Purposes of this literature review on the Mexcian American child were to explore the self-concept; cultural marginality, emphasizing resulting conflict and other effects; the occurrence and effects of stereotyping; and the results of studies undertaken to measure self-concept. Findings included that (1) the manner in which a person is dealt with by "significant others," especially in the early years, is considered to have a great deal to do with that person establishing a satisfactory identity and a positive self-view; (2) Mexican American children have been found to experience ever-present conflicting demands and pressures to do and be at school something other than what they do and are in the subculture; (3) many educators are seen to hold stereotypic views of Mexican American children due to overgeneralization of the literature regarding specific Mexican American populations--this affects the children's performance, as is maintained in the "self-fulfilling prophecy" theory; and (4) due to inconclusiveness of research on the Mexican American child's self-concept, the broadly accepted idea that Mexican American children, as a group, have a negative self-concept is a stereotypic view. Discussion of the review concludes that educators, "by seeing all or most Mexicans as 'fatalistic,''unable to delay gratification,''lazy,''dependent,''having negative self-concepts,' etc., and then reflecting these beliefs to the children with whom they deal," are forcing the Mexican American child either to reject the majority culture or to deny what he is. The only recommendation is to research why the Anglo insists on cultural homogeneity. (BO)