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Impulsivity, Peers, and Delinquency: A Dynamic Social Network Approach
Daniel T Ragan1, D Wayne Osgood2, Derek A Kreager2
1University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
Journal of Quantitative Criminology
|May 8, 2026
Summary
Adolescent impulsivity and delinquency are linked through peer influence and selection. High impulsivity increases selection of delinquent peers but decreases susceptibility to peer influence on behavior.
Area of Science:
- Criminology
- Social Network Analysis
- Developmental Psychology
Background:
- Peer delinquency and self-control are key factors in adolescent behavior.
- Understanding the interplay between impulsivity, peers, and delinquency is crucial for intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the network pathways linking impulsivity, peer influence, and delinquency in adolescents.
- To develop and test dynamic network models integrating these interconnected processes.
Main Methods:
- Longitudinal social network analysis of over 14,000 students from Pennsylvania and Iowa.
- Utilizing data from the PROSPER partnership model evaluation.
Main Results:
- Evidence of both peer influence and homophilic selection for impulsivity and delinquency.
- Peer impulsivity influences individual delinquency, but not vice versa.
- Adolescent impulsivity moderates peer influence and selection, increasing selection of delinquent peers but decreasing susceptibility to peer influence.
Conclusions:
- A holistic network framework is essential for understanding peer, impulsivity, and delinquency dynamics.
- Large datasets are valuable for detecting selection processes in friendship networks.
- Findings highlight the complex, bidirectional relationships in adolescent social networks.
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