One of the most asked questions at Personal Safety School is: “How can I deter predators?” It goes without saying that there’s no exact answer that will repel creeps 100 percent of the time— but there is one way women (and men) can appear less like a victim and more like a fighter…
What Predators Look for in a Victim
While there is never an exact “recipe” that predators follow when selecting a victim, they do look for a specific type of person. Even the way you walk could make you a target!
A study from the Journal of Interpersonal Violence” found that some criminals could sense a person’s level of weakness based on their gait. The author of “Psychopathy and Victim Selection: The Use of Gait as a Cue to Vulnerability,” recorded videos of people walking and showed them to criminals.
The results of the study were surprising. Many of the people that the criminals chose were indeed victimized in the past. The subjects all walked with short strides, slowly, and in an unsynchronized rhythm.
How to Ward off A Predator
While this study isn’t the be-all and end-all of criminal psychology, it does give us some good information: Our walk, posture, and how we carry ourselves truly matters.
- Walk with purpose: Take long strides and move with confidence.
- Stay alert: Keep your head up and be aware of your surroundings.
- Act with intent: Predators are drawn to those who seem distracted or unsure.
Look alert, be aware, and walk with purpose. Take long strides, and keep your head up. This way, even if you are a target–you will see it coming. If someone is following you, you will know it and be able to react!
@treycmodel Im not saying this is a solution but it can definitely help to remind yourself about! #womenssafety #safetytips #travelsafety #womantok #tips #safetytips #selfdefense ♬ I Got 5 On It – Tethered Mix from US – Michael Abels & Luniz
In the above TikTok video, @treycmodel talks about this approach to ward off predators. In short: do not act like prey.
If you walk like you own the world, determined to get where you’re going… no one can stop you! Predators look for meek, they look for scared, they look for disorganization, and they want you to be distracted. Don’t give them the satisfaction. Even if you don’t feel confident, faking it can still be effective.
If you feel like this isn’t enough to give you the confidence you need, be sure to read our article covering expert tips for self-defense!
Be aware, and stay safe!
Found this article useful? please share it with your friends!
And to stay up to date with our latest content, don’t forget to follow us on Facebook!
