De-escalation has one MAJOR problem.
The problem is NOT that it doesn’t work.
The research is clear that de-escalation works:
- In long-term care facilities, de-escalation reduces aggression by 61%.
- In law enforcement, de-escalation reduces officer injuries by 36%.
- In psych hospitals, de-escalation reduces aggressive incidents by 73% and staff injuries by 67%.
No, the problem with de-escalation isn’t its effectiveness.
The problem is that someone has to go first.
In conflict, someone has to go first… and lower their volume.
Someone has to go first… and genuinely listen.
Someone has to go first… and not react defensively.
Someone has to go first…
BAD NEWS: You can’t force someone else to go first.
GOOD NEWS: You always have the power to go first.
This is obviously true in long-term care facilities, law enforcement, psych hospitals and homeless shelters.
It is also true in marriage and family conflict.
It is even true with nations. If we are going to break the partisan death spiral of conflict we are in, someone is going to have to go first…
Lowering your volume, genuinely listening and not reacting defensively is NOT capitulation. It is de-escalation.
Have a great week!
Peace,
Ryan
Sources:
- Brenig, Daniel, et. al., Is mental health staff training in de-escalation techniques effective in reducing violent incidents in forensic psychiatric settings? A systematic review of the literature, BMC Psychiatry (2023) 23:246.
- Celofiga, Andreja, et. al., Effectiveness of de-escalation in reducing aggression and coercion in acute psychiatric units. A cluster randomized study., Frontiers in Psychiatry, April 2022, Volume 13, Article 856153.
- Engal, Robin S., et al., Assessing the impact of de-escalation training on police behavior: Reducing police use of force in the Louisville, KY Metro Police Department, Criminology & Public Policy, 2022; 21:199-233.
- Rogers, Brandon, et. al., Evaluating de-escalation training for direct and indirect employees caring for residents with Huntington’s Disease., Journal of American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 2025 Jan-Feb;31(1):76-82.
