Summary
Most research has either concentrated upon school refusal or truancy. A variety of models has been used to explain the disorders. Truancy has been described in terms of the disaffected youth. Much attention has been given to the home background. School refusal has been based frequently upon a faulty mother‐child relationship. The present paper proposes one unifying model based upon the concept of the non‐satellized child. The effect non‐satellization has upon resulting behaviour patterns is discussed.