The Glendon Association conducts ongoing research in the areas of self-destructive and violent behavior, child-rearing and parenting, and interpersonal relationships. 

As a result of these research efforts, the Glendon Association developed the FAST, an assessment tool that allows clinicians to determine client levels of self-destructive behaviors, including risk of suicide.  The FAST is grounded in a belief that internal working models, or critical inner voices, have lasting and substantive impact on behavior.  The Firestone Assessment of Suicide Intent FASI is a derivative of this scale that can be used to measure critical risk of suicide.

Using this model, Glendon has also developed the Firestone Assessment of Violent Thoughts (FAVT). Data collection is currently underway to establish the construct and criterion validity, and the reliability of the (FAVT) in predicting violent thoughts that may ultimately lead to violent behavior.

Thus far, data gathered on more than 500 prisoners, parolees, and domestic violence perpetrators have indicated that the FAVT is capable of distinguishing between violent and nonviolent individuals. An adolescent version of this scale is being developed. Results of the pilot study showed that the FAVT was able to distinguish between adolescents with a history of violence and those without such a history.

See Assessing Violent Thoughts: The Relationship Between Thought Processes and Violent Behavior.