The text outlines a relationship between an antisocial peer group and criminal behavior. Drawing on the work of Andrews and Bonta (2002), describe two ways that peers can influence criminal behavior.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Ans: The influence of the peer group can come about in one of two ways:
(1) Through a relatively casual and time­limited association with delinquent peers (adolescence- limited individuals)
(2) Through a clearly indoctrinated, long-term affiliation with other antisocial youths, like membership in a street gang (life-course-persistent group)
For adolescence-limited individuals, antisocial behavior is limited, as the name implies, to the teen years. The onset of their problem behaviors is largely explained as resulting from an association with delinquent peers. These individuals experience few developmental risk factors (e.g., harsh and punitive parenting and academic problems) and include as many females as males. Their criminal behavior is typically mild in nature, involving primarily nonviolent offenses (e.g., property damage, drug use, and shoplifting) rather than violent offenses.
For the life-course-persistent group, the influence of the delinquent peer group follows a more lengthy and complex developmental pathway. These individuals tend to engage in a wide variety of antisocial acts (e.g., violence, drug use, and vandalism) referred to as versatility. They are also at particular risk for becoming chronic and serious offenders with lengthy criminal careers. Their trajectory often begins with exposure to harsh and punitive discipline practices during childhood, lack of effective parental monitoring, parental criminality or psychopathology, failure at school, and rejection by nondeviant peers.