Find out what a panel of convicted rapists look for when picking a victim and apply that inside information to actions you can take. Victim selection through the eyes of a rapist.

AUG 23, 2017 | UPDATED SEP 16, 2026

rape-safety-tips-prevention-victim-education

How Sexual Predators Select and Approach Victims

Every 9 seconds a woman is sexually assaulted or beaten in America. Society is looking for answers and one such project revealed some pretty interesting information. In a recent study, a group of rapists were interviewed in prison to gain insight into what they look for in a potential victim. Believe it or not, there is actually a great deal of pre-meditation that goes into selecting their target.

Sexual predators rarely announce themselves as a threat. More often, they watch, test boundaries, look for opportunities and try to determine how easily they can gain control over another person. Understanding the behaviors and circumstances that can make someone appear more vulnerable can help you recognize a developing threat earlier and give you more time to respond.

Situational awareness is about learning to recognize when someone is paying too much attention to you, closing distance, ignoring your boundaries, trying to isolate you or taking advantage of distraction. Those early warning signs matter because the sooner you recognize trouble, the more options you have to create distance, move toward safety or prepare to defend yourself.

Predators do not all operate the same way, and there is no single profile of the person they choose. Still, certain situations can give an attacker an advantage, including isolation, distraction, impaired awareness and limited access to help. Learning how those vulnerabilities can be exploited is an important part of practical self-defense.

“Confidence is key. Own your personal space like Beyonce when you are walking alone. Fierce. ”

Sale Off
whats-included-defense-divas-violet-vixen-self-defense-keychain-set
$78.85
Sale Off
auto_safety_bling_sting_roadside_emergency_kit
$28.85
Sale Off
rhinestone-bling-stun-gun-keychain-pepper-spray-kit-colorful-background
$43.85
Sale Off
A self-defense keychain set featuring a bright pink pepper spray canister, a matching pink-and-black personal safety stick with a pointed blade, a pink rhinestone-covered key case, and a black pepper spray bottle with a red top and yellow label.
$24.85
Sale Off
A self-defense keychain set featuring a black folding-blade knife with a bright magenta textured handle, a purple cat-shaped face shield, and a colorful glitter spray pepper spray canister with a silver keychain clasp.
$38.85
Sale Off
pink_pucker_power_rhinestone_self_defense_keychain_set
$48.85
potential-sexual-predator-vulnerabilities-to-protect

⭐Don't Be An Easy Target

The overall consensus among the rapists who were interviewed is that they look for an easy target. Someone who appears timid and easy to overpower. The goal is to grab a woman and quickly move her to a second location where they have more control over the environment with less chance of public attention.

An opportunistic attacker generally wants control with as little resistance and attention as possible. Someone who appears distracted, unaware of their surroundings or isolated is an easier target than a person who is clearly alert and paying attention.

Situational awareness is one of the strongest tools you have because it empowers you identify a problem before physical contact ever occurs. When walking through a parking lot, across a campus, down a sidewalk or toward your vehicle, periodically scan your surroundings and notice who is ahead of you, beside you and behind you. Avoid becoming so absorbed in your phone that you stop noticing movement around you.

Body language also matters. Walking with purpose, keeping your head up and looking around communicates that you are engaged with your environment. If someone repeatedly moves closer, follows your direction changes or appears to be watching you, take that behavior seriously and create distance.

Most importantly, trust your instincts. You don’t need enough evidence to prove someone has bad intentions before leaving an area, crossing the street, going back inside a building or asking for help.

Safety Tip: Walk with confidence, assertiveness and alertness. Be aware of everything going on around you and look at people when you pass them in public. Your attitude will reduce your chances of being a victim as he waits for an easier target.
long-hair-is-easy-to-grab-safety-tip

⭐Your Hairstyle is a Consideration

A woman’s hairstyle is one of the first things that a rapist looks at when selecting an unfamiliar victim. Most of the men interviewed agree that a woman with a pony tail, braid, long hair or other hairstyle that can be easily grabbed is a preferable target.

Get in the habit of tucking your hair into a hat or inside the back of your collar if you are traversing an area that you consider a high-risk zone.

Long hair can be grabbed during an assault, just as scarves, purse straps, hood strings and loose clothing can be used to control movement. If an attacker grabs your hair, the immediate concern becomes protecting your head and neck, stabilizing your position and creating an opportunity to escape.

This doesn't mean women should avoid certain hairstyles. It means recognizing how an attacker might use anything within reach to gain leverage. A practical self-defense class that includes escapes from hair grabs and common holds can help you respond more effectively if someone attempts to control you that way. A groin kick is usually executable from the victim’s position when an attacker has a hold of them by the hair.

Safety Tip:  Wrap your hair tightly in a bun if you know you are going to be alone in a risky environment or pile it up under a hat. The main point is that your pony tail is easy for an attacker to grab and overpower you.
adbduction-safety-tips-maintain-spacial-awareness

⭐Your Spatial Awareness is a Consideration⭐

Predators may use social pressure, persistence or manipulation before they ever use physical force. Someone may ask you to come closer, follow them somewhere, get into a vehicle, help them with a problem or move away from other people.


You are never required to cooperate simply because refusing feels rude. If a request makes you uncomfortable, you can decline, create distance and leave without explaining yourself.


Safety Tip: Imagine a 6 foot circle around your body and never allow strangers inside that circle. The ensures you stay outside of "grabbing distance".

top-3-places-women-are-abducted-defense-divas

⭐Top 3 Places Women Are Abducted⭐

Parking lots, parking garages and isolated areas around public buildings the highest-risk areas for women because of the opportunities they provide an attacker. People are often distracted while entering or leaving vehicles, lighting may be poor and parked cars can limit visibility to others as well as security cameras in the area.


