Deëscalation tip #42

When operating with a peace team, meeting aggression is sometimes best managed by surrounding the target of the aggression, often completely ignoring the attacker. Facing the targeted person without coming off as saviors, but rather just as friends, is often most adaptive. Asking the targeted person what might make them feel the best is often the best approach, unless they are so overwhelmed they can't offer much coherence. There are many comments and questions in the moment, including but not limited to: 

• Hi friend, how are you?
• Hi, can we help? 
• Would you like us to walk away with you?
• If you like, we can stay with you until you feel safe.
• We are not meaning to interfere if you prefer we walk away. 

If there has literally been a physical assault, do not repeat NOT call 911 unless the person specifically asks for that or agrees with it. Perfectly innocent people have deeper fear of armed agents of the state than they do of random aggressors. 

Obviously, if a person has been grievously wounded or if there are gunshots, everything changes. A 911 call is directed specifically by 911 operators and dispatchers. Some will not result in armed agents responding and some will. 

For instance, if someone is being verbally abused and it precipitates a heart attack, and you legitimately call 911 for the heart attack, you may or may not wish to not mention the verbal aggression that seemed to trigger it. This is highly situational. It's one reason we on our team say that we teach a standard method used by deëscalation experts around the world, but in the real world of the streets it's an art and each person becomes a unique artist.