The literature on the psychological effects of a cleft lip and/or palate is considered within the context of findings on facial abnormalities in general and the relationship between appearance and attitude formation. It is suggested that predictions from the general to the particular case of the cleft child are not always in the direction that might be anticipated, for there is little evidence of specific or severe psychological sequaelae to clefts. Nevertheless, there are indications of possible areas of difficulty and an outline for further research is put forward.
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