Right now, teens are going through the rebellious phase where they want to assert and explore their independence. As they do so, some begin to refuse to conform to social norms in an effort to continue cultivating their individuality. During this search for independence, adolescents are predisposed to making many poor decisions due to the underdevelopment of white matter in the brain. Teen shoplifting is a popular example of formal social deviance, a violation of a formally enacted law. In this case, the thrill of stealing and breaking the law outweighs the possibility of being reprimanded if caught. Since the adolescent brain is very sensitive, the environment also plays an important role in the decision to engage in criminal activity. Adolescents who grow up in poverty are more likely to become social deviants than those who grow up in families with higher income brackets. This can be explained through strain theory, the idea that people turn to deviance when they are unable to achieve culturally approved goals through institutional means. People who are disadvantaged in terms of money and education are pushed into becoming criminals in order to succeed in society. Environment doesn't just include location; it also refers to the type of people an individual is surrounded by. Deviance is a learned behavior in many