By Police1 staff
Dr. George Thompson was the founder of Verbal Judo, a tactical communication system widely used in law enforcement to de-escalate conflicts and gain voluntary compliance. A former English professor and police officer, Thompson developed Verbal Judo in the 1980s to help officers communicate more effectively, reduce use-of-force incidents, and improve officer safety. His teachings emphasize deflection, persuasion, and maintaining professionalism under stress. His book Verbal Judo: The Gentle Art of Persuasion remains a key resource for officers seeking to enhance their communication skills.
In this video, Thompson explains the five universal truths of human interaction which remain true across the board, regardless of cultural background or gender.
- People feel the need to be respected
- People would rather be asked than be told
- People have a desire to know why
- People prefer to have options over threats
- People want to have a second chance
This article, originally published on September 24, 2010, has been updated with the video of George Thompson describing the five universal truths and background information on his life and career.