The paper analyzes research regarding the effects of sociocultural factors and the incidence of mental illness, particularly infantile autism and childhood schizophrenia. Among those topics reviewed are general sociocultural changes and vital statistics, perceptual and cognitive potential of the neonate, the importance of family networks for pregnant women, establishment of bonding between mothers and children, lack of bonding and consequences on the mother-child relationship, organicity versus environment in child psychosis, socioeconomic and sex factors, and child rearing in developing countries. Cross cultural research is cited to show the rarity of infantile autism among such ethnic groups as Hispanics, Blacks, and Chinese. (CL)