Threat Vs Intimidation

We've all felt intimidated before and we don't like it very much. However, it is a part of life. It's important to remember what intimidation is and what it isn't. Intimidation is, simply, a form of communication used to get compliance through the use of fear. It is, to the intimidator, a means to an end. However, a threat is a form of communication used to not only create fear, but explicitly announce an outcome of a causal relationship, e.g., "If you don't give me your money, I'm going to kill you."

Now, threats can be intimidating, but they are two different forms of communication, even when used in conjunction with one another.

Okay, now that I've explained the difference between intimidation and threat, you're asking yourself, "Who cares"? Well, if you want to become a master communicator, you'll not only want to figure out why people intimidate, but to also try to uncover the underlying meaning of the intimidation. What is it that the intimidator really wants? Sure, some people are just bullies. But people generally intimidate because they need something, they want something, and they just don't know how to properly ask for it. However, sometimes a simple act of intimidation, e.g. staring someone down, can become threatening. And it's important to recognize the difference between the salesman who pushes for the sale too hard and the guy who won't take no for an answer.

Now, it isn't always easy to read human behavior and distinguish between intimidation and threat, but it's important that you start trying, as the world is a very scary place. When you're out and about, remember everyone has motive and self-interest. When you're out at dinner, watch people non-verbally, especially anytime conflict is involved. If you witness violence, try to figure out what caused it and why. And if you hear threatening voices, watch for sequential events which cause non-action to move to action.

Use your instinct, your gut. If something feels wrong, it probably is, and you should move on to someone else or somewhere else. As mammals, we've undergone thousands of years of evolution. Our amygdala, the primitive part of our brain, has an uncanny ability to detect threat, both consciously and unconsciously. We identify threats by shape, color, and behavior. We can even detect potentially threatening people when they exhibit non-threatening behavior, for example, that guy or girl who just gives you the willies or makes your stomach churn without knowing why.