Objectives

To investigate how peer dynamics, specifically interpersonal conversations between a potential offender and a peer, contemporaneous with a crime opportunity, influence perceptions of sanction certainty and social costs.

Methods

Data are analyzed from randomized experiments and hypothetical vignettes embedded within a nationwide, online survey (n = 1,275). Vignettes were presented for three distinct crime opportunities, drunk driving, fighting, and insurance fraud.

Results

The findings suggest that respondents adjust two core decision-making perceptions—the perceived certainty of being legally sanctioned and perceived social costs such as stigma or embarrassment—in accord with the content of verbal communications from peers. There is evidence for this both between and within subjects.

Conclusions

The study underscores the importance of accounting for both physical and social features of the situational context for crime in models of offender decision making. Implications are drawn regarding the social milieu for offender decision making, and the broader criminological relevance of choice principles.

中文翻译：

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情境同伴动态和犯罪决策

目标

调查同伴动态，特别是潜在罪犯和同伴之间的人际对话，与犯罪机会同时发生，如何影响对制裁确定性和社会成本的看法。

方法

数据分析来自随机实验和嵌入在全国性在线调查中的假设小插曲 ( n  = 1,275)。展示了三种不同的犯罪机会，酒后驾驶、打架和保险欺诈。

结果

调查结果表明，受访者会根据同伴的口头交流内容调整两个核心决策感知——感知到的受到法律制裁的确定性和感知到的社会成本，如耻辱或尴尬。在受试者之间和受试者内部都有证据表明这一点。

结论

该研究强调了在犯罪者决策模型中考虑犯罪情境背景的物理和社会特征的重要性。对犯罪者决策的社会环境以及选择原则的更广泛的犯罪学相关性产生了影响。