What is the best way to prepare for dealing with a violent individual?

Remaining calm and maintaining distance is the best approach when preparing to deal with a violent individual because it prioritizes personal safety and allows for the assessment of the situation. When an individual is displaying violent behavior, remaining calm helps to prevent escalation as anger or panic can exacerbate the situation. By keeping a safe distance, you reduce the risk of physical harm and provide yourself with more options for responding to the individual's actions.

This approach also allows for effective observation and analysis of the individual's behavior, which is crucial in determining the next steps. Maintaining distance acts as a buffer, giving you time to evaluate whether it is safe to engage further or if retreat is necessary. It also communicates non-threatening body language, which may help to de-escalate the situation.

In contrast, approaching with authority could invoke a defensive reaction, making the individual feel cornered or threatened. Yelling might escalate tensions further and lead to unpredictable reactions. Calling for backup is a valid tactic, but it is best utilized in conjunction with remaining calm and assessing the situation; it doesn’t serve as an immediate preparatory step against an active threat. Therefore, remaining calm and maintaining distance is the most effective method of preparation in such scenarios.