Book Review: Dodge, K. A., Lansford, J. E., & Dishion, T. J. (Eds.). (2006). Deviant Peer Influences in Programs for Youth. New York: Guilford Press. 462 pp

• Published date: 01 June 2009
• Author: Anna Netterville
• Date: 01 June 2009
• DOI: 10.1177/0734016808329517
• Subject Matter: Articles

292 Criminal Justice Review

The authors can make a much better case for the excellent strategy they are proposing

by being realistic about its prerequisites and limitations. For now, users will have to put the

strategy into context themselves.

Alida S. Westman

Eastern Michigan University

Dodge, K. A., Lansford, J. E., & Dishion, T. J. (Eds.). (2006). Deviant Peer Influences in

Programs for Youth. New York: Guilford Press. 462 pp.

DOI: 10.1177/0734016808329517

This is the fourth volume of the Duke Series in Child Development and Public Policy.

The book asks the following question: “Does aggregating deviant peers into education,

mental health, juvenile justice, and community programs increase problem behavior?” A

detailed and comprehensive examination of existing programs indicates the answer to the

previous question is yes. Following an in-depth review of current policies and practices,

solutions as well as recommendations are provided.

Chapter 1 discusses the problem of treating youth in group settings. An extensive review

of current literature is presented by analyzing the prevalence of policy and practice in

which aggregation of deviant youth occurs. In addition, possible aggregating effects of

educational programs, mental health programs, community programs, and juvenile justice

interventions are discussed. The chapter concludes by suggesting programs should focus on

individual or highly structured skill-building interventions.

Chapter 2 uses an ecological framework to analyze influence mechanisms believed to

result in deviant peer contagion. An ecological framework is used to isolate and analyze

interaction effects between three proposed levels of peer influence: (a) individual, (b) pro-

gram service level, and (c) context. The chapter concludes with a discussion on the lack of

scientific studies identifying mechanisms and conditions that produce iatrogenic effects.

Chapter 3 presents an epidemiological approach to the identification of deviant peer

contagions. It is argued that applying an epidemiological approach to the study of deviant

peer contagions produces better results because the method focuses on bantam, individual,

and precise facets of deviant behavior.

In chapter 4, the possible outcomes of mainstreaming deviant youth in an educational

setting are presented. To determine the outcome of mainstreaming, the study analyzes three

case assignments, including (a) where there is no social influence or control, (b) when

resources matter, and (c) when deviant peer influence is important. The chapter concludes

by suggesting that policy developers consider the following factors when deciding between

segregation and integration of deviant youth: (a) number of deviant youth involved,

(b) nature of the problematic behavior, and (c) capacity for behavior control matters.

Chapter 5 reviews a quantitative study used to analyze the degree to which deviant

peer influence is a problem. Information was gathered from four focus groups composed

of practitioners, educators, and adolescents. An outcome of the study was validation of