Other studies, however, reveal that brain development is not the most important factor in teenage behavior. The results of a new study by Mike Males from the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice in San Francisco support the argument that teenage poverty, not teenage biology, is most to blame for the teenage crime. Males looked specifically at the more than 50,000 homicides in California from 1991 to 2002. As one would expect, teenagers perpetrated more homicides than other age groups. However, when he analyzed the data, he found that in high-poverty areas teenagers committed more crimes than other age groups. In the areas where teenagers had as much money as other middle-aged people, they tended to commit fewer violent crimes. And in the areas where middle-aged people had as little money as other teenagers, those middle-aged people tended to commit just as many violent crimes. According to Mike Males, what did the data reveal to be the most important factor in teenage violence?

Other studies, however, reveal that brain development is not the most important factor in teenage behavior. The results of a new study by Mike Males from the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice in San Francisco support the argument that teenage poverty, not teenage biology, is most to blame for the teenage crime. Males looked specifically at the more than 50,000 homicides in California from 1991 to 2002. As one would expect, teenagers perpetrated more homicides than other age groups. However, when he analyzed the data, he found that in high-poverty areas teenagers committed more crimes than other age groups. In the areas where teenagers had as much money as other middle-aged people, they tended to commit fewer violent crimes. And in the areas where middle-aged people had as little money as other teenagers, those middle-aged people tended to commit just as many violent crimes. According to Mike Males, what did the data reveal to be the most important factor in teenage violence?