Theories of Adolescent Development brings together the many theories surrounding this life stage in one comprehensive reference. It begins with an introduction to the nature of theory in the field of adolescence, including an analysis of why there are so many theories in this field. Theory chapters are grouped into three sections: biological systems, psychological systems and societal systems. Each chapter considers a family of theories, including their scope, assumptions and contributions to the study of adolescence. In addition, sections discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the family, along with relevant comparisons to other theories and future directions in theory and research.

• Includes biological, psychological and sociological theories
• Identifies the assumptions, strengths and weaknesses of each theory
• Compares and contrasts theories
• Concludes with an integrated perspective across theories