The verbal interaction of 31 middle class early adolescent boys and their parents was analyzed in order to provide information concerning adolescent autonomy. The boys were independently and reliably classified on the basis of age, physical maturity, and intellectual level. The taped interactions were coded for interruptions, talking times, speaker sequences, and explanations. Parental behavior was curvilinearly associated with the sons' physical maturity: when adolescents are in the earliest stages of puberty (compared with prepuberal or late puberal stages) they are more often interrupted by their parents, and their parents explain themselves less often. The family interaction at this stage is more rigidly patterned and dominated by spousal discussion. These results suggest a period of familial adaptation at the time of the adolescent boy's puberal onset. Specifically, boys become more assertive as they mature, but their parents become temporarily more controlling. (Author)