peer network in order to help them refrain from deviant behavior. Implications for prevention and intervention are discussed.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adolescent Female Offenders’ Subjective Experiences of How Peers Influence Norm-Breaking Behavior

Azad

Hau

Karlsson

2017

Child Adolesc Soc Work J

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“…This process of selective affiliation, known as homophily, likely happens via multiple mechanisms (Cairns, Cairns, Neckerman, Gest, & Gariepy, 1988;Espelage, Holt, & Henkel, 2003). On the one hand, because children generally prefer to play with peers who are similar to them, aggressive youngsters may actively seek out and form relationships with aggressive peers.…”

Section: Homophilymentioning

confidence: 99%

Exposure to Externalizing Peers in Early Childhood: Homophily and Peer Contagion Processes

Hanish

Martin

Fabes

et al. 2005

J Abnorm Child Psychol

122

138

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Guided by a transactional model, we examined the predictors and effects of exposure to externalizing peers in a low-risk sample of preschoolers and kindergarteners. On the basis of daily observations of peer interactions, we calculated measures of total exposure to externalizing peers and measures of exposure to same-and other-sex externalizing peers. Analyses of predictors of externalizing peer exposure supported a homophily hypothesis for girls. Tests of peer contagion effects varied by sex, and exposure to externalizing peers predicted multiple problem behaviors for girls but not for boys. Sex differences were a function of children's own sex, but not of peers' sex. The study provides evidence of externalizing peer exposure effects in a low-risk sample of young children, notably for girls.Keywords peer exposure; externalizing behavior; sex differences; early childhoodThe title of our paper reflects the possibility that exposure to peers can affect who we are and what we become. Support for this idea has been generated by studies showing that peers have the potential to be powerful influences on the development of problem behaviors. For example, as aggressive adolescents interact with their peers, they reinforce deviant communication and interaction patterns, thereby encouraging each other to engage in more antisocial and delinquent behaviors (Dishion, Spracklen, Andrews, & Patterson, 1996). That this effect can be seen in naturally occurring peer groups (e.g., mutual friendships), as well as contrived ones (e.g., intervention groups), suggests that this is not simply a function of selection bias. Instead, this appears to be due to a more fundamental peer process in which exposure to aggressive peers socializes negative behaviors.In this study, we extended this line of research in several ways. The primary aim was to consider peer exposure processes in early childhood, focusing on the mechanisms that bring some young children into greater contact with relatively more externalizing peers and the consequences of such peer exposure for young children. To address these issues, we drew on a transactional model, and we considered the roles of children's own and peers' gender. Our secondary aims were methodological. We examined externalizing peer exposure processes in a sample of young children who were at low risk for the development of antisocial behavior. Doing so allowed us to consider the universality of peer exposure processes (Luthar & Becker, 2002;Sroufe, 1990). Additionally, we introduced a new strategy for studying peer exposure effects.3 Address all correspondence to Laura Hanish at Department of Family and Human Development, Arizona State University, Box 872502, Tempe, Arizona 85287-2502; e-mail: laura.hanish@asu.edu.. 2 Contributed equally to the conceptualization of this project. NIH Public Access NIH-PA Author ManuscriptNIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript A Transactional Model of Externalizing Peer Exposure in Early ChildhoodA central question in this work is a developmental one;...

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“…offending surveys of young people, it has become evident that both boys and girls are frequently involved in incidents which would fit the definition of violent criminal offences (see for example Cairns et al 1988;Whitney and Smith 1993;Aye Maung 1995;Graham and Bowling 1995;Kershaw et al 2000). The hitherto neglected area of girls' violence is also now receiving research attention (see Campbell 1984Campbell , 1986Phillips 1994;Archer 1998;Davies 1999;Batchelor, Burman and Brown 2001).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Who's Who in the Pecking Order?: Aggression and 'Normal Violence' in the Lives of Girls and Boys

Phillips¹

2003

British Journal of Criminology

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Recent research has focused on the aggression and violence experienced by young people in local schools and neighbourhoods. Self-report bullying, victimisation and offending studies have documented the pervasive nature of this violence in the lives of young people and the legitimacy that it has. This paper explores some emergent themes in this research which spans different disciplines, also drawing heavily on the findings from a small, exploratory study of girls' violence. The discussion centres on the social context of aggression and violence, the functionality of such behaviour, and its normalisation in adolescent life. The paper concludes by examining the implications of this body of work for theory, policy and practice.

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Social networks and aggressive behavior: Peer support or peer rejection?

Cited by 790 publications

References 29 publications

Adolescent Female Offenders’ Subjective Experiences of How Peers Influence Norm-Breaking Behavior

Adolescent Female Offenders’ Subjective Experiences of How Peers Influence Norm-Breaking Behavior

Exposure to Externalizing Peers in Early Childhood: Homophily and Peer Contagion Processes

Who's Who in the Pecking Order?: Aggression and 'Normal Violence' in the Lives of Girls and Boys

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