True bifurcation goes beyond the internal thought processes and looks at their manifestation outside on the body and in the tonality of the voice. Think of it as stepping outside yourself and seeing your communicative actions as a third party observer, or for those particularly adept at this, as the subject. What’s this LEO doing? How’s he coming across? How would you respond to him? Sounds involved, but really this self-check, this bifurcation, takes less time than it does to say bifurcation.
While determining intrinsic escalation levels, you've got to check extrinsic display of escalation, what you're saying non-verbally.
Affective Consequence
How am I coming off? Check expression, go for Switzerland, neutral, relaxed, calm even though you don’t feel it. Careful not to go the other way - smiling can be interpreted as mocking or discounting.Paralinguistic
Monitor vocal tone and volume. Do not get loud or try to yell over a screaming subject.Oculesic
Do not maintain constant eye contact; the alpha stare only escalates. Allow the subject to break their gaze and look away.Proximal
Look to maintain equal eye level.Allow extra physical space between you, about four times your usual distance. Anger and agitation fill the extra space between you and the subject.
Strike a three quarter or half stance to subject.
