The concept of limits on child and teenage behavior is discussed in this book. Section I includes the core hypothesis of the theory of limits and discusses these essential concepts: (1) the pleasure/pain principle (the need to increase tolerance for stimulation in the pain center of the brain in order to be able to tolerate more stimulation in the pleasure center, the center that correlates with emotional growth); (2) maturation (ways in which personal energies get in the way of the maturity/immaturity continuum; (3) the dynamic struggle (the necessity to struggle against tendencies toward overprotectiveness); and (4) stress (increasing one's tolerance for stress). Section II discusses those areas of psychological development commonly delineated by mental health care professionals and claims that emotional maturity is achieved through overcoming fear of dependency, aggression, and sexuality, not by increasing or decreasing amounts. Section III shows how setting limits and administering consequences can increase tolerance for all stimuli in both parent and child. Section IV is about letting go, saying "good-bye," and the ultimate "good-bye" of death. It is noted that ideally emotional growth results in being able to let go, face goodbyes appropriately, and accept the fact that aging and death are inevitable. (ABL)