Schizophrenic behavior is viewed as the final outcome of a primarily cognitive disorder involving the ego functions of attention and perception. The interpersonal difficulties and conflicts usually described in schizophrenic states may then be interpreted as secondary reactions to impairment of these specific ego functions. Twenty-six patients with early schizophrenia were interviewed, and verbatim notes of their semistructured interviews analyzed, to provide empirical data for the theory proposed. The authors develop further support for their thesis by citing from the work of developmental psychologists (Piaget, Werner), recent psychophysiological research (Brain, Penfield, R. Jung), and the publications of traditional psychology. The thesis proposed furnishes a directive for further research into the clinical psychopathology of schizophrenia and some interesting problems are outlined for investigation.