Do Morality and Self-Control Protect from Criminogenic Peer Influence? Testing Multidimensional Person–Environment Interactions

The present study examines whether the effect of involvement with delinquent friends on young people’s criminal activity is contingent adolescents’ personal morality and their capacity for self-control how these enduring properties work together in determining youths’ vulnerability to peer influence. corresponding person–environment interactions are tested based a longitudinal student survey from Austria. Findings reveal conditional effects. significance crime-prone decreases as gets stronger higher. Thereby, seems modify criminogenic effects particularly among youths weak morality. We find evidence three-way interaction according which high trait protects against detrimental influence primarily individuals who have poorly internalized law-consistent moral rules. Such an interplay consistent theoretical reflections regarding filtering action alternatives subsidiary relevance self-control.