Mary Grace's Human Development book is a psychology textbook often used in college psychology classes. O'Connor's use of it in the story is ironic because Mary Grace, who apparently suffers from some emotional instability to say the least, is the only one who reacts to the hypocrisy and prejudice demonstrated by Mrs. Turpin. This girl's emotional problems allow her to act out in a way her calm, reserved mother, who hears the same remarks Mary Grace does, never would.
Mary Grace must be an intelligent student, for she attends a prestigious women's college. She harbors a great deal of anger for reasons that are only suggested by her mother's references to her daughter's lack of appreciation for what she has. A psychology text could perhaps have instructed her in ways to deal with anger, but clearly she has no control because she attacks Mrs. Turpin violently.
It's ironic that she assaults Ruby who, although puzzled by the girl's strange looks and odd faces at her, is completely unprepared. Psychologically, Mrs. Turpin then must wrestle with the question of whether she really is "a warthog from Hell." Mary Grace is the conduit O'Connor uses to afford Mrs. Turpin her "moment of grace."
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