This study attempted to assess how very young children respond to discrepant social communications. Forty children, ages 12 to 42 months, with their mothers were exposed to four trial situations: two discrepant, two nondiscrepant communication episodes. Two observers recorded each child's movement and behavior. Results indicated a significant difference in children's reaction to discrepant and nondiscrepant messages. Children appeared to understand messages which came to them on either the visual or auditory channel, even when that information was not complemented by information on the other channel. When the messages on the two channels were contradictory, responses were more reserved. Age trends were evident, with younger children remaining in closer proximity to their mothers and responding more warily to the experimenter. (SB)