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The authors' data demonstrate that neurotic and schizophrenic patients are more 'upwardly mobile' than the average population, and they show stronger upward mobility than their parents and siblings. It seems that at least prior to the onset of illness they are achievers and possibly overachievers. However, downward mobility also occurs. This fact in itself demonstrates that a particular mobility is not an essential concomitant of mental illness. Mobility aspirations in both the schizophrenic and neurotic population are even more striking. The discrepancies between achievement and aspirations in the individual patient as well as in the total diagnostic group are interesting quantitative indices of the patient's lack of ego strength and his subsequent flight into fantasy. Frustration and conflict over frustrated mobility aspirations may be discerned in all spheres. Clinical experience indicates that patients of lower class who are socially upwardly mobile individuals and who aspire to have values similar to those of the therapist are good therapeutic risks. On the other hand the downwardly mobile patient, usually a self-destructive, self-punitive, masochistic person, is likely to show negative therapeutic reactions. Social mobility does not explain the ideology