INTEGRATING OFFENDING VERSATILITY INTO THE BALANCE PERSPECTIVE OF PEER INFLUENCE

Abstract

The balance perspective advocates for scholars to consider peer influence as both reciprocal and relative, asserting that adolescents will alter their behavior when there is an imbalance in delinquency with a peer. McGloin (2009) found support for balance when applied to frequency of offending. There is reason to suspect that this drive for behavioral homeostasis should emerge with regard to an adolescent’s offending versatility, as well. This thesis uses the AddHealth data to explore whether adolescent alter their offending versatility to achieve behavioral “balance” with a best friend, and friendship stability moderates this relationship. The results provide support for the balance perspective and suggest that respondents alter their offending versatility to become more similar to their best friend over time.