DATA WERE COLLECTED FOR 42 REFERRALS ACCUSED OF THEFT OFFENSES, 38 REFERRED FOR OTHER DISTURBANCES, AND 34 REFERRED FOR EDUCATIONAL PROBLEMS AT 4 CHILD GUIDANCE CENTERS BETWEEN JANUARY 1972 AND FEBRUARY 1973. DATA COLLECTION INSTRUMENTS INCLUDED THE HIGHLANDS DEPENDENCY SCALE, THE EYSENCK PERSONALITY INVENTORY, THE WECHSLER INTELLIGENCE QUOTIENT, AND THE BURT READING ATTAINMENT SCALE. COMPARISONS OF THE RESULTS OF THESE TESTS AMONG THE 'STEALERS', OTHER CLINIC REFERRALS, AND SCHOLASTIC UNDERACHIEVERS REVEALED THAT THE MOTHERS OF THE 'STEALERS' WERE MORE NEUROTIC AND INTROVERTED THAN MOTHERS OF THE OTHER GROUPS STUDIED. 'STEALERS' ALSO HAD HIGHER MEAN ANTI-SOCIAL SCORES AND WERE LESS DEPENDENT ON THEIR MOTHERS FOR AFFECTION, COMMUNICATION, AND TRAVEL....EB