The role of the mother was viewed from the perspective of coercion theory. Within that context, it was assumed that mothers of normal preschool childern are exposed to high densities of aversive events. Existing research literature supported these hypotheses and showed that the younger the child, the higher the rates. Data were also summarized which showed that mothers’ satisfaction with their role may vary as a function of these inputs. Observation data showed that mothers of aggesssive children encountered higher rates than mothers of normal children. In normal families them fathers function as social facilitators and resident «guest». Mothers serve as caretakers; and both parents share in child management problems. In distressed families the same roles occur; however, the mother’s roles is expanded to include that of crisis manager. The culture defines which attack behaviors a child may direct to his mother. Her mere presence is associated with increased likelihood for the occurrence of these responses. Mothers were shown to be more involved in extended coercive interchanges with the problem child. During extended interchanges, the problem child escalated to a maximum intensity very early in the sequence of coercive behaviors. Mothers escalated slowly to a mild aversive level and then withdrew at the earliest possible juncture. With siblings, the problem child’s chains were in response to a noxious intrusion: when the problem child escalated in intensity, they quickly followed suit. However, with the mother the problem child’s chains seem to constitute an attack rather than a reprisal. It was hypothesized that prolonged experience in aversive systems produces low self-esteem. In that regard, mothers of socially aggressive children would be exposed to higher rates of aversive events than would mothers of stealers. Comparisons were made on the baseline self-reports from the Minnesota Multiphasic Inventory. Mothers of socially aggressive children were significantly higher on the depression scale, with borderline elevations on hysteria and social introversion and lower scores on hypomania. Mothers of children who steal had MMPI profiles which were similar to the classic profiles for adolescent delinquents, that is, elevated scores on psychopathic deviate and hypomanic. Following training and supervision in child management skills, there was a significant decrease in the depression and social introversion scores and an increase in the hypomania scale. These changes were particularly marked for mothers of socially aggressive children.