1 Influence of the Home and Family Environment on Childhood Dysfunction -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Family Environment and Cognitive Ability -- 3. Family Environment and Somatic Complaints -- 4. Family Environment and Depression -- 5. Family Environment and Aggressive Behavior -- 6. Family Environment and Hyperactivity -- 7. Conclusions -- 8. References -- 2 Psychological Characteristics of Parents Who Abuse or Neglect Their Children -- 1. Establishing the Dimensions of the Problem -- 2. Theoretical Perspectives on Child Abuse -- 3. Conceptual Definitions of Inappropriate Parenting Styles -- 4. Psychological Characteristics of Abusive and Neglectful Parents -- 5. Child Abuse and Developmental Psychopathology -- 6. Implications for Treatment and Prevention of Child Abuse -- 7. Summary -- 8. References -- 3 Hyperactivity and Aggression in the Diagnosis of Attention Deficit Disorder -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Terminology -- 3. Historical Overview -- 4. Current Diagnostic and Assessment Strategies -- 5. What Is Needed to Answer Questions Regarding Hyperactivity and Aggression? -- 6. Diagnosing Attention Deficit Disorder from the DICA-P -- 7. Diagnosing Oppositional Disorder from the DICA-P -- 8. Diagnosing Conduct Disorder from the DICA-P -- 9. A Proposal for the Continued Diagnostic Study of Externalizing Children -- 10. References -- 4 Assessment and Treatment of Stealing -- 1. Introduction -- 2. The Backgrounds and Careers of Children Who Steal -- 3. Assessment -- 4. Treatment -- 5. Summary -- 6. References -- 5 An Evaluation of Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Hyperactive Children -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Cognitive Training: Rationale and Procedures -- 3. Review of Cognitive Training Studies -- 4. Summary of Treatment Effects -- 5. Concluding Comments and Suggestions -- 6. References -- 6 On the Psychiatric Importance of Neurological Soft Signs -- 1. Introduction -- 2. The Standard Neurological Examination -- 3. Methodological Issues: Frequent Threats to Internal Validity within Soft-Sign Studies -- 4. The Validity of Soft Signs: Their Relationship to Behavioral, Cognitive, and Neurological Status -- 5. Etiological Variables -- 6. Conclusions -- 7. References -- 7 Language Dysfunction and Childhood Behavior Disorders -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Overview of Speech and Language Disorders -- 3. The Relationship between Speech and Language Dysfunction and Behavioral Problems -- 4. The Relationship between Language Dysfunction and Specific Behavior Disorders -- 5. Etiological Considerations: Does Speech or Language Dysfunction Precede Behavior Disturbance or the Converse? -- 6. Conclusion -- 7. References -- 8 Motivational and Cognitive Aspects of Learning Disabilities -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Definitional Issues -- 3. The LD Child as a Maladaptive Learner -- 4. Potential Causes of Maladaptive Achievement Behavior -- 5. Factors Responsible for Individual Differences in LD Children's Responses to School Failures -- 6. Implications for Remediation and Prevention -- 7. Conclusion -- 8. References -- 9 Failure to Thrive: A Critical Review -- 1. Definition and Prevalence -- 2. Theory and Research on FTT -- 3. Treatment -- 4. Conclusion -- 5. References.