ESCALATION PRINCIPLE


 https://www.yahoo.com/news/feud-ax-fishing-knife-bloody-085816129.html

General Principles of Self-Defense Lesson 7: What Is the Escalation Principle? Why Is It Bad to Think 'They'll Never Do That’?

This article highlights our Self-Defense Lesson #7 - Escalation principle. 


The Escalation Principle is a self-defense dynamic where a conflict escalates and the victim does not anticipate that escalation. Because they don't anticipate it, they can't prepare for it and it catches them unawares. 
Escalation is often seen in stalking, harassment and in emotionally charged situations where a percieved injustice has been inflicted. The later, is often referred to as the parking lot escalation where someone thinks you stole thier parking spot, you respond with some verbal retort and they get out with the crow bar. 
With stalking and harassment, the escalation principle comes into play when the bad guy ramps up the intensity of the harassment. 
It goes from a simple breakup --> to nasty messages --> drive bys of the house --> visits at work --> physical retribution such as flat tires, broken windshields or dead animals. Part of the escalation principle is for the victim to think " they'd never do that" brushing aside the evidence. 

In this Yahoo article, things escalate from words to physical violence with the victim ending up dead. But the whole scenario is so much more complicated, it takes some mental floss to keep it all straigtened out. 

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