Violence/Violence Prevention

Demonstrating the Power of Social Situations via a Simulated Prison Experiment: In 1971, a team of psychologists designed and executed an unusual experiment that used a mock prison setting, with college students role-playing prisoners and guards to test the power of the social situation to determine behavior. The research, known as the Stanford Prison Experiment, has become a classic demonstration of situational power to influence individual attitudes, values and behavior. So extreme, swift and unexpected were the transformations of character in many of the participants that this study -- planned to last two-weeks -- had to be terminated by the sixth day.

Family-Like Environment Better for Troubled Children and Teens: The Teaching-Family Model changes bad behavior through straight talk and loving relationships.

Obeying and Resisting Malevolent Orders: Stanley Milgram's famous experiment highlights the powerful human tendency to obey authority.

Preventing Violence by Teaching Non-Violent Problem-Solving: Decades of social science research has shown that since violence is mostly a learned behavior, non-violence can also be learned.

Problem-Solving Program Teaches Kids How To Use Their Heads Instead of Their Fists: The path to world peace may begin in preschool, when children learn how to think their way through interpersonal challenges.

School Bullying Is Nothing New, But Psychologists Identify New Ways to Prevent It: Systematic international research has shown school bullying to be a frequent and serious public health problem. But psychologists are using this research to develop bullying prevention programs that are being implemented in schools around the world.

Violence in the Media - Psychologists Help Protect Children from Harmful Effects: Decades of psychological research confirms that media violence can increase aggression.

Violent Video Games - Psychologists Help Protect Children from Harmful Effects: Psychological research confirms that violent video games can increase children's aggression, but that parents moderate the negative effects.