Most interventions for at-risk youths are group based. Yet, emerging research indicates that young people often learn to become deviant by interacting with deviant peers. In this important volume, leading intervention and prevention experts from psychology, education, criminology, and related fields analyze how, and to what extent, programs that aggregate deviant youth actually promote problem behavior. A wealth of evidence is reviewed on deviant peer influences in such settings as therapy groups, alternative schools, boot camps, group homes, and juvenile justice facilities. Concrete recommendations are offered for improving existing services, and promising alternative approaches are explored.

Table of Contents:

Part 1. Introduction. K.A. Dodge, J.E. Lansford, T.J. Dishion, The Problem of Deviant Peer Influences in Intervention Programs. T.J. Dishion, K.A. Dodge, Deviant Peer Contagion in Interventions and Programs: An Ecological Framework for Understanding Influence Mechanisms. J.C. Anthony, Deviant Peer Effects: Perspectives of an Epidemiologist. P.J. Cook, J. Ludwig, Assigning Youths to Minimize Total Harm. J.E. Lansford, J. Rosch, Is Deviant Peer Influence a Problem, and What Can Be Done? Qualitative Perspectives from Four Focus Groups. Part 2. Reviews of Peer Effects. K.A. Dodge, M.R. Sherrill, Deviant Peer Group Effects in Youth Mental Health Interventions. W.M. Reinke, H.M. Walker, Deviant Peer Effects in Education. D.W. Osgood, L.O. Briddell, Peer Effects in Juvenile Justice. M.W. Lipsey, The Effects of Community-based Group Treatment for Delinquency: A Meta-analytic Search for Cross-study Generalizations. J. Vigdor, Peer Effects in Neighborhoods and Housing. M.N. Wilson, L.N. Woods, Iatrogenic Outcomes of the Child Welfare System: Vulnerable Adolescents, Peer Influences, and Instability in Foster Care Arrangements. J.E. Lansford, Peer Effects in Community Programs. M.W. Klein, Peer Effects in Naturally Occurring Groups: The Case of Street Gangs. Part 3. Promising Solutions and Recommendations. R.B. Silver, J.M. Eddy, Research-based Prevention Programs and Practices for Delivery in Schools That Decrease the Risk of Deviant Peer Influence. P. Greenwood, Promising Solutions in Juvenile Justice. E.P. Smith, J. Dumas, R. Prinz, Prevention Approaches to Improve Child and Adolescent Behavior and Reduce Deviant Peer Influence. J. Ludwig, G. Duncan, Promising Solutions in Housing and the Community. J. Rosch, C. Lederman, Creating a Legal and Organizational Context for Reducing Peer Influence. A. Biglan, J. Sprague, K.J. Moore, A Functional Contextualist Framework for Affecting Peer Influence Practices. T.J. Dishion, K.A. Dodge, J.E. Lansford, Findings and Recommendations: A Blueprint to Minimize Deviant Peer Influence in Youth Interventions and Programs.