Remember: A threat does not have to be something that can physically hurt the person such as a predatory animals. A threat can be a boss who is about to catch the person slacking off, a teacher who is about to call on the student who was not paying attention and will not be able to answer her question if called on, a police officer pulling up next to you at a red traffic light and you are not wearing your seatbelt, or a street crimes unit rolling through your neighborhood while you are out front and a wanted fugitive…
Humans pretend to be busy when they are caught doing something wrong for a few key reasons, often linked to trying to manage the negative consequences of their actions:
Shame and Embarrassment: Getting caught can trigger feelings of shame and embarrassment, causing individuals to want to avoid the situation and the negative judgment of others. Pretending to be busy can be a way to avoid uncomfortable conversations, deflect attention, and create distance from the perceived wrongdoing.
Fear of Consequences: Individuals may be afraid of the potential consequences of their actions, such as punishment, reprimands, or social disapproval. Acting busy can be an attempt to appear focused and responsible, potentially mitigating the negative impact of the situation.
Trying to Appear Productive: In some environments, there is a strong emphasis on productivity, even if that means pretending to be busy. This pressure can lead individuals to engage in “Productivity Theater” making themselves look engaged and occupied, even when they are not, as a way to avoid being seen as lazy or unproductive.
Conflict Avoidance: Some individuals are conflict-avoidant and prefer to avoid direct confrontation. Appearing busy can be a way to signal unavailability and avoid difficult conversations about their actions.
Shifting Attention: By appearing busy, the individual hopes to shift the focus away from the negative behavior and onto their apparent diligence. They might try to distract others from the situation and potentially minimize the seriousness of what they did.
In essence, pretending to be busy when caught doing something wrong is a coping mechanism aimed at reducing the negative emotional and social fallout, such as feeling shame, receiving negative judgment, and facing consequences. In class, we break this behavior down and show what it looks like when a suspect begins displaying this behavior in response to seeing a marked police unit and how to address it. In my class, Master Proactive Policing for Patrol, we break this behavior down, show what it looks like as it is unfolding in front of the officer, and show the various ways that suspects attempt to “Look Busy” through body worn camera footage from real situations where officer’s recognition of this behavior has led to further investigation with some serious arrests.
