BFF in the making: examining peer selection and influence processes in the context of cheating behavior
Year: 2025
Type: preprint
Abstract: Objectives. Peer effects are a perennial and central topic in criminological research. While prior research has demonstrated that exposure to deviant peers increases the likelihood of delinquency, the current study aims to examine how selection and influence intersect and the beyond-the-situation consequences of delinquent peer associations. Method. In two online experiments (N1 = 292; N2 = 299) using a novel paradigm that combines experimental manipulation of peer influence and multiple decisions regarding peer selection, participants played an investment game that allowed participants to cheat, alongside a peer who was either honest or dishonest. Results. participants were more likely to cheat when paired with a dishonest peer, and this effect was amplified when the peer actively encouraged cheating. Moreover, individuals selectively aligned themselves with peers whose behavior mirrored their own dispositions—patterns that persisted even in the absence of material incentives. Notably, even brief exposure to dishonest peers had lingering effects on behavior. Greater exposure to delinquent peers led to more cheating in subsequent individual settings. Conclusion. These findings highlight the connection between peer influence and peer selection and underscore the importance of jointly considering individual dispositions, social influence, and social contexts in the study of delinquent behavior.
Source: MPG.PuRe (Max Planck Society)
Authors: Zhang, Y., Van Gelder, J.
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7140256198