Curiosity as the foundation of de-escalation

Workplace violence remains a persistent challenge in healthcare, with significant consequences for staff wellbeing, patient safety and quality of care. While de-escalation is widely recognised as a key strategy for managing aggression, the role of curiosity has been largely overlooked. This paper explores curiosity as a focused, compassionate and reflective approach to understanding, both of others and oneself, that supports deeper insight into the causes of distress and promotes more empathetic, non-coercive responses to conflict. Grounded in frameworks such as the Tidal Model and Socratic dialogue, curiosity is presented as a practical and philosophical foundation for trauma-informed, person-centred care. A cyclical model of violence prevention is introduced, positioning curiosity as integral to all stages of intervention. Drawing on case studies and applied strategies, the paper illustrates how cultivating curiosity in daily practice can strengthen relationships, reduce conflict and contribute to safer, more responsive healthcare environments.