Abstract
Based on a survey of 1,704 suburban adolescents and guided by Sutherland's theory of differential association, this paper focuses on the peer group and marijuana use. The peer group is said to be particularly influential in the initial and continued use of marijuana. This paper tests the following two hypotheses as they relate to marijuana use, defined here as a deviant behavior: (1) Ex posure to deviant patterns and definitions to the exclusion of conformist patterns and definitions increases the likelihood of deviant behavior. (2) Given constant exposure to deviant patterns of behavior and dèfinitions, the more attached an individual is to those exhibiting or supporting deviant patterns of behavior compared with his attachment to those exhibiting or supporting conformist patterns, the greater the likelihood that he will participate in this deviant pattern. The first hypothesis refers to Sutherland's theory of differential associa tion ; the second, to his concept of intensity.
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