De-escalation and Threat Assessment
Assess threats quickly and use verbal de-escalation to avoid violence — most confrontations can be resolved without physical conflict if you respond correctly in the first 10 seconds.
Step-by-Step Guide
Assess the Threat in 3 Seconds
Ask yourself: Intent (do they want to harm me?), Capability (can they harm me?), Opportunity (are they close enough?). If all three are yes: immediate action. If one is no: de-escalation may work.
Control Your Body Language
Stand at a 45-degree angle (smaller target). Keep hands visible and open. Do not point or make aggressive gestures. Speak in a calm, low voice. Avoid direct prolonged eye contact — in many cultures this is a challenge.
Use the LEAPS Method
Listen (let them speak without interrupting). Empathize ('I understand why you're angry'). Ask questions (shifts them from reactive to thinking). Paraphrase (shows you heard them). Summarize and propose a solution.
Create Distance and Exit
Move toward an exit while talking. Do not turn your back. Keep at least 2 meters between you and an aggressive person — this is outside immediate striking range. Leave as soon as it is safe to do so.
Do not block the other person's exit. A person with no escape route is more dangerous, not less.
Decide: Comply or Escape
If threatened for property (wallet, phone, food): comply. Items can be replaced. If threatened for your person or your group's safety: create distance and run. Running is not cowardice — it is survival.
📚 Sources & References (2)
Verbal Judo
George Thompson
On Combat
Lt. Col. Dave Grossman