Laurence Steinberg stands as one of the world's foremost authorities on adolescent psychological development with a career spanning over four decades. He currently holds the distinguished positions of Distinguished University Professor and Laura H. Carnell Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Temple University where he has been a faculty member since 1988. Educated at Vassar College, where he graduated with honors in 1974, he earned his Ph.D. in developmental psychology from Cornell University in 1977. Prior to his appointment at Temple, Professor Steinberg taught at Cornell University, the University of California, Irvine, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, steadily establishing himself as a leading voice in developmental psychology.
Dr. Steinberg's groundbreaking research has profoundly shaped our understanding of adolescent brain development, risk-taking behaviors, and decision-making processes, with his Dual Systems Model becoming a cornerstone framework in the field. His extensive scholarly contributions include approximately 500 articles and essays on adolescent development along with 17 books that have fundamentally influenced both academic understanding and practical approaches to working with teenagers. As a member and former chair of the National Academies' Committee on the Science of Adolescence, his scientific insights have directly informed national discussions on youth policy and juvenile justice reform. His work has been particularly influential in demonstrating how adolescent brain development differs from adult patterns, reshaping legal and educational approaches to teenage behavior.
Beyond his research, Professor Steinberg has held significant leadership roles including past presidency of both the Division of Developmental Psychology of the American Psychological Association and the Society for Research on Adolescence, cementing his influence across the discipline. He is widely recognized as a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, the Association for Psychological Science, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, reflecting his substantial contributions to the field. His expertise is frequently sought by state and federal agencies on matters of child labor, secondary education, and juvenile justice, and he has served as an expert witness in numerous criminal trials involving juveniles. Professor Steinberg remains an active public intellectual through frequent media appearances and contributions to major publications including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Psychology Today, continuing to translate complex scientific findings into practical guidance for parents, educators, and policymakers.
