How does peer pressure influence crime?
Being a teenager brings increasing responsibilities, greater demands from parents and teachers, as well as a growing awareness that life can be unfair. Teenagers are often said to be 'finding themselves' or 'testing the boundaries', both phrases that are used to help explain the changes in behaviour in the move from childhood to adulthood.
For some types of less serious offending, the peak age for criminality is 15 to 17 years. One reason that can be attributed to the rise in crime at this age is 'peer pressure'.
Peer pressure can be hard to resist. For example, some teenagers may become involved in anti-social behaviour. Attracting and keeping friends is not always easy. Bullying can occur if an individual teenager is seen to 'do as they are told all of the time'.
In interviews carried out in 2016 at Polmont Young Offenders Institute, some young offenders described the powerful effect of peers - especially the influence of older young people - while they were excluded (from school) and the sometimes rapid, escalation of substance abuse, violence and offending at that time. They spoke of the impact of broken connections with school but also with out-of-school activities and the role models and pro-social pastimes such as football, which that wider community can provide. (Children and Young People in Custody in Scotland).
Criminological theories
Criminologists disagree as to the extent of peer pressure as a factor explaining crime (some see it as less important than other factors). However, most people would agree that 'being in with the wrong crowd' or equally, 'being part of a good crowd' can affect behaviour.
*Information from the Scottish Government shows that the peak age for offending has risen in recent years with the age group aged 31 to 40 years now having the highest number of convictions per 1,000 population (18 per 1,000) in 2020-21.
