Getting mugged seems to be a common reoccuring thread topic here, so I thought the following might be helpful:

Various studies have shown that psycopaths and convicts, were able to effectively identify women who had been raped, or previous victims of assault, based on the way they walk. They showed inmates video of various people walking, and asked them to identify people they would consider good/easy targets.

Their gait, coordination (or lack thereof), speed, and posture all affected their rating as whether or not a person would be a desireable target.

More often than not, the individuals they selected were previou victims of assault or rape.

Thugs are drawn to easy targets. If you walk too slow, steps too short or too long (so that it makes your eye level bob up and down), have uncoordinated movement, or bad posture- it can magnify the mugging risk factor. Learning good posture (it takes conscious effort at first, but becomes second nature over time), how to walk confidently pays off in the impression it gives others, without you saying a word. If you’re using your phone, don’t look at it more than a few seconds at a time to indicate awareness of your surroundings.

Here’s some relevant references if you’re interested in reading more…

[https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/dr-raj-persaud/dont-walk-this-way-how-yo\_b\_6509478.html](https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/dr-raj-persaud/dont-walk-this-way-how-yo_b_6509478.html)

[https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2013/04/journal-of-interpersonal-violence-study-suggests-attackers-choose-victims-based-on-the-way-they-walk.html](https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2013/04/journal-of-interpersonal-violence-study-suggests-attackers-choose-victims-based-on-the-way-they-walk.html)

[https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0886260512475315](https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0886260512475315)

27 comments

  3. I was told by someone a few years ago before going travelling, when in a dodgy area, either look angry or crazy.

    Nobody attacks an angry or crazy person.

  5. That’s really interesting. I would have thought rapists would have seen any woman as a potential victim, as they’re more than likely to be able to overpower them..

  7. Walk with purpose like you’re going somewhere/really busy. People never bother you, I learned that in secondary school as a way to stay out of trouble when skipping class, still applies at work today. Look like you’re busy and people think you are and won’t bother you.

  9. Honestly appearing vilgante is more important than the way you walk. I swear I’ve avoided getting jumped by looking behind me and noticing that a group of young lads were following me. They froze as soon as they saw that I saw them.

  10. Just dangle your flute out while you walk. No one’s going to go near a fella with his flute dangling about.

  12. This is maybe a crazy idea, but maybe reform, employ, scale and provision the Gard, Social services, etc. to control crime and anti-social behaviour, instead of just acting like this is the natural state of affairs, and swapping tips on limping to convince the scrotes you’re not monied or fjorkable.

  13. I was a super shy kid, when I was out with my aunt when I was 14 she told me to always walk with my head held high and not looking at the ground. Took her advice but remained ridiculously shy so for years everyone assumed I was a stuck up bitch and not just crippled with shyness. Still probably one of the best pieces of advice I was ever given though.

  14. A friend of mine said he learnt this in martial arts class. People waking around feeling sorry for themselves are more likely to be attacked. Feckin predators won’t even allow you to feel sorry for yourself.

  17. Yeah I had to walk through a few dodgy places in town on Friday night. Kept my head up, chest out, walking fast, angry glare on my face. Everything was good.

    I was also protecting my phone from the rain under my jacket while I was using Google maps. I got a few weird looks, probably because it looked like I was hiding a weapon.

  18. I just walk with my posture up, hands in pockets, resting mad face, and giving a curt nod to whoever walks straight in front of me. Does the trick.

  23. Ah yes, let’s not address the reasoning behind men raping women left, right and centre, let’s instead ask women to change the way they walk.

  24. Yes!!! This.
    Eye contact is another one. People who look away immediately are seen as potential targets.
    If someone makes eye contact it’s better to either smile and say hi or glare at them with your teeth bared😂. Seriously, just be confident! It’s a huge deterrent and the first thing any decent self defence class will teach.

  27. I’ve been mugged successfully three times and unsuccessfully once. The three times where the mugger got my phone and/or wallet were when I had drank too much and so not had my wits about me, although one occasion was in Athens and I was walking down a deserted alleyway after coming out of a bar. For the ‘unsuccessful’ time I was alert and determined that on this occasion I wouldn’t let him get anything from me – I kicked at him and ran across the road. I have drank somewhat less in recent years and have always been very alert as a result, and I credit this with not being mugged anymore.

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