Criminals don’t choose random people to criminalize in most cases. Sure, the occasional psycho who is out of their mind is going to do whatever they want. A criminal with a working prefrontal cortex is going to use victim targeting. Today, we are going to try to help you avoid being a soft target.
How to Avoid Being a Soft Target
The best way to win a defensive engagement is to never be involved in one. There are some immutable characteristics we all have that we can’t change that might make us more likely to be a victim. I’m six feet, five inches tall and 300 pounds; I didn’t think I pinged high on the victim meter. It turns out that the way criminals choose victims is a little more complicated than that.
The Science Behind a Soft Target
Criminals might be scum bags, but they are still humans. Risk-averse opportunists who want their transaction with you to go as smoothly as possible. Victim targeting is the process of finding the right person to assault. In 1981, a study done by Grayson and Stein shed new light on the criminal mind.
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They recorded individuals walking on New York sidewalks and showed the footage to assaultive inmates. Each and every one of the inmates targeted the same group of what we’ll call easy targets. The individuals selected were not selected due to any specific trait; it wasn’t physical size, age, or gender. Their selection was based on non-verbal cues.
Walking Tall
Soft targets were identified by a few physical traits as they walked. The traits of the random people the criminals identified included:
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Short Strides
Irregular Cadence
Heavy Lateral Weight Shift
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Hands In Their Pockets
Stiff Shoulders
Hesitant Steps
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These people were viewed as uncoordinated and physically compromised, as well as unconfident and less likely to resist. You should attempt to walk confidently, at a purposeful pace. Your arms should swing naturally and utilize full-body movement.
Head Up and Paying Attention
Head on a swivel is a popular way to say pay attention, but no one is constantly looking around all the time. What we should aim to do is keep our heads up and have a full field of view. One trait predators looked for was someone walking while looking down, someone who was purposefully cutting off their field of view.
We are all guilty of being buried in our phones at times. In 1981, that wasn’t part of the original study, but I’m sure if we were to redo the study, it would be a major part of how criminals target individuals.
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If you’re paying too much attention to your phone, you’re easy prey. When suddenly encountered by an assailant looking to do you harm, you can become cognitively overwhelmed. The high road of fear takes over, and you can’t plan an escape or defense. If your head’s up you’re less likely to be interpreted as a soft target, and you’re more likely to observe and avoid potential threats.
Have your head up, scan the environment, and don’t be afraid to make eye contact. It doesn’t need to be a long-held stare, but a brief moment tells a predator you see them. Don’t allow your brain to be anchored to distraction.
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Soft Target No More
You can’t control who is watching you, but you can control what they see. Moving confidently, with your head up and situational awareness high, makes you less likely to be targeted. Force potential threats to recalculate their odds through simple movement and basic situational awareness.