Student Perceptions of School Violence: Could it Happen Here?

This study is the first to document optimistic bias among middle and high school students within the context of school violence. Findings from a survey of 1,508 students indicate that optimistic bias provides a good framework for understanding students 'perceptions of school violence, suggesting a course of action to decrease bias in order to encourage students to take self-protective measures. The study also explores the relative contributions of personal attributes and the media in the creation and preservation of optimistic biases.