ROUTINE ACTIVITIES AND INDIVIDUAL DEVIANT-BEHAVIOR

We extend the routine activity perspective's situational analysis of c rime to individual offending and to a broad range of deviant behaviors . In this view, unstructured socializing with peers in the absence of authority figures presents opportunities for deviance: In the presence of peers, deviant acts will be easier and more rewarding; the absence of authority figures reduces the potential for social control respons es to deviance; and the lack of structure leaves rime available for de viant behavior. To determine whether individuals who spend more time i n unstructured socializing activities engage in deviant behaviors more frequently, we analyzed within-individual changes in routine activiti es and deviance across five waves of data for a national sample of mor e than 1,700 18- to 26-year-olds. Participation in these routine activ ities was strongly associated with criminal behavior, heavy alcohol us e, use of marijuana and other illicit drugs, and dangerous driving. Fu rthermore, routine activities accounted for a substantial portion of t he association between these deviant behaviors and age, sex, and socio economic status.