Factors to consider in establishing policies to manage violence include institutional characteristics, theoretical considerations in treatment, and external policy constraints. The social learning approach adopted at Glenthorne comes within the broad area of behavioral psychology. The main focus of attention is observable behavior, and the purpose of treatment is to achieve definite behavioral change. Assessment is primarily concerned with current behavior and environmental factors that contribute to behavior, although past influences are also examined to determine how particular behavior patterns have developed. Behavioral approaches are based on the hypothesis that much of a person's behavior is learned, maintained, and regulated by environmental consequences. A distinction is made between two types of violence management: (1) containment which refers to the immediate response to staff to either a potential or an actual incident of violence, where the main objective is to limit the amount of harm done; and (2) treatment which refers to the long-term goal of enabling youth to replace violent reactions with alternative behaviors. The risk of violence to staff must be considered when decisions are made about building design, staffing, job design, work practices, communications, training, and occupational health. 43 references, 4 figures.