Adolescent Development and Criminal BehaviorSummary: Adolescence is a time of hormonal imbalances and drastic changes in a young person's life. One of these changes tends to concern delinquent behavior. Many studies have examined the factors that influence the tendency to engage in criminal behavior and it has been found that there are many environmental and mental factors that contribute to this period of life. These factors include peer relationships, social status, economic level and neurological imbalances. The conclusion is that if these variables negatively impact a teenager, then criminal behavior will certainly follow. However, there are many ways to turn these negative aspects into positives if handled in the right way. It was studied and concluded that there was an increase in criminal behavior during the adolescent period. Although this phenomenon decreases as young people get older, it is important to identify the possible causes that become the source of criminal behavior among adolescents. Notice how the word causes was used instead of cause. Indeed, it is unclear how, across each of the studies mentioned, these factors emerge in one way or another. Each of these studies analyzed and conducted studies around numerous or single variables that influence adolescent delinquent behavior. 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 evolve towards a positive effect, then adolescents evolve towards less criminal behavior. What are these variables? These variables are daily factors in the lives of adolescents. So, in conclusion, it is the variables in the adolescent's environment that affect the adolescent's criminal behavior.