When faced with an individual threatening violence, but without displaying a weapon, a security professional's first priority on the force continuum would generally be:

Question: When faced with an individual threatening violence, but without displaying a weapon, a security professional's first priority on the force continuum would generally be:

Answer options:

• To immediately apply an intermediate weapon technique. ✅ To switch to a defensive stance while attempting verbal de-escalation.
• To retreat and call for police without further engagement.
• To use open-hand strikes to incapacitate the individual.

Correct answer: To switch to a defensive stance while attempting verbal de-escalation.

Explanation: Even when faced with threats, the force continuum prioritizes de-escalation and defensive positioning before escalating to physical control or weapons, unless there is an immediate and unavoidable threat of grievous bodily harm.