Deescalating possible violence is always better and easier than working on problems after development. Of course timing and
luck play a part. Read the following case, "Quick Change Artist" from Session One. You can find three more cases in that Session's focus on deescalation. Can you understand how an unexpected kind response from one side of a situation might set up face-saving positive response from the other side?
Quick Change Artist Turns Muggers into Helpers
An older woman was walking down a city street carrying her heavy shopping bags. Two young men came up behind her and overtook her on both sides. She knew what they were up to but she was far from any residence or person she knew.
Before they got close enough to touch her or anything, she turned and grinned at each of them, thrust her packages into their arms, and told them how relieved she felt now that they had come along.
"I was really nervous on this street," she said, "And these bags are so heavy. Would you help me?" The men took the bags instinctively, and off the three of them walked together, the woman thanking the two men all the while for being such good and helpful people.
See Safe Passage on City Streets (Samuel), p. 89.
Analysis:
The older woman uses many tactics which will later be introduced in the sessions. However, probably the most apparent tactic used in this case study is her use of surprise in the situation. Her unexpected response to the muggers caused the muggers to respond in an automatic and unplanned manner.
Submitted by Editor of ATVC
Danene M Bender
luck play a part. Read the following case, "Quick Change Artist" from Session One. You can find three more cases in that Session's focus on deescalation. Can you understand how an unexpected kind response from one side of a situation might set up face-saving positive response from the other side?
Quick Change Artist Turns Muggers into Helpers
An older woman was walking down a city street carrying her heavy shopping bags. Two young men came up behind her and overtook her on both sides. She knew what they were up to but she was far from any residence or person she knew.
Before they got close enough to touch her or anything, she turned and grinned at each of them, thrust her packages into their arms, and told them how relieved she felt now that they had come along.
"I was really nervous on this street," she said, "And these bags are so heavy. Would you help me?" The men took the bags instinctively, and off the three of them walked together, the woman thanking the two men all the while for being such good and helpful people.
See Safe Passage on City Streets (Samuel), p. 89.
Analysis:
The older woman uses many tactics which will later be introduced in the sessions. However, probably the most apparent tactic used in this case study is her use of surprise in the situation. Her unexpected response to the muggers caused the muggers to respond in an automatic and unplanned manner.
Submitted by Editor of ATVC
Danene M Bender
RSS Feed
