Should you choose to carry a concealed weapon, you should also be prepared mentally and physically to use it. That's not to say that walking around with some kind of chip on your shoulder is going to keep you safe! But it does come down to your willingness to train and to practice for different kinds of scenarios where you might need to keep your cool and follow a rational set of actions in order to keep you and your family safe.
This topic is covered on USConcealedCarry.com by Bruce N. Eimer, Ph.D., and he says that all conflicts should be resolved non-violently, whenever possible. He also mentions that it is important to be aware of situations, to be able to read people and their behaviors, to be flexible, to be able to communicate (and de-escalate issues), to be able to control your fear, and to have the willingness and ability to act in an appropriate way (even fighting) when all other options have been eliminated.
Psych 101 in Concealed Carry Situations
“Being armed is no mandate to act with bravado. Quite to the contrary, it carries with it an obligation to behave conservatively and avoid confrontations when at all possible in the face of rudeness. If a confrontation is unavoidable, then the armed citizen has an ethical obligation to do whatever is reasonable to try to de-escalate the situation. The rule is to be non-confrontational. Behave politely and non-aggressively when you can. When given no other choice but to choose aggressive action, be swift, decisive, and utterly relentless so as to get the job done.” (Read the full concealed carry tips article here)
Learn about and then practice being assertive. Being assertive is a way to stand up for your rights and is very different from being aggressive. There is an important difference between them that should be observed. Being assertive means that you act with confidence and are able to stand up for yourself and look the other person in the eye. Being aggressive is about getting in people’s faces and not having any concern for the other person. They should not be confused!
Part of learning to be assertive also entails simply being aware of what is going on around you as well. Practice lines that will show you have controlled your fear – as well as practicing humor, bluffs and knowing when to simply be quiet. All of these will go a long way in your ‘Psych 101’ in concealed carry situations training.