Joseph P. Allen

Joseph P. Allen is the Hugh P. Kelly Professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia. He received a B.A. in psychology from the University of Virginia in May 1980, and then a Ph. D. in Clinical/Community Psychology from Yale University in May 1986. He subsequently worked as a post-doctoral fellow in research at Harvard Medical School from 1986 until 1988.

Allen's research focuses on adolescent social development, family relations, peer relations, and problematic behaviors (ranging from delinquency and teen pregnancy to depression and anxiety). He has published over 200 articles and book chapters, and is the author of several books.

Allen is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association and the Society for Research in Adolescence. He has received numerous awards for his research, including the William T. Grant Faculty Scholar Award, and the Spencer Foundation Fellowship.

Allen is a passionate advocate for the use of research to improve the lives of adolescents. He is a strong believer in the power of relationships to promote healthy development, and his research has helped to shed light on the importance of supportive family and peer relationships for adolescents. He is also a strong advocate for prevention programs that can help to reduce the risk of problematic behaviors in adolescence.