Cognitive styles and behavior problems of clinic boys

Groups of hyperactive, learning-disabled, epileptic, and normal boys matched on age and intelligence were compared on measures of cognitive style and maternal reports of behavioral pathology. All clinical groups were more impulsive, more field dependent, and weaker automatizers than their nonclinic peers. Although the clinical groups were described by their mothers as showing more behavior problems than controls, hyperactive boys were seen as having more conduct problems, while learning-disabled boys were seen as immature.