The biological theories include genetic, neurobiological, and neurobehavioral aspects. Psychological theories pertain to psychoanalytic factors, personality, classical conditioning, and social learning. Social theories involve systems, availability, and anthropological and economic aspects. The review of each theory focuses on principal elements of the theory, the theory's historical development, theory boundaries, research results and needs bearing on the theory, and practical implications of the theory. Each theory's relation to other theories is also explored. The editors emphasize that in dealing with such a multifaceted phenomenon as alcoholism, the theories presented must be viewed as complementary rather than competitive. The editors envision an integration of the theories into a more comprehensive network of interactive (as opposed to unidirectional), systems-oriented, cause-effect explanations for human behavior. Chapter references, author index, subject index.