Details study of adolescents in York County, Pennsylvania, to determine processes by which maltreated children develop adaptive personalities despite aversive family experiences. Discusses five themes that provide cues to behavior in new environments viewed as unsafe by the child: loyalty to parents, normalizing the abusive environment,…

Notes that attachment behavior in infants is a facet of normal child development, and that children with attachment problems require special attention during and after the adoption process. Presents actions needed to increase the probability that such children can be successfully adopted, detailed attachment patterns, and parenting strategies and…

Variables found more often in a group of severe fire-setting children than in a group of minor fire-setting children were clustered. Results disclosed a more primitively organized personality structure on the part of severe fire setters. This personality structure was poorly defended against expressions of aggressive or sexual impulses. (BB)