Child neglect clearly results from social, ecological, and dyadic influences, and knowledge of internal processes leading to parental failure to respond may provide essential information regarding neglectful behavior. Neglect generally occurs when mental processing is aborted before appropriate and necessary parental behavior is undertaken. The theoretical framework suggested by the author postulates that many neglectful parents have problems in the early stages of information processing. Perceptual exclusion of affectively salient information is thought to be related to early experiences with attachment figures. Events in childhood can also lead to the faulty attribution that a parental response is not needed. Further, many researchers have noted the immature self-involvement of neglectful parents. Attachment theory conceptualizes this in terms of a developmental pathway characterized by anxious attachment. Limitations of an information processing perspective are examined, as well as implications of the perspective for child neglect treatment. 64 references and 4 notes