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The dimension of parent-child interactional behavior was assessed from 240 TAT stories told by parents of 10 schizophrenics (S), 10 delinquents (D), and 10 "normals" (N). A modified content analysis was applied to stories dealing with parent-child plots. Common underlying factors contributing to similar story qualities were abstracted into higher order classes of story behavior. Three modal behavior categories were defined: personally involved, childcentered, flexible interactions (A), impersonally involved, superficial interactions (B), and overinvolved, parent-centered interactions (C). Blind rating of the stories by Categories A, B, and C significantly and reliably differentiated the three (N, D, S) parental groups. Blind rating of another separate series of TAT stories told by 20 mothers of schizophrenic children and 20 mothers of normal children using the National Institute of Mental Health method significantly differentiated the two parental groups. Processes that may have determined the different patterns of narrated parent-child interactions are considered.1 Requests for reprints should be sent to Martha Werner, Building 10, Room 2S239

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