Understanding the Violent Mind

Bruce Blythe, Owner and Chairman of Crisis Management International, is a guest blog author for Allied Universal.

Violent situations occur in the workplace every day. To best avoid escalating the potential for violence among hostile people, it’s helpful to understand the hostile/violent mind. Individuals who lash out often have low self-esteem that is covered up by acting superior to others. This can be accomplished by manipulating others, making threats, hostility, bullying, joining gangs,possession or use of weapons, etc.  

To prevent a tense situation from escalating, avoid “pointed fingers.” These gestures are often symbolic, but are inflammatory and antagonistic nonetheless. As part of violence prevention planning, it is important to review defusing strategies. These tactics may help keep a situation from escalating. 

Circumstances will dictate how a person reacts, but when an individual is hostile or violent, it’s often a response to a perceived attack against his/her dignity and self-worth. Keep in mind, the violent person has rationalized his/her behavior and feels justified in their actions. They almost always feel unfairly treated in some manner. It’s difficult to acknowledge that a person may be targeting us for vengeance, but responding in a defusing manner is the most effective response to any hostile/potentially violent encounter.

About the Author  
Bruce Blythe is the CEO of Crisis Management International, Inc., a worldwide organization of crisis management specialists, business continuity planners, and former FBI and Secret Service agents. He has worked with hundreds of companies in crisis prevention, preparedness and response. He has served as a consultant to the FBI on terrorism and workplace violence. He has made repeated appearances on NBC, CNN, ABC’s 20/20, CBS’s 48 Hours, CNBC, NPR, national talk shows and many others.