Do You Have a Victim Mentality? - How to Avoid Looking Like a Victim

How do you know if you have a victim mentality?Some Victims walked at a slower pace than other
What exactly makes someone a potential victim?people, as if they are unsure of themselves or lacking
Predators are very good at noticing the signs of aa sense of purpose. Other victims might walk too
potential victim. They seek these people out becausefast which could give the impression that the person
they are the easiest to attack. Learning the signsis nervous or afraid.
that predators are looking for will help you not toFluidity
become one of their victims.Victims have awkward body movements. They can
The Grayson/Stein Studyhave jerky movements or wavering from side to
There is a very famous study that was conducted inside as if they were off balance.
1984 by Betty Grayson and Morris Stein. The studyWholeness
researched the criteria that predators used to selectThis refers to how you move your arms when
their victims. They videotaped pedestrians in Newwalking. Victims tend to swing their arms away from
York City and showed the videos to convicts whotheir bodies as if they were detached. Non-Victims
were in prison for violent offenses.don't swing their arms as much and they move their
The convicts only took a few seconds to pick outbodies from their "center" which gives them the
the pedestrians that they felt would make easyappearance of confidence and strength.
targets. The convicts picked out the similarPosture and Gaze
pedestrians every time. The researchers didn't knowVictims tend to look downward, have a slumped
why the convicts picked these certain people andposture and seem unaware of their surroundings.
the convicts sometimes didn't know themselves.They are not looking at what's going on around them.
The researchers then studied the movements andThey don't make eye contact with people. All of this
body language of the pedestrians to see what madetells a predator that you are weak, submissive, afraid
certain people "easy targets". Here is what theyand you have low self-esteem. Easy target.
discovered:If you want to lower your chances of becoming a
Stridevictim, avoid the victim mentality. If you have been
People who were selected as victims had abnormallyliving your life with this type of mentality up until
long or short strides as they walked. They wouldnow, get rid of it. Practice the opposite of the victim
drag their feet or shuffle their feet. People who werebehaviors described above. It might be
non-victims walked with confidence. Their stride wasuncomfortable to you at first, but continue to
smooth and natural.practice and before you know it, it will be a habit.
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