The leader in special education for emotionally disturbed children and youth, this powerful text combines descriptions of emotional and behavioral disorders with discussion and interpretation of current research on their development. Material is organized around five basic concepts: the nature of disorders and conceptual approaches to them; methods and rationale for assessment; major casual factors; characteristics of disordered emotion and behavior; and a personal statement about teaching students who exhibit such disorders. An advocate for social learning principles, the author addresses the links between what happens in a real-life classroom and psychology, child development, and special education; and suggests ways in which emotional and behavioral development can be influenced for the better, particularly by educators.