Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 3, 2026

The Resident-intruder Paradigm: A Standardized Test for Aggression, Violence and Social Stress
Published on: July 4, 2013
DO POSITIVE PERCEPTIONS OF CORRECTIONAL STAFF MITIGATE INSTITUTIONAL VIOLENCE AMONG YOUTHFUL OFFENDERS?
Colleen Brown1, Adam Fine2, Elizabeth Cauffman3
1University of California, Irvine colleeb@uci.edu (714) 478-5270 4308 Social & Behavioral Sciences Gateway, University of California, Irvine Irvine, CA.
Abstract:
Juvenile justice facilities can be dangerous places for adolescents and may promote violent behavior among incarcerated youth. With high rates of violence among detained juveniles, youth who do not feel safe may resort to violent behavior to protect themselves. However, this "cycle of violence" may be interrupted if youth can turn to correctional staff for support. Using a 3-wave, longitudinal sample of 373 male incarcerated adolescents, the results indicated that as compared to violence exposure prior to incarceration, exposure to institutional violence more strongly predicts violent behavior. Further, the findings indicated that perceptions of staff serve as a buffer to violence exposure and may interrupt the cycle of violence. Policy implications are discussed.
Related Concept Videos
The Stanford Prison Experiment
Obedience
Robbers Cave
Punishment
Punishment can be positive or negative. Positive punishment involves adding an undesirable stimulus, such as scolding, to decrease a behavior. Negative punishment involves removing a desirable stimulus, such as taking away a favorite toy, to decrease behavior....
Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
Operant Conditioning
Reinforcement in operant conditioning can be positive or negative, both of which serve to increase the likelihood of a behavior. Positive...

