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I have identified seven stages of attack. Not that all assaults will follow all of these steps or even perform them in this order; there is always the unknown factor to consider. Generally however, a predator will progress through these seven stages to complete their act of violence. This is true of most kinds of violent crime and assault, including pub brawls, street fights, muggings, rapes and even child abuse.
It also should be noted that the whole process may take as little as six seconds or as long six months (even years for some kinds of attacks). The focus of this article is on a typical, relatively quick street attack such as a mugging, bashing or sexual assault by a stranger. With a little thought, you’ll be able to see how the various stages might be adjusted for a prolonged attack.
The 7 Stages of an Attack
1. Victim selection
2. Victim stalking/casing
3. Positioning/set-up
4. The interview
5. Use of threats and intimidation
6. Act of violence/physical attack
7. Attacker’s escape
Stage 1: Victim selection
Many people include intent as the first stage of an attack. I don’t disagree with this, as a predator does require some form of intent, psyche-up, or predisposition to commit a violent act. Generally, however, you have no control over this intent. This is why I place victim selection as the first stage; it is the first step in an attack that you have a direct influence over.
This is where ‘Target Hardening’ comes in to play. Simply put, you are making yourself a harder target for the predator, so the chances of being selected by a potential attacker are greatly reduced. The attacker will usually move on to an easier target, therefore you effectively stop an attack on you at the first stage. The number-one rule for a criminal is don’t get caught and there’s less chance of being caught if the victim is easy prey.
In order to avoid being selected as the victim, it is essential to understand what the predator is looking for in his prey. At this initial stage, the attacker really only has your body language and appearance to go on.
In 1984, Betty Grayson and Morris I. Stein conducted a study into the victim selection criterion used by violent criminal predators (the Grayson/Stein Study). Random footage of pedestrians in a busy city street was shown to a group of incarcerated perpetrators of violent crimes. The inmates where asked to identify people they would choose as their target. The ‘chosen’ victims varied in age, size, sex and race, but the individual predators consistently choose the same victims as each other. The inmates couldn’t state exactly why they choose their victims only that they perceived them to be easy targets.
Further analysis of the movement and body language of the chosen victims did find some commonalities. Instead of going into great detail about the findings (you can do this yourself via the internet), I’ll list the traits that were found in the non-victims, and in saying that, you will see that the opposite would likely be found in those people that were chosen.
1. Stride: Non-victims tended to have a smooth, natural gate. They tended to step in a heel-to-toe fashion.
2. Stride rate: Non-victims tended to walk with the flow of traffic, with movement that reflected a sense of purpose.
3. Fluidity: The movement of Non-Victims was smoother and more co-ordinated, contrasting the jerkiness and changing centre of gravity of the chosen victims.
4. Wholeness: The non-victims tended to move their body as a coordinated whole.
5. Posture and gaze: Non-victims walked with an upright posture with their gaze outward (not down), appearing to be aware of their surroundings. They also tended to be more willing to establish eye contact than the chosen pedestrians did.
It’s not surprising that body language is a major contributor to the selection of an attackers’ next victim, particularly when you consider that body language and non-verbal cues make up around 80-to-90 per cent of our communication. The traits described above indicate varying degrees of balance, coordination and awareness. They imply a person’s perceived vigilance and potential to fight. So, what are you saying to your potential attacker?
Furthermore, what is an attacker actually wanting your body language, movement and appearance to tell him? Well, the first thing he’ll want to know is that you are ‘switched off’ and in an unaware state (‘code white’ in the Cooper Colour Codes system). In this state you won’t even know you’re being attacked until it’s too late. Choosing a victim in this state allows the attacker to move though the next few steps with ease.
He also wants to see signs that indicate a lack of confidence, as well as weakness and a submissive nature. Remember, he doesn’t want to get caught or hurt.
Put yourself into the shoes of an attacker — take a few minutes and just watch people as they go about their business. Pretend you’re an attacker and think about which ones would you pick as a victim and why?
So, become an unattractive option for the potential attacker, be mindful of your body language, move confidently and with purpose, be aware of your surroundings and take proactive steps to become a hard target.
Plan ahead and don’t take unnecessary risks that may put you in a situation that favours the predator or increases your attractiveness to them. For example, don’t get too drunk in public, don’t walk into unfamiliar areas after dark alone and don’t get distracted by text-messaging or listening to your mp3 player; it sends a clear message that you are not aware of what’s going on around you.
If you follow the above advice, you may prevent an attack then and there, before a potential attacker moves on to the next step.
