A STUDY TO EXAMINE THE INFLUENCE OF EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS ON THE FUNCTIONING OF NORMAL ADOLESCENTS WAS UNDERTAKEN. A SELF-IMAGE QUESTIONNAIRE WAS DEVELOPED TO SELECT MODAL ADOLESCENTS ON THE BASIS OF HOW CLOSE THEY COME TO PSYCHOLOGICAL NORMS. AFTER THREE YEARS, COMPLETE INFORMATION WAS OBTAINED FOR 73 BOYS. THE DATA CONSISTED OF INTERVIEWS, A PSYCHOLOGICAL TEST BATTERY, SCHOOL RECORDS, AND PARENT INTERVIEWS. IN THE HOME ENVIRONMENT, RESULTS INDICATE--(1) TEENAGERS NEED TO IDENTIFY WITH MORE THAN ONE ADULT, (2) TEENAGERS BASICALLY SHARE THEIR PARENTS' VALUES, (3) TEENAGERS ARE CONTENT WITH THEMSELVES AND THEIR ENVIRONMENT, AND (4) TEENAGERS ARE ORIENTED TOWARD THE FUTURE. ALTHOUGH THE MAJORITY OF TEENAGERS HAVE LIMITED SEXUAL EXPERIENCE, THIS INHIBITION OF THE SEXUAL URGE DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE PATHOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES. A POSSIBLE LIMITATION TO THE STUDY MAY BE THE FACT THAT WHILE MANY TEENAGERS BRAG ABOUT SEX, OTHERS ARE UNWILLING TO TALK FREELY. A FOLLOWUP STUDY OF THE GROUP THROUGH COLLEGE IS EXPECTED TO OBTAIN FURTHER DATA CONCERNING THEIR DEVELOPMENT. (PR)