Victims have a certain way of walking, and psychopaths can spot it. That’s the conclusion two bloggers for Psychology Today reached, based on a scientific study released last year.
The study, Psychopathic traits and perceptions of victim vulnerability, was authored by Sarah Wheeler, Angela Book and Kimberly Costello of Brock University. The abstract states:
The purpose of this study was to determine whether individuals scoring higher on psychopathic traits would be better able to judge vulnerability to victimization after viewing short clips of targets walking. Participants provided a vulnerability estimate for each target and completed the Self-Report Psychopathy Scale: Version III (SRP-III). Higher SRP-III scores were associated with greater accuracy in assessing targets’ vulnerability to victimization.
Psychology Today blogger Marisa Mauro, Psy.D., explained the study further. A group of male university students were asked to watch video clips of 12 people walking. The videos were shot from behind, and the students were asked to rate the ease at which each could be mugged. Several of the individuals had, in fact, been victimized. The students who scored high in psychopathic traits were better at picking out the people who had already been mugged.
Mauro works as a prison psychologist. Based on her experience and this study, she wrote:
Certain personal characteristics are associated with tendency to be on the receiving end of bullying such as harassment and manipulation. I have found that the demonstration of confidence through body language, speech and affective expression, for example, provides some protection.
Wallflowers
Another Psychology Today blogger, Jeff Wise, also commented on the study and what it says about victims. Wise wrote that he recently came across a guy who seemed to have the traits of a psychopath. The man was charming, good-looking, athletic, financially successful—and he left a trail of destruction in his wake. His victims sounded like wallflowers. Wise wrote:
The women who wound up on the receiving end of his attentions were individuals who, in their own description, were not very worldly, experienced, or outgoing. They were psychologically vulnerable and hence ill-equipped to either resist this fellow’s predations or to deal with them emotionally after they had occurred.
Wise concluded that, “people who are on the receiving end of crime often do mark themselves out, if only subliminally.” Mauro suggested that people can decrease perceived vulnerability by projecting dominance—more eye contact, less movement of the hands and feet.
If only it were that easy.
Traits of targeted women
The research both bloggers quoted described a particular situation—people walking down the street, and how vulnerable they might be to being mugged. It should not be generalized to describe all victims of psychopaths. After all, how many of us were involved with muggers?
Consider the research by Dr. Liane Leedom on women who were targeted by psychopaths. She found that they have three traits in common:
- Extraverts. The women are outgoing, competitive, strong-willed and liked excitement. Sometimes they are free-spirited.
- Cooperative. They are high in empathy, tolerance and compassion. They value getting along with others, and are willing to compromise their own interests for the larger picture.
- Invested in relationships. They like being around people. They are sentimental and focus on special moments.
Dr. Leedom’s research relates to women. But I’ve heard from many Lovefraud readers, both men and women, who were successful, take-charge individuals—until they met the psychopath.
Personally, I don’t think anyone who watched me walk down the street would tag me as timid or vulnerable. I’m an athlete, and my stride is confident. But I was victimized by a psychopath, who took $227,000 from me, and cheated on me incessantly. And the guy started setting his hooks via e-mail, before he ever saw me walk.
Maybe projecting dominance would work to avoid muggers. But it’s not going to stop victimization by a card-carrying psychopath intent on finding a resourceful new supply.
3 stories from garage up to top level……
well….the house IS in foreclosure isn’t it?
feed slowly into chimney then trim gradually from bottom until a neat fit
or – cut in half and reaasemble once inside house – poke top half through window or up staircase (assume there is a staircase if 3 stories?)
and invite the whos for christmas.
LOL….
I took a picture of it on top of the car….
I borrowed a friends suburban, it hung over the back end and the base was on the front, I swear it’s 9 feet wide at the base.
This should get interesting…..thank god for space to put it ONCE we have to remodel to get it in.
We need help to lift it up to the top floor, hoist it from outside……..Jr suggested I call the fire dept to come help…..
Nice suggestion, but the cat already escaped from it.
We’ve got some hot firemen in this town…..I noticed when I went to rescue my gf a few nights ago when she slid out outside the firehouse…..the firemen kept asking us to come insude the firehouse….We giggled profusely!!!!
