How can your walking style help you avoid getting mugged? In short, walk with purpose. Or walk angry. Fine, use whatever aggressive emotion you want, just don’t look awkward or clumsy (i.e. drunk).
Take the picture above for example. Just look at that guy! That handsome, sturdy, angry guy. This probable travel expert and international man of mystery is walking fast, he’s clearly in a bad mood and, judging by his clothes, he hardly has any money anyway. Muggability rating: zero.
Researchers came to this conclusion by showing videos of different people walking to violent criminals and movement experts (dancers, actors) and asking them who seemed most vulnerable.
The predictable targets (women, old people) were often singled out, but even some young men were given high muggability ratings because they appeared to be subtly less sure-footed.
Now we can’t walk fast and angry everywhere we go to avoid getting mugged for the rest of our lives, but apparently adjusting one’s gait could discourage unwanted attention under the right circumstances.
Also, crazy eyes. Nothing short of automatic weapons shrinks genitals faster than crazy eyes.
[Via]
http://www.japanfocus.org/data/Hownaturesaysdonottouch.png
But actually, it’s a useful skill. I have a walk I like to call “WTF”. It’s hesitant, it goes back and forth over the same point, and it always works. I don’t have to ask for directions (where you have to clear that initial hurdle of them assuming you’re a serial killer / terrorist / insurance salesman) – directions come to me.
In fact, that sounds like a challenge. To get directions to somewhere without being allowed to ask, just using body language to shriek for assistance! Downside: enormous risk of being mugged, terrorized or sold insurance.
Sounds like a stunt article in the making to me, Mike.