I have been instructing in law enforcement/corrections for the last couple of decades and this mental effort is a common technique and I've used it (training it as a tool) for several different groups. Rookies get taught to think ahead and create several 'visions' about the traffic stop they are about to make - what will the driver's reaction be and if it is A, I will do this and if B I will respond that way... etc. You get the idea. It's a very valid training/learning technique and strongly recommended for new and long-term use.

The chance to start treating everything as 'normal' is reduced by thinking this way and does give you a valuable edge in responding well in unexpected situations. It also really helps those long meetings go by too!

Paul -