The Causes of Violent Behavior
The intentional use of physical force or power against another person that could result in their death, suffering, harm, or psychological harm is referred to as violent conduct. (Cavaiola & Colford, 2011).
Violent behavior has a variety of reasons. Among them is mental disease. For instance, a person who suffers from a mental illness may behave aggressively toward others because he or she is unable to think clearly and, as a result, cannot regulate his or her behavior.
Alcohol consumption can also lead to violent conduct. (Roberts, 2000). A drunk person's behavior is difficult to anticipate. For instance, a drunk driver may decide to strike a security guard who attempts to stop the vehicle.
Violent conduct is also associated with learned behavior (Correia & Bronkhorst, 2000). Some people learn to address their frustrations through belligerent behavior. For instance, a woman who has frequently been battered by her husband might always react violently when confronted by men at work. Correia and Bronkhorst (2000) assert that past experiences might elicit person’s aggressive behavior from time to time.
Loss of self-esteem is another common cause of violent behavior. For example, a subordinate might feel inferior to his/her manager. Whenever the manager cautions the subordinate, he/she might respond aggressively because he/she feels intimidated or undermined.
Dealing with Violent Behavior
Security officers can deal with violent behavior in many ways. First thing, if an individual behaves aggressively towards another, the officer should listen to the person to understand what the violent person expresses (Baker, 2011). The officer can ask them the problem and listen attentively to understand what happened or the cause of the violence. The officer should show personal concern and involvement for the person’s issue. In other words, the security officer should show the parties involved in violence that he/she is there to help. Effective listening and personal involvement will help to de-escalate the situation.
Baker (2011) discourages security officers from threatening people involved in violent conduct. Threatening might escalate instead of deescalating the situation. Although different situations require different approaches, these general approaches can help to address a violent situation successfully.
References
Baker, T. E. (2011). Effective police leadership: Moving beyond management. Flushing, NY: Looseleaf Law Publications, Inc.
Cavaiola, A. A., & Colford, J. E. (2011). Crisis intervention case book. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning.
Correia, M., & Bronkhorst, B. (2000). Ecuador gender review: Issues and recommendations. Washington, D.C: World Bank.
Roberts, A. R. (2000). Crisis intervention handbook: Assessment, treatment, and research. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
