ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that different schools use different defence mechanisms against violence. These defences are in fact inefficient, and they include encapsulation, dramatization, sterilization, and concretization. The chapter discusses five common denominators among all schools. These common denominators arise because institutions that deal with the same primary task and belong to the same organizational and cultural area behave in a similar way. The five common denominators are: First, all systems react to violence with panic and confusion. Second, all the systems cope with the symptom. Third, all the systems regard the problem as a local one, not taking into consideration the reciprocal relationship among different parts of the system. Fourth, in all systems there is no integrative plan that includes staff meetings and brain-storming. Fifth, dilemmas that arose during the workshop leave open the questions on issues such as authority, limits, or hierarchy.
