Adolescent Development and Criminal BehaviorAbstract: Adolescence is a time of hormonal imbalances and drastic changes in a young person's life. One of these changes tends to be delinquent behaviors. Many studies have examined the factors that influence the drive towards criminal behavior and it has been found that there are many environmental and mental factors that contribute at this time of life. These factors include peer relationships, social position, economic level, and neurological imbalances. What is concluded is that if these variables have a negative impact on an adolescent, then criminal behavior will surely follow. However, there are many ways in which these negatives can be turned into positives if approached in the right way. It has been studied and concluded that there is a spike in criminal behavior during the adolescence period. Although it decreases with advancing age, it is important to identify the possible causes that become the source of criminal behavior in adolescents. Notice how the word causes was used instead of cause. This is because we do not notice how through each of the studies cited these factors emerge in one way or another. Each of these studies analyzed and conducted studies on many variables or only one variable that influences delinquent behavior in adolescents. The studies conducted may be considered different, but the conclusion is the same. If the variable has a negative effect on the adolescent, it induces criminal behavior. When the variable remains negative, so does the behavior, but if the variables shift toward a positive effect, adolescents shift toward less criminal behavior. What are these variables? These variables are everyday factors in the lives of adolescents. So, in conclusion, it is the variables in the adolescent's environment that effect the adolescent's criminality