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Cultivating a Survivor's Attitude for the Street

NCJ Number
172040
Journal
Police: The Law Enforcement Magazine Volume: 21 Issue: 12 Dated: (December 1997) Pages: 22-26
Author(s)
D Spaulding
Date Published
1997
Length
5 pages
Annotation
For police officers to be prepared to defend themselves while under attack, they must cultivate a mind-set that will reduce the lag time of their self-defense reaction after the onset of the attack.
Abstract
The use of Neuro-Based Learning (NBL) is the foundation of any defensive skills program. NBL is based on Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). NLP and NBL are comprised of several different techniques, including the use of visualization or imaging. Planning for self-defense is nothing more than forethought, which is where NBL is involved. At least once a week, all police officers should visualize their worst nightmare scenario and "solve it" in the mind's eye. Officers should visualize themselves using any and all of their skills correctly. By doing so, visualization can be used to reduce reaction time, since the response has been pre-programmed into the brain. In addition to cultivating awareness of all the factors in a situation based on observation, knowledge, and experience, officers must also cultivate a willingness to use whatever self-defense tactics are required in a given situation without hesitation. The mind must continually instruct the body to do what is necessary for survival.