Fifty-six young maladapting (referred) children and 33 demographically comparable normal subjects, ages 6–9, were observed for 20 to 30 minutes in their classrooms and rated by judges for positivity of first impressions and likeability. Rater concordance, though generally low, was significantly higher for referred than for nonreferred children. Positivity of observer impressions did not differ for sex or age groups. Significantly more positive first impressions were formed about nonreferred, compared with referred, children, and about minority, particularly minority referred children, compared with non-minority referred children. There were no relationships between (a) positivity of initial impressions or likeability of referred children and (b) adjustment status at referral or intervention outcomes. Nor did the opportunity to select specific children to work with, based on initial liking, improve intervention outcomes.
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