Language that acknowledges the level of threat a person is experiencing can help slow down emotional reactivity and facilitate deescalation.
Creating opportunities for individuals to have a sense of control and autonomy, even in high-stress situations, is crucial for managing threat and promoting deescalation.
Deep dives
Understanding Threat Levels and Their Impact on Communication
When we sense a threat, our brains enter a state of heightened awareness, diverting resources from thinking to fight or flight responses. However, social threats can be as distressing as physical threats, impairing reasoning and communication. To curb threat, it's important to descalate situations and return to reason. This episode explores the science of social threat reward and how it helps us understand and communicate better in various contexts, including front-line workers and organizations.
The Power of Disruptive Language in Deescalation
Deescalation involves reducing conflict or potentially violent situations. Disruptive language, such as naming and understanding the three threat levels, plays a crucial role in managing and resolving conflicts. Language that acknowledges the level of threat a person is experiencing can help slow down emotional reactivity and facilitate deescalation. Additionally, sending positive social reward signals and addressing biases can further contribute to diffusing tense situations and promoting effective communication.
Real-life Impact of Deescalation Training in Law Enforcement
In a practical application of deescalation training, a suicide call involving a law enforcement officer and an armed individual demonstrates the power of empathetic communication. By expressing personal fear and understanding the person's perspective, the officer was able to establish a human connection and successfully deescalate the situation. This highlights the importance of preparing law enforcement with tools that focus on understanding human behavior, empathy, and effective communication to reduce the frequency of tragic incidents.
Building Autonomy and Relatedness to Manage Threat and Promote Deescalation
Creating opportunities for individuals to have a sense of control and autonomy, even in high-stress situations, is crucial for managing threat and promoting deescalation. Giving individuals choices and involving them in decision-making processes empowers them and reduces their reactivity. Additionally, fostering a sense of relatedness and shared goals helps shift the power dynamics and builds rapport in challenging interactions. Within organizations and various contexts, applying these principles can aid in conflict resolution and improve relationships.
Joe Smarro, one of the two police officers featured in the Emmy-nominated HBO documentary, “Ernie & Joe, Crisis Cops,” is helping create a more human society. In the season three premiere of YBAW, Joe joins NLI CEO and Co-founder Dr. David Rock, Senor Director of Neuroscience Research Dr. Kamila Sip, and facilitator Davie Floyd to discuss bringing science-backed de-escalation training to police officers. Together, the panel unpacks how the science of social threat and reward can help us better understand and communicate with each other to reach positive outcomes. And the benefits extend far beyond front-line workers to organizations of all sizes, and individuals of all backgrounds.
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