Theories furthering understanding of the effects of child rearing practices on psychiatric disturbance are briefly reviewed. Particular attention is given to family dynamics, the double-bind hypothesis, and the development of schizophrenia and related border line syndromes that lead to psychotic phenomena. The issue of child rearing practices is seen to be much more important for the borderline states as the biological and genetic factors associated with schizophrenia are largely absent. Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development, in itself and as elaborated in the work of Klein, Horney and especially, Bowlby, is advanced as a basis for understanding the effects of social factors on individual development. It is concluded that, in broad terms, there is little doubt that separation, deprivation and persecution of children contribute to their personality development and are likely to contribute to psychiatric illness. For parents in the 1980s, the writings of D. W. Winnicott, emphasizing the sufficiently attentive caretaker and the context of intimate family relationships, are recommended. (Author/RH)