Module 1
According to Dr. George Thompson’s Verbal Judo framework, a “Contact Professional” differs from a “Combatant” primarily in that:
They prioritize respect and voluntary compliance over control
Which of the following best represents the concept of “tactical empathy” as used in Verbal Judo?
Acknowledging a person’s feelings without conceding authority
Which of the following best exemplifies the “8-Step Tactical Contact” from Verbal Judo?
Introduce self, explain reason, listen, ask, set context, give options, confirm, close
Which statement best explains the relationship between law and ethics in public safety work
Law defines minimum standards; ethics guide higher professional conduct
Which step in the OODA Loop requires analyzing context, training, and cultural factors before acting?
Orient
A key danger of relying on sarcasm during verbal interactions with agitated individuals is:
It unintentionally escalates conflict by attacking the person’s dignity
The "strip phrase" strategy is primarily intended to
Redirect resistance while maintaining professional control
Which of the following best defines “command presence” in a verbal team-based engagement?
Controlling the tone, clarity, and structure of spoken directions
What is the main purpose of the Use-of-Force Continuum
To provide a structured escalation model from presence to deadly force
The DECIDE Model begins with which key action
Detect the change
The term mushin in the Verbal Judo framework refers to:
A mental state of non-aggressive neutrality and emotional clarity
According to Verbal Judo, what is the officer’s greatest tool in managing verbal resistance?
The professional voice delivered with calm authority
A subject is escalating due to perceived disrespect. As the communicator, your optimal first step is
Reflect their emotion while pivoting to structure
Duty to Intervene” laws require officers to
Prevent or stop unlawful or excessive force by colleagues
In Verbal Judo, the goal of the Five-Step Appeal process is to
Obtain voluntary compliance through respect and structure
In the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Model, which conflict management style emphasizes high assertiveness and high cooperativeness?
Collaborating
In an escalating situation, why is the use of a “verbal anchor” considered a de-escalation tactic?
It reassures the subject by establishing immediate structure and clarity
A common barrier to successful verbal conflict resolution is
Believing your role entitles you to compliance
Which type of liability results in lawsuits seeking financial damages for civil rights violations?
Civil liability
A “Calm Presence” communicates what to a person in crisis
Professional control and stability
Which of the following best captures the tactical philosophy of Verbal Judo as applied in a high-stress public safety context?
Redirect verbal resistance using empathy and calm while maintaining control
An officer who experiences a "trigger phrase" from a subject is most likely to
Use strip phrases reflexively to buy time
Which of the following best exemplifies the “8-Step Tactical Contact” from Verbal Judo?
Introduce self, explain reason, listen, ask, set context, give options, confirm, close
What does the “Reasonable Officer” standard evaluate?
Whether another trained officer would act similarly in the same moment.
The concept of a Tactical Pause teaches responders to
Pause momentarily to reset thinking and tone under stress