Preventing Violence at GMU
Campus Assessment & Intervention Team, CAIT
Recognizing Threatening Behavior
There are many behaviors and circumstances that may indicate concerns that an individual is developing an increased risk for violence or significant disruption. The significance of any one behavior or circumstance is often difficult to determine. Therefore, the threat assessment process is designed to review the situation in context of all of the facts that can be known.
Listed below are examples of behaviors and circumstances that may indicate an emerging concern and that an individual is in need of assistance. These examples are meant to help you identify potential concerns during you daily interactions with others. However, these examples ar NOT all-inclusive, and they are NOT intended to be used as a cheklist.
If you are aware of a situation where some of the concerns listed below are present, please share what you know with .......
The follwoing are behaviors exhibited by subjects who may escalate to disruptive or violent actions:
- Makes threats to harm or kill self or others.
- Makes attempts to harm or kill self or others.
- Possesses a weapon.
- Has a known history of violence or conflict.
- Makes statements indicating approval of using vilence to resolve a problem.
- Indentifies with or idolizes persons who have engaged in violence toward others.
- Engages in unexplained increases of absenteeism.
- Displays decreased performance in work or academics.
- Has numerous reports of others concerned about subject's behavior.
- Experiences extreme or sudden changes in mood and behavior.
- Shows an indication of problematic alcohol or substance use (marijuana, cocaine, amphetamine, perscription medication, etc.)
- Has extreme reactions to any losses, such as academic status, job, or a relationship.
- Experinces negative reactions to health problems, especially head injuries.
- High perceived levels of stress
- Is currently involved in a situation where there is a toleration of aggressive or hostile interactions.
- Shows a resistance to change or a reluctance to abaide by reasonable limits.
- Displays an over-rection to changes in policies/procedures.
- Has numerous conflicts with others
- Alienates others or isolates self from others
- Has chronic unresolved conflict.
- Exerts extreme jealousy and attempts to control in relationships
- Engages in stalking,bullying, or harassing behaviors
- Experiences difficulty learning from past behaviors or experiences.
- Tends to engage in blaming behaviors and not take responsibility for their own actions.
- Displays paranoia or distrust that is disproportiaonate to the situation
- Makes irrational accusations towards others
- Tends to constatly feel like life is unfair and carry grudges
- Has negative reactions to situations where there is pecking order/cliques
- Experiences perceived rejection or injustice
- Is ostracized by others
Note that subject's reaction to any situation may be real, perceived, or anticipated by the subject of cencern. The subject does not need to exhibit all of the behaviors above to be a concern. If you have any concerns that an individual is displaying any of the behaviors above OR any behaviors of concern that are not mentioned, please contact .....
Va. Code § 23-9.2:10.
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