THE GIRLS WERE QUESTIONED REGARDING THEIR SOCIAL BACKGROUNDS, EARLY SEXUAL EXPERIENCES, THEIR ENTRANCE INTO THE WORLD OF PROSTITUTION, AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO PIMPS, CUSTOMERS, AND OTHER PROSTITUTES. THE PICTURE WHICH EMERGES FROM THE DATA INDICATES A CHILDHOOD MARKED BY EARLY EMOTIONAL AND SOCIAL DEPRIVATION IN THE FAMILY RELATIONSHIP, WHICH LEADS THE TEENAGE GIRL TO BREAK EMOTIONAL TIES WITH PARENTS AND EVINCE A LACK OF CONCERN OVER THEIR REACTIONS TO HER BEHAVIOR. IN ADDITION, SHE EXPERIENCES FAILURES AND LACK OF REINFORCEMENT IN SCHOOL AND WORK SETTINGS. THUS, SHE IS LEFT WITH FEW, IF ANY, TIES TO THE CONVENTIONAL ORDER. THIS LEAVES HER FREE TO BEHAVE IN UNCONVENTIONAL WAYS. FOR THIS GROUP OF GIRLS, THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT PROSTITUTION EXISTED IN THEIR SOCIAL MILIEU THAT INVOLVED UNCONVENTIONAL RELATIVES AND PEERS AND RELATIVELY EARLY SEXUAL EXPERIENCE. ADDITIONALLY, PROSTITUTION PROVIDES BOTH SOCIAL AND MATERIAL REINFORCEMENT ON A SCHEDULE SUCH THAT REWARD IS IMMEDIATE, INTERMITTENTLY LARGE, AND REQUIRES LITTLE EFFORT TO OBTAIN. PUNISHMENT INITIALLY TENDS TO BE MILD AND INFREQUENTLY ADMINISTERED AND THUS INEFFECTIVE AS A DETERRENT. FINALLY, ONCE THE ADOLESCENT GIRL BECOMES A PROSTITUTE, SHE FINDS HERSELF ENTANGLED IN A SYSTEM WHICH PROVIDES STRONG INCENTIVE TO CONTINUE AND LIMITED OUTSIDE CONTACT. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (KBL)