Alberta Basic Security Training (ABST) Practice Exam 2025

What is one strategy for dealing with a crowd?

1. Encourage aggressive behavior

2. Remove the leader

3. Ignore the crowd altogether

4. Usher them to a different exit

The correct answer is: Remove the leader

Removing the leader from a crowd can be an effective strategy because a leader often has significant influence over the group's behavior and decisions. In many cases, crowds are more manageable when their focal point or source of agitation is neutralized. By addressing the leader, it may be possible to diminish the crowd's overall energy, organization, or propensity for aggressive behavior. A charismatic figure or organizer can rally the crowd or incite further unrest, so taking steps to remove that individual can lead to a decrease in tension. This strategy must be implemented carefully to avoid escalating the situation further, as crowd dynamics can quickly shift if they feel threatened or if their leader is forcibly removed. The aim is to de-escalate the situation and regain control, promoting safety for everyone involved. In contrast, encouraging aggressive behavior would likely lead to increased conflict, ignoring the crowd could allow situations to develop unchecked, and merely ushering them to a different exit might not address the underlying issues causing the disruption. Each of these alternatives does not provide a resolution to managing the crowd's dynamics effectively.