The term “stressor agent” was first introduced to medicine by Selye (1950). Stressors really referred to patho-physiological phenomena associated with shock-like mechanisms, but psychiatrists have made use of the concept and to them stress implies mental conflict, anxiety-tension and defensive re-organization in relation to unpleasant psychic events. This re-organization might be maladaptive and lead to neurotic or deviant behaviour. It is always difficult to isolate a distressing event and attach prime importance to it in the aetiology of psychiatric disorders. What is minor discomfort for one, calling for minor adjustment, may represent severe pain for another by touching on some specially sensitive aspect of the personality, causing drastic emotional and behavioural changes. With these reservations in mind it is possible to extend the psychological concept of stressors to include the field of juvenile delinquency.