Without his friends forcing him to behave this way, Bruno could be a much better person. According to several studies, teenagers are strongly influenced by the groups of friends they choose to hang out with. In an article from the Journal of Adolescent, authors Tara Dumas, Wendy Ellis, and David Wolfe provide insight into the importance of peer groups in adolescent development. The authors write, "Several researchers have demonstrated that peer groups are powerful agents of socialization of risky behavior in adolescence (e.g., Kiesner et al., 2002 and Urberg et al., 1997), and many problem behaviors occur in the context of these groups (Wolfe, Jaffe, & Crooks, 2006).” (Dumas, Ellis and Wolfe 1) According to the authors of this article, along with many other authors, the groups that adolescents associate with form a sort of “group mentality” that each of the adolescents involved seems to follow perfect example of this group mentality that dictates a person's will so great that he is more than just a street thug; however, because of the company he keeps, Bruno is destined to be just like him