UNDERSTANDING ADOLESCENT DEVIANCE: FAMILY, SCHOOL, AND PEER INFLUENCES

Adolescent deviance is rarely a “bad kid” problem; it is more often a system problem in which family dynamics, school experiences, and peer networks interact to shape behavior over time. Using an ecological lens, this article explains why the same teenager may behave responsibly in one context and impulsively in another, and why interventions that target only one arena often disappoint.