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Peer Influence
Adolescents were incited apiece due to the dynamic construct of brain systems
easily and are involved in delinquent acts (Ciranka & van den Bos, 2019). The research
of Gruber and Fandakova (2021) indicated adolescents consisted of a high curiosity level
with surroundings. Adolescents’ sustainable brain development ameliorate the peer
influence and pressure into growth development. Development of ‘social brain’, and
other models stressed on the relatively slow maturation of cognitive control systems.
Adolescents were to be more influenced by peers due to the immaturity of cognitive
control system. Connection with delinquent peers paradoxically heightened the
probability of juvenile delinquency. Yusuf et al. (2021) evinced delinquent peer influence
promoted delinquent impulses. Out of curiosity, adolescents imitated the single same-
gendered unfamiliar peers’ risky decision-making, though the behavior is not likely to be
socially rewarded (Riedijk & Harakeh, 2017).
The stress or strains spread by peers to encourage the duplication of

uncomfortable acts (Dhull & Beniwal, 2017) was conspicuous in the generation.
Adolescents’ actions and beliefs were shaped to align with peers’ opinions and behaviors
as a specific response to the pressure to further engage in delinquent behaviors (Yusuf et
al., 2021). Laursen and Baur (2022) claimed that perceived gaps between peer-group
norms and individual behavior guided the adolescents’ future conformity behavior. The
spread of delinquent peers’ cultures normalized the peer group culture and inclination of
committing juvenile delinquency. As a coercive social contingency, peer rejection that
elicited environmental response to the adolescents’ behavior. People who were excluded
and hurt against by peer members, including overt forms of control, exclusion, and more
subtle ways were inclined to the group orders. In the experiment, Davis and Allen (2021)
proved that social rejection by peers acts as a social stressor that increases a tendency to
react aggressively among children. Yusuf et al (2021) further implicated the fear of
isolation drove people to join a peer group, and indulging in delinquent acts, especially
the withdrawal from peers. The time spent and attachment with peers contributed to the
adolescents’ engagement of delinquent acts.
Considerable evidence supports the hypothesis that peer relationships influence

the growth of problem behavior in youth. Developmental research consistently
documents the high levels of covariation between peer and youth deviance, even
controlling for selection effects. Ironically, the most common public interventions for
deviant youth involve segregation from mainstream peers and aggregation into settings
with other deviant youth. Developmental research on peer influence suggests that desired
positive effects of group interventions in education, mental health, juvenile justice, and
community programming may be offset by deviant peer influences in these settings.
Given the public health policy issues raised by these findings, there is a need to better
understand the conditions under which these peer contagion effects are most pronounced
with respect to intervention foci and context, the child's developmental level, and specific
strategies for managing youth behavior in groups.
Juvenile individuals undergo significant physical, cognitive, and psychosocial
growth, which makes them more susceptible to influence from their social relationships
(Fitzgerald et al., 2012). As adolescents grow older, the influence of parents in their lives
tends to diminish, with peers taking on a more prominent role (Franjić, 2020; Kopf &
Anderson, 2019). An individual conceivably lingers longer time with peers plausibly
influence individuals’ perceptions and involvement in juvenile delinquency (Utržan et al.,
2018). Yu et al (2021) and Ciranka et al (2019) agreed that the deviant peer influence
may increase delinquent behaviors and risk-taking behaviors. Opposingly, Desrosiers and
colleagues (2016) reported a delinquent act such as drug-usage began in humans’ early
life, delinquent acts were not related with peers’ existence in one’s life. Some researchers
claimed to collect more meticulous evidence for allowing greater confidence of the peer
influences (Yusuf et al., 2021). Past studies are limited to indicate ways of peer pressure
that would be perceived by adolescents in juvenile delinquency (Ramasamy et al., 2020).
Ukyawi et al. (2017) perception of peer pressure is an institution that influences

