Companions in Crime
The Social Aspects of Criminal Conduct

The principal thesis of Companions in Crime is that deviant behavior is predominantly social behavior.

Mark Warr (Author)

9780521009164, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 18 February 2002

192 pages, 18 b/w illus. 1 table
22.8 x 15.5 x 1.4 cm, 0.29 kg

"Warr examines key questions concerning the relationship between peer influence and delinquent/criminal behavior. He develops in a systematic and sophisticated fashion concepts and relationships used to explain delinquency.... An excellent bibliography rounds out this valuable contribution. All levels and collections." Choice

Criminologists often allude to 'peer influence' in explanations of crime and delinquency, but the meaning of that concept rarely receives careful attention. Companions in Crime organizes the extensive literature on peer influence and group delinquency into a coherent form for the first time. Chapters focus on the role of peers over the life course, the group nature of delinquent behavior, and the applicability of peer influence for explaining the major features of delinquent behavior. The most extensive chapter of the book examines possible mechanisms of peer influence and the evidence in favor of each. The principal thesis of Companions in Crime is that deviant behavior is predominantly social behavior, and criminologists must eventually determine the significance of that fact.

1. Introduction
2. Peers in the life course
3. The group character of crime and delinquency
4. Peers and delinquent conduct
5. Applying peer explanations of delinquency
6. Conclusion.

Subject Areas: Criminal or forensic psychology [JMK], Social, group or collective psychology [JMH], Social theory [JHBA]