There are a number of alternative, though not incompatible, theories regarding the role of personality in the deviance proneness model. For example, long-term socialization processes such as those created through parents and community institutions (e.g., schools) are thought to be influenced by personality (see Sher et al., 1999). Conversely, other theories hypothesize that “risky” personality characteristics act proximally to influence problematic substance use through impulsive decision-making styles. Thus, under the deviance proneness model, personality could influence substance use both distally (e.g., through peer group norms) and proximally (e.g., “risky” decision making).
