I’m a forensic investigator who studies rapists. These are the two running styles they look for in their victims

The way you walk could make you a target for potential predators, a forensic expert has warned.

Alex, a student of forensic psychology, said there is evidence that male predators look for specific characteristics when choosing a victim – from the width of their stride to the way they hold their arms.

In a recent TikTok video, she referenced a study of men convicted of rape, assault, murder and kidnappings to expose the methodology behind selecting a victim.

The prisoners overwhelmingly selected women who looked scared or uncomfortable or walked with a certain clumsiness that indicated they would not fight well if attacked.

The way you walk and your body language say a lot about who you are as a person – whether you are shy, clumsy or confident – all of this can be seen in your stride and the way you carry yourself.

Researchers at Brock University conducted the study in 2013, showing captured predators videos of women walking and asking them to select which type of woman they would select as a victim.

“Of all the women in the videos, only a select few were unanimously chosen by the incarcerated men,” Alex said in the video, as reported by UpWorthy.

“You may think that these women were singled out because of something to do with their physical appearance, such as their body size, whether they were small and petite, a certain hair color, or a certain general physical appearance,” she continued.

“What the women all had in common was the way they walked and how they generally behaved in public.”

The women in the study had a stride that was too large or too small for the size of their bodies, had their arms crossed or closed close to their bodies, or were swinging them wildly at their sides.

They also seemed unaware of their surroundings, taking smaller steps and walking more slowly with their heads down.

By walking with their arms crossed and oblivious to their surroundings, the prisoners said it was a sign that they were more anxious and worried, making them weaker than other potential victims, Alex said.

Because the women weren’t looking at their general surroundings, they were easier to surprise, and by keeping their arms crossed, the predator could wrap their arms around them without the person putting up too much of a fight.

Alex, a forensic psychology student, posted a TikTok video explaining that signs of weakness give the impression that you are more vulnerable and an easy target for predators. But for women who walk with a straight back, keep their chin up, and keep pace with others, the vibe is that they will fight well if attacked

Alex also noticed that when women swung or waved their arms away from their bodies, their bodies remained open so that a predator could easily come up from behind and wrap their arms around their torso.

Much like a lion hunting an antelope with a broken leg for healthier animals, women who walk slower or take smaller steps can give the impression that they are sick, injured, or simply more vulnerable, making them generally easier to subdue.

Still, women who walked with a natural gait, proportionate to their bodies, kept the same pace as others in the area and stood upright with their chins lifted were unlikely to be targeted, according to the 2013 study.

These women exuded an air of confidence and essentially ‘radiated an energy that said, ‘Don’t mess with me. I will put up a good fight,” Alex said.

The TikToker acknowledged that it can be difficult to think about the way you walk and actively carry yourself, but remembering the STAAR method could make it easier.

She said it’s important to walk with an S(tride) that is natural for your body, stand T(all) and keep your shoulders back and chin up, avoid getting your A(rms) close to to keep your body, stay A(true) of your body. environment and R(elax) by staying calm and collected.

The bottom line, Alex said, is: “Don’t give any indication that you feel or see anything is wrong with a potential attacker.”

Every 68 seconds someone is sexually assaulted in the US, but only 25 out of 1,000 predators end up in jail RAIN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), making it more important than ever to take steps to protect yourself from predators.