Communication & PRQuestion 162 of 200

'Verbal Judo' / tactical communication training, often referenced in BSIS de-escalation curricula, centers on which core principle?

a.Generating voluntary compliance through empathy, professional courtesy, and treating people with dignity — even when issuing lawful commands
b.Using verbal commands as loudly and as repeatedly as may be necessary until the subject finally complies with whatever has been asked of them
c.Mocking subjects into compliance through humour, on the view that a person who has been made to look foolish will stop resisting
d.Refusing to speak with subjects at all, and communicating only through physical gestures so that nothing the officer says can later be quoted back

Explanation

Verbal Judo, developed by Dr. George Thompson, teaches officers to seek voluntary compliance through empathy, calm tone, professional courtesy, and treating subjects with dignity. Core skills include LEAPS (Listen, Empathize, Ask, Paraphrase, Summarize) and offering choices that preserve the subject's face. Yelling (b), mockery (c), and silence (d) escalate, damage credibility, and provoke complaints and civil litigation. The technique improves both outcomes and officer safety by reducing the frequency of physical confrontations.

Law Reference: Dr. George Thompson, 'Verbal Judo'; BSIS de-escalation curriculum

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