Essay does peer pressure absolve delinquent teens from culpability?

Peer pressure has been linked to criminal behavior, but it has not been found to be a primary reason why most people engage in criminal behavior. In the case of adolescents, immaturity has been found to be positively correlated to how much the negative influence of others can impact us to engage in destructive behavior, such as becoming involved in crimes. Dr. David Fassler, a psychiatry professor, claims that the immaturity found in juveniles around the ages of 16 to 19, can lead to impulsivity and aggressive behavior. This in turn leaves teenagers more vulnerable to peer influence that can lead them to commit crimes.

An article published in Psychology Today cautions us not to draw a direct link between peer pressure and crime. In this article, Dr. Stanton Samenow, a criminal behavior psychologist, asserts that peer pressure is often used as an after-the-fact excuse for criminal behavior. He emphasizes that engagement in criminal behavior is much more related to the company we keep. Adolescents and young adults who choose to be in the company of others who endorse criminal behavior, are then more likely to engage in such behavior themselves.

In summary, it appears that immaturity amongst mid-adolescents leads to impulsivity and aggressive behavior. Couple these factors with making poor friend choices, and a recipe for negative peer pressure influence, including exposure to and engaging in criminal behavior, is created.

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