The literature review examines the relationship of neurological impairment in young children with their social and emotional development. It identifies disorders of interaction and/or attachment and disorders of independence/dependence as specific maladaptive social and emotional states associated with neurological impairment. Three theoretical explanations for the obvserved relationships include: (1) direct effects of central nervous system pathology; (2) a secondary effect of the child's frustration; and (3) distorted social ecologies in families. The paper begins with a review of normal social and emotional development, notes the scope of the problem for children with neurological impairment, identifies the three possible etiological factors, and documents the specific types of affective disorders found most commonly in association with neurological impairment. Finally, the paper offers 10 implications for programming, including: parents should be helped to "read" their infant's behavioral cues; parents can be assisted in developing stable and predictable routines; respite services may be needed for parents under stress; parent groups should be encouraged; children should be provided experiences in which their attempts at independence are encouraged; and children should be allowed to experience some degree of normal day-to-day frustrations. Includes about 140 references. (DB)