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14 Peers and Delinquency: A Genetically Informed, Developmentally Sensitive Perspective

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The Development of Criminal and Antisocial Behavior

Abstract

Deviant peer affiliation (DPA) has been shown to be one of the strongest predictors of delinquent behavior in children and adolescents. However, the role of DPA may differ depending on the type of delinquent behavior considered (i.e., overt vs. covert delinquency) and participants’ developmental stage (i.e., childhood vs. adolescence). The role of DPA may also vary depending on individuals’ genetic disposition for delinquent behavior. This chapter reviews the literature from quantitative (i.e., behavioral) genetic studies and from molecular genetic studies (1) to determine whether DPA is genetically influenced and (2) to examine its contribution to overt or covert delinquency according to a Selection, a Socialization, or an Interactional perspective. The conclusion raises a number of methodological and conceptual issues that need to be addressed in future research.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychoeducation, University of Montreal, C.P. 6128, Succ. Centre-Ville, Montreal, QC, Canada, H3C 3J7

    Frank Vitaro

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Quebec in Montreal, CP 8888, Succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, QC, Canada, H3C 3P8

    Mara Brendgen

  3. Department of Sociology and School of Criminology, University of Montreal, C.P. 6128, Succ. Centre-Ville, Montreal, QC, Canada, H3C 3J7

    Eric Lacourse

Authors
  1. Frank Vitaro
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  2. Mara Brendgen
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  3. Eric Lacourse
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Frank Vitaro .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychoeducation, University of Montreal, Montreal, Québec, Canada

    Julien Morizot

  2. Department of Sociology, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY, New York, New York, USA

    Lila Kazemian

Recommended Readings

Recommended Readings

  • Bates, T. C. & Lewis, G. J. (2012). Towards a genetically informed approach in the social sciences: Strengths and an opportunity. Personality and Individual Differences, 53, 374–380.

  • Brendgen, M. (2012). Genetics and peer relations: A review. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 22, 419–437.

  • Freese, J. (2008). Genetics and the social science explanation of individual outcomes. American Journal of Sociology, 114, S1–S35.

  • Kendler, K. S., Jaffee, S., & Romer, D. (2011). The dynamic genome and mental health: The role of genes and environments in youth development. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

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Vitaro, F., Brendgen, M., Lacourse, E. (2015). 14 Peers and Delinquency: A Genetically Informed, Developmentally Sensitive Perspective. In: Morizot, J., Kazemian, L. (eds) The Development of Criminal and Antisocial Behavior. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-08720-7_14

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