The goal of de-escalating crisis behavior is to defuse crises before they reach the point of physical aggression or violence. The main philosophy of de-escalation is care, welfare, safety, and security for all involved in the crisis situation. The following are some of the goals of de-escalation:
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Gain equilibrium/stabilization: This involves identifying and removing anything that reinforces aggressive behavior. It also involves helping the other party(s) identify reasons to calm down.
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Cognitive: This involves helping the other party gain control of their thoughts and behavior. It also involves helping the other party gain a sense of control.
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Psychosocial: This involves assessing internal and external exacerbating and mitigating factors. It also involves identifying and choosing workable alternatives.
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Build rapid rapport and a sense of connectedness: The goal of de-escalation is to reduce the likelihood of escalation to physical aggression or violence by building rapid rapport and a sense of connectedness with an agitated person.
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Offer concise and respectful choices and consequences: A person who is upset may not be able to focus on everything you say. Therefore, it is important to be clear, speak respectfully, and offer concise choices and consequences.
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Speak to the person in crisis in a calm and respectful manner: The way we speak to a person in crisis is important. It is important to make the agitated person feel heard, understood, and respected.
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Focus on feelings: It is important to listen, watch, and reflect on the feelings of the person in crisis. For example, "It sounds like you are feeling...".
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Set limits: It is important to help identify options, choices, and consequences. It is also important to ignore any irrelevant behavior and focus on the main issue.
In summary, the goal of de-escalating crisis behavior is to defuse crises before they reach the point of physical aggression or violence. This involves building rapid rapport and a sense of connectedness with an agitated person, speaking to the person in crisis in a calm and respectful manner, focusing on feelings, and setting limits. It also involves offering concise and respectful choices and consequences, and assessing internal and external exacerbating and mitigating factors.
