title: Adolescent development and external influences.
abstract: There are two different approaches to the definition of "normal" in adolescence: psychoanalytic interpretation and empirical research. They are not necessarily at odds but can complement each other if normalcy is viewed as a dependent variable. Its definition depends also on cultural rules, social values and expectancies, professional orientations, personality traits and political climate, which all determine the tolerance level for aberrance. The adolescent development including biological, cognitive and psychosocial changes is related to the existing social formations and processes. It is affected by family, peer groups, neighborhood, work and wider community. The paper describes the adolescent development in particular social contexts.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Psychological Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rudan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000296:Adolescent Psychiatry; D003071:Cognition; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D011057:Politics; D012924:Social Conditions