This study used behavioral measures of family interaction to examine four traditional explanatory models for the influence of parents on their children's self-esteem. The four models examined were: (1) identification/modeling, (2) directiveness, (3) reinforcement, and (4) warmth/involvement. A total of 98 fourth- and fifth-grade girls and boys identified as being high or low in self-esteem were observed with their parents in their homes. Each child was seen with his/her mother and father separately in a structured interaction and then with both parents in a Family Rorschach. In addition, parents were asked to fill out a questionnaire with demographic and attitudinal items and to respond to Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale while their children were given two cards of the Children's Apperception Test, Human Figures Form. Results indicated that the family climate associated with high self-esteem appeared to be the one in which both mother and father were supportive of their children and of each other. Differences between mothers and fathers in their patterns of behavior towards their sons and daughters were also presented and discussed. Findings were interpreted as revealing no support for the identification/modeling hypothesis, mild support for the reinforcement hypothesis, and moderate support for the directiveness and warmth/involvement hypotheses. (Author/JMB)