Tests of cognitive style and questionnaires on socialization practices and Mexican-American family values were administered to children and their mothers in three Mexican-American communities in southern California. Subjects from the "traditional" community which was most identified with the sociocultural premises of Mexican culture were significantly more field dependent than the subjects from the "traditional" community whose members are most influenced by mainstream middleclass American values. Subjects from the "dualistic" community who were influenced by both cultures, obtained scores between those of the other two groups. (Author/EH)