Defensive resistance can suddenly _______ __ ______ __________ as the officer escalates response techniques.

• A. Escalate to active aggression
• B. Deescalate to passive compliance
• C. Melt into compliance
• D. Disperse

Answer: (A)

Defensive resistance is when a person resists being controlled without initiating a full assault. In street encounters, increasing the officer’s force—through commands, holds, or tools—can provoke the subject to respond more aggressively. Consequently, defensive resistance can suddenly escalate to active aggression as the officer escalates response techniques. The other options describe outcomes that don’t reflect this dynamic of escalation triggering greater resistance: moving toward passive compliance would be a de-escalation, melting into compliance is casual phrasing and not the typical term used, and dispersing refers to leaving the scene rather than a change in the level of resistance.