The Gift of Fear
Encyclopedia
The Gift of Fear is a nonfiction self help book (1997) written by Gavin de Becker
. The book provides strategies to help readers avoid trauma
and violence by teaching them various warning signs and precursors to violence.
, which have been employed by various celebrities and government agencies to predict and prevent violence.
Bestseller List, was a #1 National Bestseller, and has been published in 14 languages. The book has been endorsed by a wide variety of celebrities and experts including Marcia Clark
, Carolyn Hax and Oprah Winfrey
.
Gavin de Becker
Gavin de Becker is a specialist in security issues, primarily for governments, large corporations, and celebrities.-Career:...
. The book provides strategies to help readers avoid trauma
Psychological trauma
Psychological trauma is a type of damage to the psyche that occurs as a result of a traumatic event...
and violence by teaching them various warning signs and precursors to violence.
Text summary
De Becker's book presents a paradox of genre: described as a "how-to book that reads like a thriller." By finding patterns in stories of violence and abuse, de Becker seeks to highlight the inherent predictability of violence. The book explores various settings where violence may be found—the workplace, the home, the school, dating—and describes what de Becker calls pre-incident indicators (PINS). When properly identified these PINS can help violence be avoided; when violence is unavoidable, de Becker claims it can usually be predicted and better understood. The Gift of Fear also describes de Becker’s MOSAIC Threat Assessment SystemsMOSAIC Threat Assessment Systems
MOSAIC Threat Assessment Systems is a method developed by Gavin de Becker & Associates in the early 1980s to assess and screen threats and inappropriate communications.Walt Risler of Indiana University assisted in the development of the method...
, which have been employed by various celebrities and government agencies to predict and prevent violence.
PINS (Pre-Incident Indicators)
- Forced Teaming. This is when a person tries to pretend that he has something in common with a person and that they are in the same predicament when that isn't really true.
- Charm and Niceness. This is being polite and friendly to a person in order to manipulate him or her.
- Too many details. If a person is lying they will add excessive details to make themselves sound more credible.
- Typecasting. An insult to get a person who would otherwise ignore one to talk to one.
- Loan Sharking. Giving unsolicited help and expecting favors in return.
- The Unsolicited Promise. A promise to do (or not do) something when no such promise is asked for; this usually means that such a promise will be broken. For example: an unsolicited, "I promise I'll leave you alone after this," usually means you will not be left alone. Similarly, an unsolicited "I promise I won't hurt you" usually means the person intends to hurt you.
- Discounting the Word "No". Refusing to accept rejection.
Reception
The Gift of Fear spent four months on The New York TimesThe New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
Bestseller List, was a #1 National Bestseller, and has been published in 14 languages. The book has been endorsed by a wide variety of celebrities and experts including Marcia Clark
Marcia Clark
Marcia Rachel Clark is an American prosecutor, author, and television correspondent who gained fame as the head prosecutor in the O.J. Simpson murder case.-Early life:...
, Carolyn Hax and Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey is an American media proprietor, talk show host, actress, producer and philanthropist. Winfrey is best known for her self-titled, multi-award-winning talk show, which has become the highest-rated program of its kind in history and was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2011...
.