IntroductionDoes exposure to deviant peers affect individuals' participation in general delinquency? Peers have an influence on the developing individual where the individual shares definitions favorable to him (Snyder, Dishion, Patterson, 1982). Findings from the literature suggest that delinquent youth are involved in a relationship between the delinquent behavior of peers and the delinquency of the respondent (Warr, 1996). Shaw and McKay, in 1931, discovered that more than 80% of individuals had deviant peers and had a strong tendency to commit delinquent acts in the company of others. Studies have found that the relationships between peer delinquency and self-report delinquency exceed those of any other independent variable, regardless of whether the focus is on different types of crime (Haynie, 2001). On the other hand, we note that exposure to deviant peers is not the only factor that leads adolescents to commit general delinquency. There are several factors that can lead a child to commit a crime, such as family, community and school (Herrenkohl et. al, 2000). There remains a debate about the essential means for the relationship between deviant peers and their effects on individuals. This is important because it shows that normal interaction with peer groups pushes people to commit acts that would not be normal. Using data from the National Youth Survey (Wave 7), I will investigate whether or not exposure to deviant peers affects adolescents' participation in general delinquency. Literature Review Deviant Peers on Delinquency Matsueda and Anderson analyzed the dynamics of delinquent peers and delinquent behavior. They test hypotheses arising from theories of learning and interaction in which peer associations create delinqu...... half of article ...... erican Journal of Sociology, 106(4), 1013-1057. Herrenkohl, T.I., Farrington, D.P., Brewer, D., Catalano, R.F., Harachi, T.W., & Cothern, L. (2000). Predictors of youth violence (pp. 1-10). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Matsueda, R. L. (1982). Testing control theory and differential association: A causal modeling approach. American Sociological Journal, 489-504. Matsueda, R. L., & Anderson, K. (1998). The dynamics of delinquent peers and delinquent behavior*. Criminology, 36(2), 269-308. Snyder, J., Dishion, T. J., & Patterson, G. R. (1986). Determinants and consequences of association with deviant peers during preadolescence and adolescence. The newspaper of early adolescence. Warr, M. (1996). Organization and incitement in delinquent groups*. Criminology, 34(1), 11-37.