Many theories concerning the causes of juvenile delinquency ( crimes committed by young people ) focus either on the individual or on society as the major contributing influence. Theories centering on the individual suggest that children engage in criminal behavior because they were not sufficiently penalized for previous misdeeds or that they have learned criminal behavior through interactions with others. Theories focusing on the role of society suggest that children commit crimes in response to their failure to rise above their socioeconomic status,