Identifying potentially aggressive behaviours


Identifying potentially aggressive behaviour banner

Use the STAMP principles to identify if someone’s behaviour may become aggressive:

Staring

  • prolonged glaring
  • absence of eye contact

Tone and volume of voice

  • sharp or caustic retorts
  • sarcasm
  • demeaning inflection
  • increase in volume

Anxiety

  • flushed appearance
  • hyperventilation
  • rapid speech
  • dilated pupils
  • confusion and disorientation
  • expressed lack of understanding

Mumbling

  • talking under their breath
  • criticising staff or the University just loudly enough to be heard
  • repetition of the same or similar questions or requests
  • slurring or incoherent speech

Pacing

  • walking around confined areas
  • walking back and forth

 

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* The STAMP principles are taken from "Luck, L, Jackson, D and Usher, K. 2007. ‘STAMP: components of observable behaviour that indicate potential for patient violence in emergency departments’. Journal of Advanced Nursing 59(1), pp11-19".

© University of Western Sydney 2012