What are some signs of aggressive behaviour?

Aggression rarely appears without any warning at all.

Watch for a raised or sharpened tone of voice, tense posture such as a clenched jaw, squared shoulders, or someone stepping into your personal space uninvited.

Restless movement - pacing, fidgeting, or repeatedly checking the exit - is another common early cue, as is verbal signalling: sarcasm, veiled threats, or the same grievance repeated louder each time it's raised.

Eye contact often shifts too, either intensifying into a fixed stare or disappearing altogether as the person disengages from the conversation.

None of these signs is conclusive on its own, but two or three appearing together is a reliable early indicator worth slowing the interaction down for. These cues rarely exist in isolation - they're often the visible half of Betari's Box, the attitude-behaviour cycle already running between you and the other person.

Knowing how to respond to aggressive behaviour starts with catching these cues before they build further.

Stand2's Managing Challenging Behaviour Training trains staff to spot these signals early and respond with confidence.