The historical and theoretical background discussion of sociological literature on youth notes that sociological theories of youth must be related to the concepts and findings of at least two other disciplines, psychology and cultural anthropology. It also advises that an analysis of the sociological literature on youth must take into account not only the change in the object of study and in the whole social structure, of which youth is only a part, but also the problems of the discipline itself. A review of the problem of definitions focuses on diverse understandings of the meaning of "adolescence" and "youth." An overview of sociological research on adolescents and youth focuses on historical changes in methodology. A review of the historicist approach pertains to an analytical method that generalizes about a generation of youth in the context of the broad historical events and cultural influences affecting an entire generation. A summary of sociological studies of the youth revolt of the 1960's and early 1970's and its aftermath focuses on the distinctiveness of study methodology and outlook during this period. 32 notes.