Differences in levels of deviance between Japanese and American students: the influence of peer deviance. Issue 4 (2nd October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kobayashi, Emiko; Farrington, David P.
• Is Part Of: International journal of comparative and applied criminal justice. Volume 43:Issue 4(2019)
• Page Start: 309
• Page End: 324
• Publication Date: 2019-10-02
• Subjects: Comparative criminology -- cross-cultural applicability -- Akers' social learning theory -- peer deviance -- student deviance -- Japan-U.S. comparison; Crime -- Periodicals; Criminal justice, Administration of -- Periodicals; 364
• DOI: 10.1080/01924036.2019.1578674
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0192-4036

Abstract

ABSTRACT: In the current study, by drawing on the literature concerning peer deviance and criminological social learning theory, and on theory and research concerning cultural variability in uncertainty avoidance, we offer a rationale for predicting that peer deviance will be lower among Japanese than among Americans. The lower level of peer deviance among Japanese, in turn, might explain why crime and deviant behaviour are less common in Japan compared to the United States. Analyses of comparable survey data from college students in Japan and the United States ( N = 1271) provide strong support for our hypothesis.