When Barbara was 12 she had her first homosexual experience. During preadolescence, however, she had engaged in extensive petting and masturbation with both boys and girls. Her sexual drive was experienced as uncontrollable, completely dominating her life, involving her in compulsive daily masturbation accompanied by rituals and intrusive sexual fantasies. These practices and fantasies interfered with her ability to concentrate at school.

During childhood Barbara had identified as a tomboy, a behavioral pattern which was reinforced by the stepfather. She did, however, have girlfriends and played girls' games (recalling that she wanted to be near her girlfriends because of the intense sexual feelings she had for them).