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Victim Selection and Kinematics: A Point-Light Investigation of Vulnerability to Attack

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Abstract

Three experiments used a point-light methodology to investigate whether movement style specifies vulnerability to physical attack. Both female (Experiment 1) and male (Experiment 2) walkers could be differentiated according to ease-of-attack based solely on the kinematic information provided whilst walking. Specific walking style features predicted ease-of-attack and profiles of prototypically “easy to attack” and “difficult to attack” walkers were identified. Variations in walking style as a function of clothing and footwear style were also shown to predict differences in ease-of-attack ratings (Experiment 3). Theoretical and practical implications of these findings are considered.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Canterbury, USA

    Rebekah E. Gunns, Lucy Johnston & Stephen M. Hudson

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand

    Lucy Johnston

Authors
  1. Rebekah E. Gunns
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  2. Lucy Johnston
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  3. Stephen M. Hudson
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Gunns, R.E., Johnston, L. & Hudson, S.M. Victim Selection and Kinematics: A Point-Light Investigation of Vulnerability to Attack. Journal of Nonverbal Behavior 26, 129–158 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020744915533

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