THE MAIN HYPOTHESIS OF THIS STUDY IS THAT THE OUTBREAK OF VIOLENCE IS THE RESULT OF A SERIES OF INTERACTIONS, CALLED CYCLES, BETWEEN EGO AND ALTER, REPRESENTING TWO INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS. THE METHODOLOGY INVOLVED DETERMING THE RESPONSES OF A GROUP OF ADULTS AND ADOLESCENTS IN ISRAEL TO A SERIES OF HYPOTHETICAL SITUATIONS. RESULTS INDICATED THAT IF THE FIRST CYCLE OF INTERACTION IS NOT CLEAR TO THE PARTIES, THE INTERACTION WILL TEND TO ESCALATE IN ITS INTENSITY UNTIL THE MEANING OF ALTER'S ACTION IS CLARIFIED; THEN, IF IT IS PERCEIVED AS PROVOKING IT COULD ERUPT INTO VIOLENCE. OR, IF ALTER'S MEANING WAS FINALLY DEFINE BY EGO AS NEUTRAL OR FRIENDLY, THE TENSION WILL SUBSIDE AND JOCULAR FRIENDSHIP MIGHT ENSUE. HOWEVER, IF THE INTERACTION IS STILL AMBIGUOUS, THE INITIAL CYCLES MIGHT BE FORGOTTEN, AND THE SUBSEQUENT CYCLES, EVEN IF AMBIGUOUS, WILL BE DEFINED AS PROVOKING, AND VIOLENCE MAY ERUPT. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)