Transitional spaces are important because people are often focused on what they are doing rather than what is happening around them.


Before walking to your vehicle, have your keys accessible and look around as you approach. If someone is standing unusually close to your car or the situation feels wrong, do not keep walking forward simply because you feel awkward changing direction.


Return to the building, ask for a security escort or wait until the area feels safer. Once you are inside your vehicle, lock the doors and leave rather than sitting in an isolated parking space while you catch up on text messages.


Public restrooms, stairwells and elevators also deserve attention because they may temporarily place you away from crowds. Notice who is nearby, where your exits are and whether someone appears to be deliberately following your movements.


Safety Tip: Be alert when you are loading your groceries into the trunk. Look around your car (and under it) when you are approaching it. And most importantly, don't allow a stranger in your personal space.

insta-fire-xtreme-pepper-spray-glove-self-defense-divas

⭐Self-Defense Weapon is an Immediate Deterrent⭐

In the interviews with convicted rapists, it was overwhelmingly confirmed that a woman who was carrying a self-defense weapon would be considered to challenging and another target would be preferred.

A self-defense tool can change the balance of a threatening situation by giving you a defensive option to create distance, attract attention or stop an attack long enough to escape. An attacker who realizes that a potential victim is alert and prepared may decide the situation is no longer as easy as expected.

However, no defensive weapon should be considered a guaranteed deterrent. Pepper spray, stun guns, personal alarms and other tools are only useful if they are accessible and you understand how to operate them.

Know where your tool is, understand the safety mechanism and become familiar with the manufacturer's operating instructions before you ever need it.

You should also understand the laws that apply to the defensive tool you carry, particularly when traveling. Laws can vary by state and locality.

Safety Tip: Walking with your stun gun, pepper spray or other self defense weapon in hand, confidently and alert, with your keys in hand ready to enter your car proves to be paramount in deterring a potential sexual assault.

“Carry your self-defense weapon loud and proud. Just seeing it will deter most attackers.”

Sale Off
whats-included-defense-divas-violet-vixen-self-defense-keychain-set
$78.85
Sale Off
auto_safety_bling_sting_roadside_emergency_kit
$28.85
Sale Off
rhinestone-bling-stun-gun-keychain-pepper-spray-kit-colorful-background
$43.85
Sale Off
A self-defense keychain set featuring a bright pink pepper spray canister, a matching pink-and-black personal safety stick with a pointed blade, a pink rhinestone-covered key case, and a black pepper spray bottle with a red top and yellow label.
$24.85
Sale Off
A self-defense keychain set featuring a black folding-blade knife with a bright magenta textured handle, a purple cat-shaped face shield, and a colorful glitter spray pepper spray canister with a silver keychain clasp.
$38.85
Sale Off
pink_pucker_power_rhinestone_self_defense_keychain_set
$48.85
defense-divas-ten-ways-to-reduce-abduction-risk

⭐Facial Recognition is an Attacker's Biggest Fear⭐

These convicted rapists said that once they realized a woman could provide facial recognition, they no longer considered her a potential victim and ceased to proceed with their planned attack.


Someone who intends to approach unnoticed loses that advantage once they realize you have seen them. Simply looking up, observing the person and making it clear that you are aware of their presence can change the dynamic.


Pay attention to useful identifying details such as approximate height, clothing, hair, distinguishing features, vehicle type and direction of travel.


Don’t go directly home if you believe someone is following you because you don’t want to reveal where you live. Move toward people, security or law enforcement instead, and call 911 if you believe you are in immediate danger.


The goal is not to prove that someone is dangerous. The goal is to recognize behavior that may indicate a threat and give yourself more options before that person gets close enough to control the situation.


Safety Tip: If someone approaches you, is alone in an elevator with you or seems to be following you- look them directly in the face and ask them a question. Maintain your personal space so you cannot be grabbed, but acknowledge to them, that you "see" them. That you will remember their face.

facial-recogition-sexual-predator-safety-tips

⭐The Takeaway⭐

The two biggest guns you have in your personal safety arsenal are your attitude of confidence and your self-defense weapon. The rapists interviewed all agreed that both of these power plays were deal breakers for them when looking for an easy target.

Sexual predators do not all select victims in exactly the same way, but dangerous situations often share common elements. Isolation, distraction, boundary testing, attempts to control movement and efforts to separate someone from other people can all be warning signs that deserve attention.

Situational awareness gives you an opportunity to notice those behaviors early. Pay attention when someone invades your personal space, follows your movements, ignores your refusal or tries to persuade you to move somewhere more isolated.

Keep defensive tools accessible, know where your exits are and avoid letting politeness override your instincts. You do not have to wait until someone touches you or openly threatens you before deciding that you are uncomfortable enough to leave.

Self-defense begins with recognizing your options. Awareness gives you more time, distance gives you more choices and preparation can help you respond more decisively when something does not feel right.

Defense Divas® wants to keep you and your personal property safe. Follow us on all your preferred social media channels to get a daily dose of self-defense tips and safety awareness right in your feed.


Copyright©2026 All rights reserved. This article or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of Defense Divas®.

Fast Shipping!

All orders ship within 24 hours that are placed Sunday-Friday. Orders placed on Saturday ship on Monday.

Secure Checkout!

Feel confident in your purchase and your personal data. PCI Compliant.

Female Owned Small Business

Women empower women. Shop female. Shop small. Thank you for your support!

Copyright 2022 Defense Divas®

FOLLOW US!