Explaining Deviant Peer Associations: An Examination of Low Self-Control, Ethical Predispositions, Definitions, and Digital Piracy

Abstract

Abstract: Digital piracy is an emerging criminal behavior. Criminological research has been successful in explaining intentions to commit digital piracy using several different theories. Social learning and self-control have been two of the theories that have consistently been able to explain digital piracy. Importantly, differential association has been shown to be an invaluable measure in predicting involvement in digital piracy and other crimes. However, no study to date has attempted to show what variables specifically contribute to associations with digital pirating peers. Regression models are used to examine this question and results offer interesting interpretations. Age, sex, low self-control, and ethical predispositions were shown to be associated with digital pirating associations. However, when definitions were incorporated into the model these effects disappeared. The results of the present study advance our understanding of digital piracy and social learning theory and pave the road for research on other types of criminal behavior.

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