Historically, the emergence of the life phase of adolescence was closely linked to economic, political, and cultural changes associated with industrialization and the accompanying establishment of a compulsory school system. In contemporary society, primary social organizations that determine the process of social integration are no longer families but rather educational and occupational institutions. The expansion of the educational system can partially be seen as a reaction to contraction in the employment system. Because the family's role as a central institution for adolescents' socialization has changed considerably due to economic, educational, and cultural processes, adolescents achieve the degree of autonomy and responsibility that is characteristic of adults in different behavioral sectors, at different points of time and under different situational parameters. It is postulated that structural changes in the life phase of adolescence can be interpreted as a process of restructuring the phase of life called adolescence. The value of taking a broad ecological and socialization approach to understanding the normal and/or deviant development and behavior of adolescents is emphasized, as well as the importance of interactions with parents, peers, teachers, and other significant partners for preventing adolescent involvement in deviant behavior. 18 references, 3 tables.