⚠️ Pre-Contact Cues Module
Violence is predictable. Pre-contact cues reveal danger before it makes contact — giving you precious seconds to escape, protect your family, and stay safe.
1️⃣ What Are Pre-Contact Cues?
Pre-contact cues are physical, emotional, or behavioural signs that someone is preparing for violence or rapid escalation. These cues reveal intention long before an attack happens.
Pre-contact cues are your early-warning radar — your chance to avoid danger before it ever reaches you.
2️⃣ Why They Matter
Most victims later report: “I felt something was off — but I didn’t understand what I was seeing.”
Understanding cues helps you:
- Spot danger early
- Increase distance before risk rises
- Move children or loved ones away
- Avoid being surprised or cornered
- Act BEFORE a threat develops fully
3️⃣ Physical Pre-Contact Cues
These show rapid physiological change:
- Fast or shallow breathing
- Jaw clenching / teeth grinding
- Weight shifting (ready to move)
- Target glances (checking where to strike or grab)
- Hands disappearing into pockets
- Lip licking, swallowing hard
- Frozen posture (adrenaline overload)
4️⃣ Behavioural & Emotional Cues
- Fixated staring
- Shadowing or following
- Pacing with rising agitation
- Scanning for victims or witnesses
- Sudden silence / emotional shutting down
- Muttering or aggressive self-talk
- Breaking social rules or distancing norms
5️⃣ Pre-Attack Rituals
- Checking clothing or hiding hands
- Touching weapon areas
- Approaching on a curved path
- Looking around for cameras or witnesses
- Closing distance unnaturally fast
Pre-attack rituals require immediate action — never wait to confirm.
6️⃣ Your Defensive Response
- Increase distance immediately
- Move away from people to reduce harm
- Break the line of approach
- Curved movement — not straight backwards
- Use barriers (benches, trees, fences)
- Retrieve children instantly
- Leave early — you lose nothing by leaving
🧠 Pre-Contact Cues Quiz
10 questions. Identify early-warning signs before danger forms.
1️⃣ Someone repeatedly scans, adjusts clothing, and watches random people closely. What is it?
A) Normal people-watching
B) Behavioural pre-contact cues
C) They are stressed
D) They are being cautious
2️⃣ A person hides their hands suddenly when you approach. What should you assume?
A) Approach and ask what they’re hiding
B) Treat it as a possible threat & increase distance
C) Ignore it
D) Confront them verbally
3️⃣ Weight shifting + freezing + rapid breathing means…
A) They are stressed
B) They may be preparing for movement or attack
C) They are relaxed
D) They are cold
4️⃣ Someone shows fixated staring + closing distance. What do you do?
A) Stare back
B) Move away early & break line of approach
C) See what they do next
D) Walk toward them
5️⃣ Target glancing typically means…
A) They are embarrassed
B) They’re checking where they want to strike, grab, or run
C) They are relaxed
D) They are stressed
6️⃣ A person begins touching one side of their clothing repeatedly. This suggests:
A) They are uncomfortable
B) They may be checking a concealed object
C) They are relaxed
D) They are shy
7️⃣ Someone repeatedly circles a play area while scanning. What is this?
A) They are exercising
B) Behavioural deviation & possible threat
C) They are waiting for someone
D) They are curious
8️⃣ Curved approach path (not straight line) usually indicates…
A) They are being friendly
B) Predatory intent or testing your reaction
C) They are nervous
D) They are lost
9️⃣ Sudden freezing usually means:
A) They are thinking deeply
B) An adrenaline spike / preparing for action
C) They are relaxed
D) They are lost
🔟 You recognise multiple pre-contact cues forming a cluster. Your action?
A) Stay and observe more
B) Leave immediately & increase distance
C) Move closer to assert control
D) Ask them what they’re doing
