Why is this deviant behaviour?

Shoplifting is a form of deviance for a number of reasons. It is the largest source of money-related crime in America, costing stores in the States over 16 billion dollars every year and that number is steadily increasing.

It goes against the expectations that parents and society want teens to follow, creating a sense of rebellion surrounding shoplifting that is attractive to many. The mood-enhancing effects of the adrenaline rush is enough of a reason for some adolescents, comparing it to the high that one would receive from drugs and alcohol. This high can be just as addictive as these other stimulants and can motivate individuals to go to great risks to achieve it on a regular basis, causing some teens to go from shoplifting once every few weeks to shoplifting almost daily.

The induced sense of belonging it can foster amongst teen shoplifters and their cohorts can be dangerous. Their adolescence causes them to be more susceptible to peer pressure and their lack of cognitive development inhibits their ability to judge potential risks and rewards rationally. A false sense of independence from their families can form because teens may believe that because they are able to successfully shoplift, that gives them all of the necessary skills and the maturity level needed to survive in the world on their own.