Two interesting cases essentially of elective mutism in adolescents are described in terms of intrapsychic and intrafamilial conflicts and therapeutic tactics. Excessive Oedipal stimulation from the fathers, separation conflicts relating to the mothers, and familial prohibition of expression of anger were characteristic of both families, as was a past history in one parent of silence as a coping response to anger. It was recommended that the silent patient be excluded from family sessions to prevent scapegoating. This brought to the fore the family separation problems. In individual treatment the goal of understanding the patient rather than eliciting speech was stressed, with the therapist, in briefer but more frequent sessions, doing most of the talking.