Conflict De-Escalation Techniques Flashcards
7 cards from real CART practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Conflict De-Escalation Techniques flashcards as text
During a heated argument, a client suddenly raises their voice and begins pacing. Which de-escalation action should a therapist prioritize first?
Answer: Calmly lower your own voice to model regulation
Lowering your own voice models emotional regulation and often prompts the other person to mirror calmer behavior.
Which statement best describes the concept of 'emotional flooding' in conflict situations?
Answer: A state where physiological arousal overwhelms one's ability to process information
Emotional flooding (Gottman's term) occurs when arousal is so high that rational processing shuts down, making de-escalation essential.
A de-escalation technique known as 'SLANT' includes which of the following components?
Answer: Sit or stand calmly, Lower your voice, Acknowledge feelings, Name the issue, Time-out if needed
SLANT (Sit/stand calmly, Lower voice, Acknowledge, Name the issue, Time-out) is a structured de-escalation mnemonic used in conflict intervention.
When a client threatens to leave a therapy session mid-conflict discussion, the most therapeutic de-escalating response is:
Answer: Validate their need for space and offer to pause and reconnect
Validating the client's need for space respects their autonomy and prevents power struggles that deepen escalation.
The 'broken record' technique in de-escalation involves:
Answer: Calmly restating a key boundary or message without engaging in debate
The broken record technique involves calmly repeating a clear message to maintain a boundary without escalating into argument.
Which physiological indicator most reliably signals that a conflict has escalated beyond productive dialogue?
Answer: Heart rate exceeding approximately 100 beats per minute
Research by Gottman shows that heart rates above ~100 bpm typically indicate flooding, at which point productive conversation is nearly impossible.
In a workplace conflict, one party begins making personal attacks rather than addressing the issue. The best de-escalation strategy is to:
Answer: Redirect the conversation back to the specific issue at hand
Redirecting to the concrete issue interrupts the personal attack cycle without validating it or escalating defensiveness.