Desegregation and integration are affected by many of the same forces that affect other major social changes, such as dramatic news events, authority in the form of law and policy, educational programs, and experience of the new situation. How these forces affect desegregation and integration has to do with peoples' attitudes and the effect of changed attitudes on changed behavior. This paper concerns the major forces affecting desegregation and integration as presented in three different studies that have dealt with patterns in processes of desegregation and integration. Each study determined whose attitudes and behavior were the major target of change efforts, what positions they held, and whether they were black and white, or primarily white. It is noted that for integration as well as desegregation, the major focus for change is white resistance to the process. The major forces affecting desegregation and integration are: (1) the occurrence of dramatic national events, (2) law or administrative edicts or authority, (3) teacher attitudes toward race, (4) interracial contact, and (4) the presence of certain educational programs (i.e. compensatory efforts to equalize educational opportunities and curriculum and materials reflective of cultural diversity). It is concluded that desegregation demands less than integration. Law, administrative policy, and teacher attitudes can take the process only so far. Integration must ultimately come from the minds and heart of the people. These reports suggest that a combined approach is called for: starting young, and providing supports for attitude change. (Author/AM)