Status: Revise & Resubmit at Social Psychology Quarterly

Abstract: This paper examines how a school clerk successfully de-escalated a potentially deadly confrontation with an armed gunman. Using interaction ritual theory, I demonstrate how internalized rituals can shift emotional trajectories and interrupt violence in critical moments.

Methods: Ethnographic analysis, interaction ritual theory, case study methodology

Key Findings:

• Successful de-escalation involves specific interaction ritual chains
• Emotional energy can be redirected from violence to connection
• Training in interaction rituals has implications for violence prevention

Broader Impact: This research contributes to understanding how violence can be interrupted at the micro-level, informing approaches to crisis intervention and community safety that don’t rely on militarized policing.