'I think that what we?re seeing is really, in a sense, a kind of epidemic. Most epidemics start among the most vulnerable parts of the population and gradually spread out from there.'

?Psychologist James Garbarino, Cornell University, on the teen-ager who shot classmates at his high school in Springfield, Ore. (The Oregonian, May 22).

'Boys are in a silent crisis. The only time we notice is when they pull the trigger.'

?Psychologist William Pollack, McLean Hospital, Boston, on the violent consequences of boys? tendency to repress normal feelings (Newsweek, May 11).

'This is a classic ?man bites dog? story. We?ve heard a lot about passengers hitting flight attendants. I?m not surprised that it goes both ways.'

?Psychologist and road rage expert Steven Simring, New Jersey Medical School, on a growing tendency by flight attendants to verbally attack passengers (ABCNews.com, April 28).

Heard in the Monitor

'Right now we have work structured so that we leave home at 8 and come home at 6. [In the future] that structure won?t be there any more. People will be able to work anytime. Those who have an inner drive will be able to do well. Those who find it difficult to work without a structure will find it hard.'

?Chockalingam Viswesvaran, Florida International University, page 10.

'Employees with psychological disorders may be less likely to resolve workplace problems through litigation. People who may be experiencing difficulties in this realm don?t seem to pursue it to the point of litigation. It may be that the problem is solved before it gets to that point. But it may also mean that these workers are just less likely to create a lot of flack.'

?Michael Feuerstein, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, page 15.

'In the old days, a disabled employee would often simply sit at home waiting to get back to the mythical 100 percent before

returning to work. Now the internal employee?assistance program staff and external providers work together to bring the person back as soon as possible, using work in a therapeutic way.'

?Daniel J. Conti, vice president and EAP director at FCNBD, page 18.