Dealing with Hostility

Posted by Editor on Apr 23rd, 2014 in Dealing with People | 0 comments

Seeing a hostile man or woman is not new. You only hope that you do not get involved in any instances. Here in Singapore, there were many cases of hostilities like in the case of some commuters at the Woodlands Interchange. On December 10, 2013, a man acted hostile when he repeatedly spitted on a woman’s face. As if it was not enough, he also shouted bad words to another woman. According to reports, the man tried to cut the line. That made him so angry that he acted rudely.

As much as possible you want a smooth and trouble-free day, right? Sometimes things happen. The outcome will depend on how you react with the situation. If you acted hostile, you will surely get into trouble. If you acted calmly, you may survive a day without any scratch. It is important that you know how to deal with hostility or aggression. Here are some tips that you can consider to deal with hostility or aggression:

Recognize it

Hostility is not good because it can hurt the recipient or victim. It is important that you know how to identify or recognize the behaviour of hostile people so you will know when to stay away from them. Behaviours of hostile/aggressive people include swearing, shouting, verbal threats, insulting, name calling, threatening motions and other harassments.

Calmly talk to the person

When you recognized that it is indeed hostility or aggression, you should calmly talk to the other person and tell him/her to stop. You have to tread carefully because one false move can make things worse. Sometimes you have to step back and try to stay away from the person. Hostile or aggressive people are most likely enraged and frustrated.

If it gets worse, call for the attention of personnel

If the hostility or aggression involves physical violence, that should not remain unnoticed. When this happens, it is time to call for the attention of the personnel. They will do their best to lead the aggressor away but if they cannot contain the situation, the police should handle it. The management should alert the police so they can respond immediately before it becomes bitter.

In order to deal with the hostility of other people, you have to understand your feelings first. Hostility or aggression varies from one person to another. If you are aware of your feelings, you will learn how to deal with hostility or aggression. The key here is never to be afraid if you do not want to be terrorized.