Body Buffer Zone and Violence: A Reassessment and Confirmation
ARTHUR M. HILDRETH M.D.1,
LEONARD R. DEROGATIS PH.D.2, , and
KEN McCUSKER M.A.3
1 Staff Psychiatrist, Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Hospital, P. O. Box 6815, Towson, Md. 21204 and Instructor in Psychiatry, Johns Hopkins Hospital
2 Assistant Professor of Medical Psychology, Johns Hopkins Hospital
3 Staff Psychologist, Maryland Department of Correctional Services, Hagerstown, Md.
Randomly selected inmates in a state prison were evaluated for sensitivity to physical closeness and aggressiveness. The results confirmed the conclusion from previous research that aggressive inmates have greater sensitivity to physical closeness than do nonagressive ones. At variance with earlier findings was the discovery that both aggressive and nonaggressive inmates had an increased sensitivity to approach from the rear as opposed to approach from the front.
