The various ways in which the chronic schizophrenic thinks of himself and the behaviors that result and the clinical study of decision making in chronic schizophrenic patients suggest that decision-making is essential to integration and clinically it is altered in the behavior of schizophrenics. 3 groups of patients were observed in settings that permitted study and differentiation of a unique set of decision behaviors. 1 group (13 hospital patients) was in a "permissive" setting, 1 group (11 hospital patients) was in a "structured" setting, and a group of 13 "borderline" outpatients comprised the Ss of the study. Results favored the "structured" setting where decision making became more coordinate, disordered words and actions gradually disappeared, and a functional role in an organized society seemed to enhance self-value. In the "permissive" setting distorted decision patterns seemed to be promoted. Lack of societal expectations and direction for function seemed to promote self-doubt and loss of respect for self.