This research study examines the relationships among personality, peer groups, moods and genes, with a specific focus on how these factors interact to influence alcohol use and delinquent behaviors. To date, data has been collected on roughly 450 MSU college students. They are asked to fill out questionnaires, provide a saliva sample (for DNA collection), and participate in group activities, for which they typically receive extra credit in their psychology class.
       To more fully examine the role of peer influences on the psychological characteristics listed above, each participant is also asked to send a recruitment email to his or her three closest friends, offering them a chance to complete the same questionnaires and provide a saliva sample. Should they chose to participate, each of these friends is paid $50. We specifically hope to determine whether exposure to delinquent peers interacts with psychological characteristics to activate genetic predispositions towards delinquency.
       This study protects participant confidentiality to the maximum extent allowable by law.  For example, students' names and identifying information are deleted immediately after they are given their class.  As a result, their identities can never be directly linked to their questionnaire responses or DNA. This study is directed by Dr. Alexandra Burt.