The Force Encounters Course introduces the psychological and physiological factors that affect threat assessment, sensory perception, decision, performance, and memory and applies these evidence-based concepts to high-stress and life-threatening encounters in a law enforcement context.

The curriculum for this program is based on Force Science’s peer reviewed research that uses precise time-and-motion measurements to document environmental, physiological, and psychological dynamics during high-threat events. Real-world examples are used to facilitate discussion and demonstrate the ways physiological and technological factors affect the answers to critical use-of-force questions.

The course materials are delivered in class by lectures, group discussions, video presentations, and case studies.

The course will use research and input from a group of experts to teach the following concepts and more:

• How attention, decision-making, and response dynamics influence reaction time.
• How adrenaline, attention, and trigger speed affect shooting performance.
• How video recordings' capabilities and limitations may affect viewer perception of events.
• How popular firearm tactics can increase the risk of armed encounters.
• How critical incidents can affect memory.
• How the speed of assault influences de-escalation strategies and tactics.
• How the speed of assault, prone threats, attention, and exhaustion can affect traffic stops and investigative approaches.
• How the aforementioned factors can affect the memory and performance of all participants in a critical incident.

The course materials are delivered through a series of learning sessions, including lectures, group discussions, video presentations, and case studies. An expert instructor will help learners identify and understand physical and psychological phenomena associated with human behavior and demonstrate how these can impact performance under stress.  Some of the main learning topics include:

• Human Factors & Threat Analysis
• Understanding the Limits of Human Perception Under Stress
• Performance Errors and Unintentional Discharges
• Officer Decision Making
• Applied Analysis to Office Involved Shootings

At the end of the course, learners will understand the critical factors involved in use-of-force decisions and their performance in such situations. Participants will be able to incorporate the psychological and physiological concepts they learn into training programs that can enhance departmental and individual officer performance, encourage accountability and inform community oversight. The concepts taught in the course support commitment to procedurally just investigations, employing realistic, thorough, and evidence-based analysis.