12 People walking? How many participants in the study? Seems like far too little information to publish anything.
EB,
Just cut off the bottom 1/3 or whatever you need to make it the right heigth—gosh, I can’t believe I have to tell you how to SHORTEN A Christmas tree—and BTW I put a WREATH on the door, so I am DECORATED GF! I still haven’t taken the wreath out to the road yet…might do that tomorrow but the WIND is going to be 30 mph and the temp won’t get to over 32 so I’m not sure I may even poke my head out! Might chill my nosie!
Sent the son D and his buddy out to the barn to check on the chickens and they found a possum out there about to get the chicks and killed his sorry self! HUGE!!!! Never seen one that big I don’t think! Bet he weighed 20+ pounds will weigh him tomorrow if I think about it.
Besides, can’t have a christmas tree in the house with that evil black cat in here! She is in to everything and then some! I find all kinds of things she bats across the floor from a dust bunny to a rubber band!
I bought some fresh hot peppers to can a couple of jars. Can’t buy the things without SALT in them! I swear I think they have got SALT in shampoo now! Can’t find anything without salt added to it. Son D’s buddy wants me to make him some chicken pot pie so next time he is up will make a sodium free chicken pot pie! Actually sounds yummy really! With winter here I think I enjoy baking more, but just have to be careful I don’t ENJOY EATING MORE!!!
Well, good night guys I’m not going to pull an all nighter tonight. I slept in because I couldn’t get to sleep last night because of the coffee I drank after dinner, but I’m going to bed early tonight! Have fun !
I burned the midnight oil last night writing this. I think my sister is burnt out from it cause she hasn’t responded. I don’t plan to use much of my content at court. I thought I will bring it along just in case the judge takes Jim’s claims seriously and asks me to explain. I gotta say thanks again everyone! You people are super!
Before you read I want to point out that I doubt Jim will be served. So I’m wording my response like he hasn’t been served. It’s ok cause if he hasn’t been served the court will serve him.
Here it goes:….
I am requesting a restraining order against James Schmidt. Jim parks himself at my neighbors house which is directly across the street from my house. Jim is using my neighbors property as a vantage point to keep an eye on me and to shout harassing remarks at me as he pleases. Dec 8 was the worst. Jim was out of control in his tirade against me. It was unbearable to the point where I shouted back for him to stop or I’ll call police. He taunted me. He yelled Go ahead and call the police and he shouted all the things he will tell the police about me. I called police and filed this restraining order. Jim beat me to it. He filed a restraining order with an attorney in Adams. The crafty thing about this is he knew he could have me served at court house, cause he saw me at clerk of courts. He then ducks and dodges from my restraining order.
Jim wrote general accusations about me. I can only guess what he is talking about. I will do my best to guess.
Jim probably won’t be served. Jim is emotionally cruel, hostile and harassing towards me. He is calculating and has no compassion for others. If I questioned him about anything he exploded in my face. He always bullied me into submission. He is not done with his bullying of me. He showed me this on Dec 8 AND he continues to park across my street. Today 12-10-10 he went to my neighbors across the street. He left quickly. He is probably avoiding the process server. He probably won’t be served at all. He does not answer his door. He is a nudist, a hoarder, and lives slovenly. He doesn’t allow anyone on his property — not even friends for this reason.
Jim is using my mental health condition to help his restraining order. Yet, when I was seeing him he said he doesn’t believe I have a disability. I am prone to panic attacks and depression, I suffer from Stress and anxiety disorders. Jim is aware of my mental illness. He wrote about my mental health condition in his restraining order. When I was with him he took advantage of my mental health condition by bullying me and conning me out of money. He said my mental health condition is “highly unlikely” yet my money was real to him, he took every dime he could get from me. Literally. He is now using my mental health condition to help his restraining order. He is claiming I am a drunken unstable mentally ill women who is violent, harassing, stalking. This woman he describes is a menace to the community. This is slanderous. Since this document is open record I will seek legal assistance regarding this slander.
