The principle of keeping quiet works as following: When a situation is threatening, or something unexpected occurs, when you do not know what to do, when fear takes hold: do not react, disappear into the background, let it go on while avoiding confrontation. Basic forms of life show this reaction quite often: they perceive a threat and then freeze waiting for the danger to pass. The ones that "keep quiet" go unnoticed and survive. Insects and spiders demonstrate this behavior, but more developed animals do as well.
While the degree varies from person to person, every human being exhibits this defense mechanism at times. In Western corporate culture this mechanism is usually not seen as a positive asset, we are expected to assert ourselves. However, in certain situations Ôkeeping quiet' is a very useful response: many problems solve themselves and many perceived threats are not threats at all. Some people Ôkeep quietÕ as the first choice on their menu: being quiet, passive, not reacting or responding. These people pretend they are not there when they are in a room full of people. They do not speak, they hardly move to avoid attracting attention. Indecision can also trigger this reaction. Expressions like Ôturning into a wallflowerÕ are fitting descriptions of the keeping quiet defense mechanism.
In the world of animals we notice that an insect remains stationary when it spots a frog nearby. This reaction saves its life. Mice also react this way in certain situations. By keeping alert and reacting appropriately, they are able to survive.
The Ôkeeping quietÕ response can be observed during meetings, when certain people around the table do not say a word and pretend they are not even there. Teachers constantly encounter this kind of reaction when they selecting students to read aloud. Most students do not move or talk in an attempt to avoid the teacher's attention in what for them is a fearful situation.
Go on to 'Over compensating'
| Keeping Quiet | Over compensating | Fighting | To Flee |
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| Safety in numbers | Keeping distance | Aiming to please |
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