Looking COLD
Victim-like demeanor
- Head down, no eye contact with bully
- Body bent over.
- Sad or blank facial expression.
- Timid body movements.
Thinking COLD
“Self-blaming perceiving style”
- "It's my fault
- “I deserve to be treated this way”
- “There's nothing I can do about it."
- “If I don’t do what they say, I’ll get hurt"
Acting COLD
Behavior that gives up, runs away, withdrawn, becomes depressed.
- Do what the bully says.
- Muter or speak with low voice volume
- Cry
Looking HOT
Threatening Demeanor:
- Head up.
- Glaring stare, too much eye contact
- Tense posture, clenched fists, tight muscles
- Angry, challenging facial expressions.
Thinking HOT
“Other-blaming Perceiving Style”
- “It's all their fault"
- “If I’m calm, they won’t listen to me."
- “If I don’t get mad and fight back, they’ll get what they want"
- "Others will think I'm a sissy if I don’t fight back”
Acting HOT
Behavior that attacks, belittles, subjects, controls and defeats:
- Speaking with elevated voice volume, yelling
- Speaking with hostile voice lone
- Making derogatory or threatening statements
- Hitting or fighting
Acting COOL
Nonthreatening Demeanor:
- Gain composure. Pause, turn, look away
- Take deep breaths, do sealing behaviors.
- Nonaggressive, confident expression. Stand or sit up straight.
- No eye contact unless necessary to talk.
- Calm voice, good eye contact when speaking
- Walk or move confidently, purposefully.
Thinking COOL
“Non-blaming Perceiving Style”
- “How can I solve the problem?"
- “I’m going to stay calm and ignore them"
- “This bully is just trying to feel big"
- “Is this bully dangerous? If not, I’ll stand my ground or ask him/her to stop.”
- “If he, she’s dangerous, I’ll leave and get help"
Acting COOL
Behavior that asserts rights with respect and fairness.
If Bully is not Dangerous
- Calm down. Look Cool, Think Cool.
- Act Cool by “Ignore the bully” or “Talk the Talk/Walk the Walk by using the 4-Step Assertion Plan” or “Use Peer Pressure Refusal Skills”
If Bully is Dangerous
- Leave and Get Help, if necessary
Return to: Bullying: The COOL Response