Modeling Developmental Complexity in Adolescence: Hormones and Behavior in Context

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Abstract
A major challenge for scholars of adolescent development consists of expanding current theoretical models to capitalize on advances in the biomedical sciences. Integration of biological processes into models of adolescent development will enable scientists to construct more holistic and integrative perspectives than currently are available. The urgency for further integration of biological, psychological, and contextual domains in theoretical models stems from the reality that serious ongoing problems remain to be solved, old problems are reemerging, and still other lethal problems are emerging for the first time. The links between endocrine physiological processes and adolescent psychological processes are the focus of this article. The article begins with a brief history of biopsychosocial research in adolescent development. Four models for conceptualizing hormone-behavior research as illustrative of biopsychosocial models are discussed. The article concludes with challenges and directions for future research.