This paper examines conflicts of adolescence, a time when the intensity of drives exacerbated by hormonal influx and a weakened defense system disturb psychic balance. At this maturational stage, the adolescent's constitutional and genetic factors become evident in the adolescent's ability to withstand the disturbances. Two cases that illustrate two poles of adolescent acting out are presented. If the acting out is environmentally induced, libido will triumph. If the acting out is under the dominance of the destructive drive and there are no sustaining emotional memories, there is only immediate gratification and no future; self-destruction may predominate.