students' behavior by encouraging them to engage with wrongdoings that cause them to
rebel. The author said that peer pressure significantly impacts students as they see their
peers as someone they can look up to. It implies that peer pressure
affects students based on who they associate themselves with. The effect of peer pressure
can reflect on how they want to act. For instance, the study conducted by
Ukyawi et al. (2017) determined that one of the causes of substance abuse is peer
pressure on students. The researchers discussed how important it is to be associated
with peers that would guide them to make better decisions to improve their behavior.
According to Mahmood et al. (2017) and Damm (2018), peer pressure is

defined as a subjective or actual experience of feeling pressured by others to do
things teens do not want to do. Although each author agrees that peer pressure can be
good and destructive, their perception focuses on the adverse
effects on the child . This could lead to a lot of impacts, including
underachievement. Due to this information, the authors found out that when pupils
reach adolescence, they are likely to be exposed to similar types of peer connections
and similar peer pressures and levels of compliance. Peer pressure can lead to
psychological issues that hinder the growth of interpersonal relationships. Peer
pressure impacts children's relationships with their parents, family, and society.
Peer pressure affects their future, including their employment and marital life.
ACCAP (2018) and ReachOut (n.d.) states that peer pressure usually happens
When childn worry about fitting in with others. Peer groups' influence on how
individuals think, and act is referred to as "peer pressure." It can vary into various
levels of the child's peers. It can be seeking approval or one of the possible reasons
for a child resulting in bullying. The article also states that peer pressure is well-
known for its negative consequences, such as alcohol, smoking, and drugs. They
determine how students are impacted; it might be through their circle of friends,
people they meet online, or any social media platforms. However, the article also
discussed that peer pressure's beneficial side effects include a sense of belonging
and support, as well as greater self-confidence. Positive hobbies and interests are
introduced, reinforcing positive behaviors and attitudes. Meanwhile, it can result in
the following adverse effects for a child: peer pressure to use alcohol, cigarettes, or
drugs, peer pressure to engage in risk-taking behaviors, a diversion from academics,
distancing between family and existing friends, and abrupt changes in behavior and
views.
Substance Abuse
There are two direct relationships between delinquency and substance abuse. The
first one is that substance abuse often leads to delinquency, and the second one is that
criminal behavior could most likely lead to the use of drugs in adolescents. As such, the
existing research shows that the continued use of drugs amongst the teens could lead
them to have deviant behaviors. Some of the most common substances that are abused in
the society are alcohol, marijuana, nicotine, steroids, prescription drugs, tobacco, opiates,
and cocaine (Baglivio & Wolff, 2017). Substance abuse involves the use of all drugs that
are illegal, and in juveniles, it could also involve drinking because they have not reached
the legal age. Several reasons are associated with the start of drinking at an early age. For
instance, drug addiction among other members of the household will lead the adolescent
to start engaging in drugs. It means that the child can easily access drugs because they
believe that this use of drugs is not bad. However, when addiction sets in, these youths
will suffer immensely because life will not despair them, and they could end up involving
themselves in crime.
Juveniles who abuse substances often tend to make maladaptive selections, which
is a main neurocognitive characteristic. It makes them to have some decision-making
deficits, and, in turn, there is a lot of pressure in their lives. These persons then luck self-
restraint, and most of their behaviors are influenced by impromptu judgments. As such,
they have a dysfunctional connectivity to the brain, a move that makes it difficult for
them to embrace self-control or even emotional control. These are then related to poor
decision-making techniques (Belenko et al., 2017).The dysregulated performing
connectivity is what makes these drug users to have rapid reactions in life, including
continued engagement in crime. These drugs also have depressive symptoms because the
brain of the user is affected immensely. Looking at a drug like marijuana, for instance,
enhances the violence of behavior of individuals. It lessens the ability of an individual to
control themselves properly, and it leads to a discord in their conditions. The violent
behavior is majorly an attribute of crime because the drug users find it difficult to control
themselves.

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Peer Influence

The stress or strains spread by peers to encourage the duplication of

Considerable evidence supports the hypothesis that peer relationships influence

Ukyawi et al. (2017) perception of peer pressure is an institution that influences

According to Mahmood et al. (2017) and Damm (2018), peer pressure is

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