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Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture
Psychopath Victim Selection (it takes 15 seconds)

Here is an interesting clip from the documentary “I, Psychopath”. The bit you need to watch is from 6 minutes 25 seconds onward: http://youtu.be/RZDqxM9EYbQ?t=6m23s

It looks at research that found psychopaths could identify previous victims of violent crime, simply by watching them walk for 15 seconds! This research was conducted after Ted Bundy (serial killer) said he knew who would made a good victim by the “tilt of their head”. The thing they identified seemed to be related to a lack of coordinated / symmetrical movement.

Obviously we’d need to see the full research to get the correct picture, but it is interesting to confirm that these predators, like predators in the animal kingdom, are very adept at spotting what they perceive as weakness.

It also raises the question if the increased body awareness and coordination gained from martial arts training could prevent these “signals” being given off to potential predators? That would seem logical, and hence the “health and fitness” side of things, combined with increased self-confidence, are intrinsic parts of good self-protection. Once again, I think this shows that the “jutsu” and “do” are inseparable in practise.

All the best,

Iain

The revant bit is found at 6 mins 25 seconds

Seishan
Seishan's picture

Interesting.  My nephew's wife is a Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology and works both in college and visiting local prisons, although I doubt (hope) she doesn't interact with subjects of the calibre of Ted Bundy!!  I shall ask her opinion on this, and the general principle of assymetry in selecting victims.

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

Seishan wrote:
Interesting.  My nephew's wife is a Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology and works both in college and visiting local prisons, although I doubt (hope) she doesn't interact with subjects of the calibre of Ted Bundy!!  I shall ask her opinion on this, and the general principle of assymetry in selecting victims.

Excellent! Any information will be much appreciated.

All the best,

Iain

Kevin73
Kevin73's picture

There have been other studies done.  This was a smaller "test sample" of inmates, but had the same conclusion.  Criminals "size up" their targets by how they walk.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/crime/2013/04/09/journal_of_interpersonal_violence_study_suggests_attackers_choose_victims.html

It shouldn't surprise us.  Look at nature.  Lions stalk the animals that lag behind from the rest of the herd and are sick/injured or aren't paying attention.  If you want to rob somebody for material goods (wallet/purse/jewlery etc) then you are going to go for the easy targets to minmize your own risk/exposure.

 

sarflondonboydo...
sarflondonboydonewell's picture

I have some where some Home Office research on street robbery victims; which I used along with talking to police robbery squad officers for a presenation during a self awareness type workshop. I will cobble it together for a brief article.

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

Further to the post above, here is a report from the BBC on a study that shows the way we walk does indeed make us more or less attractive to potential attackers.

What is interesting is that the study being reported on would suggest that learning to walk with the correct synchrony and energy would be a useful part of self-protection training.

All the best,

Iain

How the way we walk can increase risk of being mugged: http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20131104-how-muggers-size-up-your-walk

“But the most impressive part of Johnston’s investigations came next, when she asked whether it was possible to change the way we walk so as to appear less vulnerable. A first group of volunteers were filmed walking before and after doing a short self defence course. Using the point-light technique, their walking styles were rated by volunteers (not prisoners) for vulnerability. Perhaps surprisingly, the self-defence training didn't affect the walkers’ ratings.

In a second experiment, recruits were given training in how to walk, specifically focusing on the aspects which the researchers knew affected how vulnerable they appeared: factors affecting the synchrony and energy of their movement. This led to a significant drop in all the recruits' vulnerability ratings, which was still in place when they were re-tested a month later.”

Iain Abernethy
Iain Abernethy's picture

Hi All,

Please find below a video of Lee Morrison and others discussing this issue on a BBC TV program. I think this video helps add some further information and is well worth a watch.

The photo is of me and Lee at a British Combat Association seminar more years than I care to remember ago :-)

The video was shared via my Facebook page and Marc MacYoung also commented. As would be expected, Marc’s input is very informative so I’ve posted that below too.

It’s turning out to be quite an interesting thread this one :-)

All the best,

Iain

Marc MacYoung’s Post

There is no ONE simple answer the question of how do you keep from getting mugged. The original work of Stein and Grayson was a look into body continuity and how people moved. People who moved poorly were more likely to be targeted. Having said that, it was an EXTREMELY small sample.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/35330362/Attracting-Assault-Victims-Nonverbal-Cues-Grayson-Stein

However, I recently ran a rant about 'victimology' which 'scientifically' considers every option and detail about how to avoid being selected as a victim except the influence that your willingness to do 'show and tell' with the guy's vital organs has on you being selected.  Or how if you stack multiple factors against you, you up your chances of being targeted.  The example I used was a woman who was walking home from work after midnight coming out of the French Quarter in New Orleans by herself and tried to avoid/flee when three muggers stepped out of the shadows. It talked about everything except how walking alone at night in a high crime area by yourself works a WHOLE lot better if you have a gun and are willing to shoot someone in the face (Yes, this is the US, but a straight razor is loads of laughs too.) The point being everyone was looking for a magic way to bluff, intimidate and send out the 'don't mess with me' message WITHOUT the willingness to back it up.

I've seen what Iain teaches, it's not about 'fighting' a whole lot more of it is about twisting and breaking some yob ASAP. Which is good... now the question is are you willing to do it?  Predators don't survive long by picking the wrong targets -- it's dangerous to them. There are lots and lots of ways you show you're not the right target (like not being a small woman walking alone at night through fringe areas). But the icing on the cake for not being attacked consists of

a) not giving them reasons to attack you (don't be a ####)

b) the willingness to commit extreme violence to stop them from hurting you