Most often, threats are received by phone, through a letter or document, or with other media. In any case, when a similar situation occurs - it is primarily a panic, a shock that provokes a surprise factor. Such a state leads to the fact that a person can not act adequately and perceive information, so the first and hardest rule for implementation is to stop being afraid, to take control of yourself and to analyze well what is happening. Now let's consider what to do if a threat to life came through a phone call.
It is very advantageous to have a caller ID number. If available, write down or remember the number from which they call. If you also have sound recording equipment - try to record the call and the dialogue in full, without missing any details. During the conversation, try to remember it as literally as possible, fix everything that you can, on paper. Be sure to note the sound background, remember any sounds, except voice, sounds. Also record the exact time of the call, its duration. At the expense of threatening, try to determine its age, gender, features of speech, accent, timbre of voice, tempo and pronunciation. Any details that you will remember will be very important, and all information will be of use to the investigation. Notice also from whose face the threatening person talks, whether he makes mistakes, what conditions he puts forward, how and when to contact him. Try to concentrate on its requirements, delay the maximum period of their implementation. Most likely, the perpetrator will intimidate you, warn you about confidentiality, and expose threats to life either to you or to the hostages. Do not be afraid of his intimidation, inform law enforcement. Just be careful: your phone can be tapped, so it's better to use another, and also be prepared for the fact that you are being watched. As the statistics prove, it is better not to hide what is happening.
If the threats of life came in the letter, the course of action will be slightly different. First, try not to leave fingerprints on the letter, do not wriggle it, do not take any notes, it is advisable to leave it as accurately as possible in the condition in which it was delivered. You should also determine the time of delivery, remember where and how it was delivered, did you notice anything unusual when you received the letter. What to do in this case? Open the envelope as neatly as possible, cut the paper from the left or right edge, handle the document as carefully as possible. Take care that none of your friends or acquaintances know about him. All this will help criminologists during the investigation. Again, try to pay a lot of attention to the details and remember each feature, keep calm and self-control.
What if the threats are really serious and life-threatening directly from the aggressor? Appreciate his physical, psychological and emotional state. Here again, you will be helped by any detail: clothes, facial expressions, movements, voice, posture, exactly how the threat comes - all this criminal can "read" and determine how to behave with him. Assessing the threat and aggressor is very important, you must be as concentrated and observant as possible. The physical condition includes what the enemy looks like, how strong it is, what is its advantage and what is the disadvantage, whether it has special training, weapons, what is its musculature, whether there are physical pathologies or shortcomings. People with special training are confident, they look after the enemy, fixing any of his movements.
It is most difficult for a newcomer to determine a psychological state. But it is this that plays the most important role in the course of events. The criminals can be divided into three main types: people with mental disabilities, healthy people mentally and healthy individuals who are under the influence of narcological substances. Each of the three types can be divided into many additional ones. The most difficult to identify a person mentally ill. He may suffer from schizophrenia, manic syndrome, be a sociopath or an inadequate person. Even schizophrenia itself has a variety. For example, a patient with paranoid schizophrenia may imagine that he is performing a religious mission, the task of which is to kill you. Or that he is a secret agent, or he may be pursued by terrorists and spies, and he may seem that you are one of them, or you were sent to kill him. To convince a patient of the falsity of beliefs is in most cases useless. Sociopath - manipulator, scam. He likes the feeling of power, he also has no conscience, guilt, compassion. An inadequate type has a distorted perception of reality, can be aware of the consequence of an act.
What if you suddenly have serious threats to life? Identify the emotional background of the criminal, what he feels in general and especially in relation to you: disgust, fear, doubt, anger, aggression. Each emotion has its own action plan. The main thing that will help you in any case - self-control, resourcefulness, observation and, undoubtedly, a strong desire to survive.