Avoidance and Awareness Predator vs. Prey By Fred Bauer

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Avoidance and Awareness
Predator vs. Prey
By Fred Bauer

This article is Part 2 of the last newsletter piece on pre attack behavior. While conducting research for that article I observed another important topic that is directly linked to attack behavior, which is Avoidance and Awareness. Essentially, the sooner a potential threat is recognized the greater the chance of avoiding it completely or being proactively prepared to defend against an unavoidable attack. In the text, I will discuss the specifics of awareness, not from the position of your awareness of your surroundings but rather from the viewpoint of the criminal element and how the criminal views you as either a victim or a threat not worth attacking.

Avoidance is thereafter attainable. To better approach these concepts, view the streets like you would the animal kingdom. Criminals are the animals being literal predators and they view their victims as prey. Watch any nature program and see the lion or any other predator select, stalk and kill the weak or perceived weak, the prey that appears vulnerable or not aware of its surroundings. Over the years there have been informative studies completed by psychologists and sociologists on this very topic. In some of these studies convicted criminals were interviewed about their crimes and their victims. Additionally, some were shown videos and pictures of people on any given street and
asked to identify their potential victims. Here is some of the important information discovered in the Criminals are selective about their victims. They do not choose victims randomly. The criminal element has a selection process when it comes to a potential victim. Foremost is whether you display something they want.

Are you wearing expensive jewelry?
Are you flashing a roll of cash or do you fit his rape victim profile?

If the answer is yes the criminal moves to the next factor involving the evaluation of whether he/she can overtake you. The criminal evaluates you as a possible threat. If the answer to either question, “Do you have what I want? Can I get it from you safely?” is “No” then he/she goes off in search of an easier prey. Unfortunately many people unwittingly give off signals that make them easy targets or prey. Becoming aware of what criminals look for can reduce the risk of becoming a victim. Remember, criminals are not looking for a fight. They are looking for that “soft target”, the person they can get to, get what they want and get away from without being hurt and without being caught.

So who do the criminals target? During the different studies it was learned gender, size and age were surprisingly not the keys. Criminals look for people who give out signals of vulnerability or that they are easy to control. The predators look for nonverbal signs in a potential victim’s posture (body language), pace of walking, length of stride and awareness of their environment. The individual who shuffles along may appear to be less athletic or weak. Keeping the head down or avoiding eye contact may signal the victim will not get a good physical description, is easy to surprise, is not familiar with the area or is submissive in nature.
This physical appearance is what we consider “Condition White”, that mental state of mind of being unaware and therefore vulnerable. Criminals expressed they avoided the individual who was alert, appeared confident and looked like they knew what was going on around them.

Remember, to become a victim of an assault, robbery or sexual assault the criminal needs to get close to you. They will attempt to maneuver into position by stealth or by ruse, asking for the time, change, directions or any other similar distraction to cause you to look away. Be polite, refuse any request, keep eye contact keep moving. Your alert, confident mannerisms will demonstrate you will be too much of a risk of failure to the criminal for him/her to attack. Here’s a final quote from a serial rapist interviewed during the studies and a point to ponder. “When a well dressed woman walked by me I would smile and ask for information. When that woman answered my question, glanced down or looked away, I knew I had her.”