Self Defense is primarily a mental chess game between two or more players. That’s why it’s important to understand the risks associated with your various behaviors.
There are 2 parts to this mind game.
First is the external or how you broadcast yourself to others. Whether walking across a campus (college or corporate), or chatting online, there is a game being played between you and a perpetrator(s).
For them, It’s could be about power, control, a rush or about money. The ‘perp’ is looking to dominate an ‘easy target.’
On a corporate or campus, they may be looking out for that easy target to get what they’re after. It could be money, an iPhone or sexual gratification.
Online, it could be the thrill of seduction, the challenge of stealing information or just the satisfaction of harassing someone to the point of getting a negative reaction.
If you’re; alone, weak, scared, a woman (or some other potential victim category), doesn’t mean you have to act like a victim.
In Sun Tzu’s classic book; “Art of War”, he states;
“All warfare is based on deception.”
Consider this…
If you’re walking across campus alone and scared. “Play the game” and start walking like you own the place. Walk like you’re “ten feet tall and bullet proof.”
No one else need know you’re scared. Look like you’re confident, have somewhere to be and walk with purpose.
If online and someone you don’t know attempts to chat with you, block them or be very clear that you’ll alert the authorities to their inappropriate behavior.
The second part of this game is internal
We define the internal as your Intuition.
Highly tuning your intuition can reduce your chance of attack ten-fold. Intuition is a function of your brain. Your brain is the most complex organism in the known universe. Have you ever just known; something was going to happen, someone was going to call, someone didn’t have a good vibe, etc?
Learning to listen to and trust your intuition is a process easier said then done. It may involve hurting someone’s feelings or rejecting someone’s kind gesture, but since most attackers are known to their victims, this is a risk you must take.
By understanding that many of the activities you can do for your own protection are mental, you can take a more proactive approach in your defensive preparations.
You never know where the next threat will come.
