When someone is full of aggression and adrenalin they’re easily rendered useless with confusion.

Let us assume for whatever reason, you’ve found yourself being confronted by an aggressive guy who clearly wants to fight. If you run he’ll chase you, if you fight you’ll probably end up in hospital. What is the solution?

Relax your body and face into a passive state and talk to him in a calm voice about something completely unrelated, your latest holiday, or the new shed you’ve built. Go in to detail about it and add phrases such as ‘don’t you think?’ but do not give him time to answer. The aggressor will become confused, you have taken the control away from him as his testosterone filled brain tries to make sense of what is happening.

This usually results in an adrenalin dump, and the person will become passive. A side effect is the person can become very suggestible and would likely carry out any command you made, assuming it did not go against his morals and values (I.e. you could not order a kind person to harm someone). Something more subtle, like “I’m just going to leave if that’s okay, you stay here for a minute” said in a kind and comforting voice will allow you time to walk away as the person stays still, for reasons unknown to him. If you’re feeling really cheeky, you could have him hand his wallet over to you willingly (not that I condone it…)

The point is a person is unlikely to question such a subtle order as they will be relieved they have been told what to do after such confusion.

I tried this out a few years ago with great success. A group of guys a little older than my self decided to set up siege outside my house and cause me problems. After getting involved in a pointless conversation with them, I focused on the most aggressive and pretended to suddenly recognise him. I asked him how he was and what was going on in his life. Obviously he had no idea who I was so responded aggressively, though clearly not knowing what to do. Within 20 seconds they had left, probably without knowing why.

Disclaimer: This does not work 100% of the time, so make sure you have a backup plan. Additionally it is important to remain as calm as possible and to continue talking unless it’s clearly not helping. Do not allow his brain time to make sense of what’s going on.

image courtesy of moonbattery.com