Low Self-Control, Deviant Peer Associations, and Juvenile Cyberdeviance

Am J Crim Just (2012) 37:378395

DOI 10.1007/s12103-011-9117-3

Thomas J. Holt & Adam M. Bossler & David C. May

Received: 29 July 2010 /Accepted: 1 December 2010 /

Published online: 18 June 2011# Southern Criminal Justice Association 2011

Abstract Gottfredson and Hirschis (1990) general theory of crime and Akers (1998) social learning theory have received strong empirical support for explaining crime in both the physical and cyberworlds. Most of the studies examining cybercrime, however, have only used college samples. In addition, the evidence on the interaction between low self-control and deviant peer associations is mixed. Therefore, this study examined whether low self-control and deviant peer associations explained various forms of cyberdeviance in a youth sample. We also tested whether associating with deviant peers mediated the effect of low self-control on cyberdeviance as well as whether it conditioned the effect. Low self-control and deviant peer associations were found to be related to cyberdeviance in general, as well as piracy, harassment, online pornography, and hacking specifically. Deviant peer associations both mediated and exacerbated the effect of low self-control on general cyberdeviance, though these interactions were not found for the five cyberdeviant types examined.

Keywords Cybercrime . Low self-control . Social learning . Peer offending . Juvenile delinquency

T. J. Holt (*)

School of Criminal Justice, Michigan State University, 434 Baker Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA e-mail: [email protected]

A. M. Bossler

Justice Studies Program, Department of Political Science, Georgia Southern University, P.O. Box 8101, Statesboro, GA 30460, USAe-mail: [email protected]

D. C. May

Correctional & Juvenile Justice Services, Eastern Kentucky University, 521 Lancaster Avenue, Stratton 110, Richmond, KY 40475, USAe-mail: [email protected]

Low Self-Control, Deviant Peer Associations, and Juvenile Cyberdeviance

Am J Crim Just (2012) 37:378395 379

Over the last two decades, an increasing body of research has examined the problem of cybercrime. Cybercrime refers to offenses where special knowledge of cyberspace is used to violate the law (Furnell, 2002; Wall, 2001). A wide range of behaviors can be facilitated or enhanced by electronic communications and the Internet, such as harassment (Bocij, 2004; Finn, 2004; Holt & Bossler, 2009), pornography (Buzzell, Foss, & Middleton, 2006), media piracy (e.g., Higgins, 2005), and theft (Jordan & Taylor, 1998). Criminologists have used two primary theories to examine cybercrime: Gottfredson and Hirschis (1990)...