In order to investigate the relationship between problems in behavioral control and children's capacity to utilize mediational strategies for self control, the responses of a group of disruptive (N=20) and nondisruptive (N=20) kindergarten children were compared in their approach to delay of gratification tasks. Subjects were compared on three forms of potential deficiencies detrimental to mediated task performance: (1) a comprehension deficiency--in which situation requirements and effective strategies are not understood; (2) a production deficiency--in which requirements are understood but effective strategies are not spontaneously produced; and (3) a mediational-control deficiency--in which requirements are understood and an effective strategy is produced, but behavior is not coordinated with that strategy. Results indicate that disruptive kindergarten children exhibit a deficiency on a composite measure of their ability to comprehend delay task demands and utilize mediational strategies for delay. Specifically, disruptive children exhibit a deficiency in the comprehension of situational contingencies and in the comprehension of the influence of two important strategies for delay, as well as a mediational-control deficiency when utilizing self-generated strategies. (Author/MP)