DEMOGRAPHIC AND BACKGROUND DATA WERE OBTAINED THROUGH ANALYSIS OF THE RECORD FILES OF 832 INMATES OF THE LARGEST PRISON FOR WOMEN IN THE UNITED STATES, NOT ALL OF WHOM WERE CONFINED AT THE SAME TIME. OVER A PERIOD OF 16 MONTHS REPEATED INTERVIEWS WERE CONDUCTED WITH 45 INMATES. THESE INDIVIDUAL INTERVIEWS PROVIDED BASIC INFORMATION NECESSARY TO CONCEPTUALIZE THE PROCESS AND VARIETIES OF ADAPTIVE BEHAVIOR. AN ANONYMOUS 69-ITEM QUESTIONNAIRE WAS ADMINISTERED TO 293 INMATES REPRESENTING A 45 PERCENT RANDOM SAMPLE OF THE POPULATION. A QUESTIONNAIRE WAS ADMINISTERED TO ALL STAFF MEMBERS WHO HAD SUSTAINED AND DIRECT CONTACT WITH INMATES. RESULTS INDICATED THAT MORE INMATES RESORT TO HOMOSEXUALITY THAN TO PSYCHOLOGICAL WITHDRAWAL, REBELLION, COLONIZATION OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF ADAPTATION.