Stage 2: Victim stalking/casing
This is the step where the attacker confirms his choice and makes the decision to attack his selected victim. It can be likened to a burglar casing a house. After choosing a potential victim, the attacker will want to make sure they are a safe choice and they will also be looking for the prime opportunity to move to the next step.
Typically the attacker will do this by simply following the victim around, observing them. They will be paying particular attention to the victim’s level of awareness, they may even walk past the victim several times to confirm they are ‘switched off’. Not only will they be confirming your victim status, but they will be also looking for signs that you’re not a potential victim. Hopefully you can see the huge preventative benefit that even a basic level of awareness provides you. Being just a little proactive will mean that, hopefully, you won’t need to be reactive.
The attacker has now confirmed your ideal-victim status; he will now be looking for a situation or time when your vulnerability is heightened. It may be a time when you are alone or when help may be limited. It could also be when you’re awareness is even lower, like when you’re on the phone while strolling along. The attacker will be looking for a time and place that makes his job easier, with the least risk. If things are in his favour, he will proceed to the next step.
Walking aware
Stage 3: Positioning/set-up
This is the preparation and approach stage. It will often blend into the stages before and after it (as do most of these steps). Basically, the attacker places himself in a position that will favour his movement into the contact stages of the assault.
Using the information he has gained from stalking and casing the victim, he will position himself so as to take advantage. This may be as simple as getting behind you or getting ahead of you and waiting in ambush. It may also be a simple decision to take advantage of an opportunity the victim presents.
If a weapon is to be used by the attacker, then it is now that they prepare it. They want it to be easily accessible and deployable the instant they decide to use it, hence they may move it to a more advantageous position if it wasn’t already there. They may even transfer it to their hand, ready for use. They will be looking to trap you, corner you or position themselves so that you can’t easily escape. They will use the environment and closed spaces to do this. An example is to simply put themselves between you and the available exit.
If it is a partnered or multiple-attacker situation, they will position themselves to take advantage of their numbers. Usually, one will position themselves in the victim’s blind spot while the other prepares to distract their prey. They will most often approach at differing angles, with the most common formation being a ‘pincer’ position. The pincer is where one attacker is in front or to the side of the victim, while the other is angled off to be able to launch a surprise attack. They are, as the name suggests, holding you in position via pressure at two angles, just as a crab holds its prey in its pincers, thereby forcing you to defend on two fronts.
As you can see, this is the stage where the attacker formulates and puts his attack strategy into action, and begins to move in for the kill. This is the transition stage from deciding to attack, to initiating it. Once positioned, the next stage commences.
Do you have the time?
Stage 4: The interview
This is the engagement stage, where the attacker makes contact with you. The attacker will conduct an interview with you to confirm his choice. This is when they make the final decision to attack, so it is also your last chance to prevent the attack.
Geoff Thompson, in his highly recommended self-protection manual, Dead or Alive: The Choice is Your’s, mentions the four ‘D’s: dialogue, deception, distraction and destruction. It is during the interview where the first three of these come into play.
An attacker will use dialogue to lower your guard and distract you. One of the most common interview techniques is the age-old “Do you have the time?” This simple question distracts you from what’s happening and engages the mind, effectively giving the attacker the advantage of surprise. (If you fall for it, that is.) A simple trick is to show them your watch so that they look down over it instead of you doing so. You’ll be able to keep your eyes on them and avoid being distracted.
They may use the interview to prime you or manipulate you into a more favourable situation. They will come across as being nice and will use this time to build a rapport with you and misguide your trust. This is particularly common among rapists and sex offenders. They will use tactics such as forced teaming, where they create an imagined bond to the victim from some common situation, or loan-sharking where they do something for you so that you feel you’re in their debt. An unsolicited promise is often used as reassurance and they will often disregard “no” and further push the issue. (I highly recommend Gavin de Becker’s The Gift of Fear, which covers these tactics and others in great detail).
The interview is often used as a primer for the attack. The typical “What are you looking at?” line is used by the pub-brawler to initiate the interview. What they are doing is simply providing you with the means to justify them hitting you. They will twist your response around so that it appears you are disrespecting them. If you tell them they were mistaken, they will accuse you of calling them a liar. Suddenly — in their mind anyway — they have a justification for violence; they are now defending their ‘honour’.
You can see why it’s so important to recognise that you’re being interviewed and to respond in a way that does not put you at a disadvantage. If you can control the interview, you can avoid the fight altogether, or at least turn the tables on the attacker. Often just simply being aware of the interview will prevent the attack. Remember he hasn’t gotten physical yet, and if he picks up that you are on to him or more aware of the situation than he thought, he may choose to abort and find another victim while he still has that option.
