Three retrospective studies related children's socially inappropriate behavior to needs for approval and self assurance. Four girls and 16 boys (a sex difference of p=.006) involved in road accidents, aged 5 to 15, who were consecutively admitted to a hospital for arm and leg fractures were matched with controls. The accident children shared a history of environmental stress and frustration, were more assertive and unsettled, and showed constitutional hyperactivity and lowered tolerance for stress. A study of sexual assault reported to the police involved 41 school-age victims, who were found to have significantly (p=.05 .02) greater affection seeking behavior than the controls (four for each subject). It was concluded that this need set the stage for sexual acting out and, if the need were met legitimately, it would be outgrown and the assault would not affect subsequent personality development. A study of 25 consecutive child referrals to a desensitizing clinic and inpatient wards found these asthmatic children to be more unsettled than their matched controls (p=.005), experienced more deviant maternal attitude (mothers more assertive, p=.001), and viewed the environment as more threatening (p=.005). Results thus suggested that the asthma attack was a protest against an over-dominant environment. (MM)