Interpersonal influences on offending decisions: verbal communications and relationship to speaker
Abstract
Abstract Objective This study examines whether the impact of verbal communications on a potential offender’s perceptions of legal risks and anticipated social costs from crime varies depending on whether the communication is from a friend or a stranger. Methods Data were analyzed from a 2 × 2 × 2 experimental questionnaire administered to 1446 respondents via CloudResearch. Results While no moderating effect of speaker relationship was observed for perceptions of the risk of legal punishment, significant moderating effects were found concerning anticipated social costs. Conclusions Our findings contribute to the literature on peer influence and offender decision-making by elucidating social dynamics in offending contexts. Communications from friends exert the greatest influence on anticipated social costs from crime, likely due to friends’ direct role in imposing these costs, in contrast to legal punishments imposed by the Criminal Justice System.
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