During an interview, one of your best friends will be distance. You can use a passive stance or a ‘fence’ to give you a little distance and provide an effective guard against a sudden attack. The positioning of your hands between you and your attacker acts as a distance manager and a physical and psychological barrier (hence the name ‘fence’).
Distance will provide you more time to react and enable you to see your opponent more clearly. Effectively, his move will be more telegraphed, as you can see more of him. You’ll be able to pick up weight-shifts, body torque and other pre-attack indicators much more easily than if you allow them to get into your face.
Stage 5: Use of threats and intimidation
This stage is closely related to the interview, but is at a point where the attacker has committed to the attack. Here they will use threats, both verbal and with a weapon. They are simply using fear as a compliance tool. They are counting on you receiving a massive adrenaline dump and freezing in fear. They try to overwhelm your senses and emotions, and they will use the effects of the adrenaline dump to achieve their goals.
This is the beginning of the actual attack and it is imperative that you don’t fall into the apathy and denial mindset. Instead you must acknowledge that you’re in a dangerous situation and accept that you’re under attack. I’m an advocate of fighting back, providing you have the ability, means and opportunity to do so, but it is your decision. Whether you choose to fight back or comply is a choice only you can make, and will be largely determined by the actual situation at the time.
This is the time for those well-practised, pre-emptive palm-heels to the chin, the web-hand to the throat or maybe you prefer to attack the eyes. Whatever you choose, do it with full commitment and aggression — remember you’re now fighting for your life.
Mind you, my life is worth a hell of a lot more then whatever is in my wallet at any given time. Decide for yourself, given the situation and your own honest assessment of your abilities.
Stage 6: Act of violence, physical attack
The aggressor may bypass the threat stage and jump straight into the physical attack, or they might still threaten, but attack you anyway. If you choose to comply with your attacker’s demands, don’t assume he will keep his word about not hurting you. Someone who has decided to commit a criminal act probably shouldn’t be high on your list of trustworthy people. If you’re able to recognise the threat early (e.g. in the interview stage), you can be aware and prepared for violence, accept it is possible and do what is necessary to get safely home.
The attacker will use his positioning and dialogue to set you up for the physical attack. Chances are he will distract you and/or engage your mind so as to make his surprise attack more effective.
Helping a lost driver - the wrong way
Helping a lost driver - The smart way
Stage 7: Attacker’s escape
The attack doesn’t end there — for it to be completely successful, he must escape without injury and without being caught. Everyone knows how dangerous a wild animal can be if trapped and cornered; the same can be said for the criminal. He doesn’t want to be caught, and he has crossed the line, so to speak, so the consequences for being caught are now much greater, hence he will do anything in order to do so. It’s not uncommon for a mugger to stab or bash his victim even after they obey his every instruction. He does this to create a greater window of escape; you are unlikely to cause him any trouble in his getaway if you are unconscious, bleeding out or dead.
If you have chosen to comply, then you must provide your attacker with a means to escape. Do not stand between him and his exit; you don’t want to give him any reason to incapacitate you. Allow him an escape route and let him take it. If you have decided to fight back you will need an escape route yourself — ensure it leads to safety and not just simply away from the danger.
The pincer movement
What does it all mean?
Why is it important to understand the various stages of an attack? Well for one thing, it gives you more options with your overall defence. Simply knowing that there are up to five steps before the physical attack, each providing the opportunity to avoid the violence, will give you a greater chance of never having to physically defend yourself.
It is also very empowering to know that for most instances, an attack isn’t just a sudden delivery of violence. Although it may not be obvious to the victim, violence virtually always has a reason. It is very rare indeed for a person to perform an act of violence without first having a reason to do so. In fact, the only cases I’ve come across that involved no logical reason for the violence involved the truly mentally disturbed. Even then, I imagine most would still have a reason, albeit not a logical one.
The news is full of reports of ‘random attacks’. The truth is, an attack is seldom strictly random and there are usually pre-attack indicators that can help identify the possibility of violence. If you look at the facts of these so-called random attacks, you’ll see they also follow the seven stages of an attack.
The earlier you recognise an attack, the easier it is to acknowledge it and avoid or deal with it. A truly effective self-protection system must cover the early stages and pre-contact phases of an attack. Does yours?
Drew Guest runs Bushi Dojos
Self-Protection in Toowoomba, Qld.
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