I gotta point out that everything that Jim wrote about me is the same thing he said about his ex girlfriend. He had me believing she was a psycho drunk. Years ago I was at Jim’s house. He mentioned he was allowing his ex-girlfriend to get her stuff back, BUT he didn’t mention she was on her way. He said “She’s here” and he headed for the door. I looked around wildly and said “where are you going’? He said he is going to work. He walked out the door and left!!!. I was freaked out! I ducked down on floor cause I thought that drunken psycho woman would bust down the door and come at me. It took me a long time to get off the floor to peek out the window to see if she was gone. Later I asked him why did he walk out and leave me with the drunk psycho? He said he wanted someone there in case she tries to break in….. He also told me that he harassed her. He called her spine-less cause she didn’t look at him and didn’t say a word. I said why bother her when she apparently came in peace and I wouldn’t go toe-to-toe with a big guy like him either. Jim said size has nothing to do with it. I no longer believe what Jim said about that woman. I hope the court no longer believes what Jim said about me either.
I have to respond to Jim’s statement about me, and I am more than willing to share my side of the story.
He said I made false statements to police. I said exactly what happened. He was screaming at me across the street. I gave the deputy a brief history of Jim’s screaming at me to show this was not an isolated incident. Jim would barge through my door to scream at me. If I had the door locked he would open my window to stick his head in to scream at me.
He wrote that I stalked him. I leave him alone. He is parking himself across my street at my neighbors. I don’t go into his neighborhood. I haven’t been anywhere near his property since 2007 unless I was out with Jim and he forgot something from his house. I always stayed in vehicle while he went into his house.
Jim claims I entered his house without permission. Not true. I haven’t been in his house since 2007. In 2007 Jim asked me to watch his dog and he gave me a house key. Jim was going out-of-town frequently.
Jim claims I accessed his computer without permission. The day I went to his house to let his dog out Jim was still home every though he gave me a time to let the dog out. I walked into his house and saw the computer was turned on. Jim was talking loudly on the phone in the back end of the house. There was porn on the computer screen. I walked up close to get a close look at the web address and saw it said something about teen porn. I was so shaken up by this discovery that I left his house and came back hours after he left town to let his dog out. I loved the dog, Gretchen, and couldn’t leave her to fend for herself.
I did call his ex-wife in 2007. I broke it off with Jim after I saw that teen porn on his computer. I shouldn’t have called his ex. I was looking to compare notes and looking for answers about Jim even though I already knew the answers. His ex-wife said “everything he did to me — he said I did to him”. Jim lied his way out of the jam.
He claims I tried to ruin his relationship with his children. Jim’s ex-wife wasn’t allowing him contact with the kids before I met him.
I did not contact his kids. I met his youngest daughter when Jim brought her over to my house. This was 2007 or 2008? Jim got a chance visitation when his ex-wife took the kids to Wisconsin Dells. The younger girl called Jim and Jim ran down to catch his ex-wife off-guard. His ex gave him two-hours with the girl. Jim brought the little girl to my house, and he left. Jim left without explanation for 1/2 hour. My son and the little girl played in my yard. The only other contact I had with Jim’s children was when I was watching Jim’s dog while he was out-of-town. I talked to Jim on his phone and the phone rang again after we hung up. I assumed it was him calling again. It was his youngest daughter (this was before I met her) I didn’t know if Jim wanted his kids to know about me. I told her I am the maid.
I already stated about my mental health. Yes, I do drink I find I have been drinking less and less since I left Jim. I am getting my life back on track, I am more focused and accomplishing things, and much happier. The incident on Dec 8 set me back. I am having those reoccurring dreams again. Dreams of being chased by the beast. In this dream I am outside and it is pitch-black. I can hear hear the beast. I can hear it’s padded feet slapping on the pavement as it chases me down. I can hear the frighting sound of it’s breathing. It’s laborous breathing is turning into a roar. The beast’s padded feet are slapping the ground. It’s gaining ground on me getting closer and closer. The beast is so angry that it is roaring. I am frozen on the spot. I am too terrified to turn and look at it.
Jim wrote that I used the court as a means of harassment. Jim’s electric was shut off in 2006. He owed over $600.00 including reconnect fees. I paid to have Jim’s electric turned on. He made excuses not to pay me back. He would get hostile when I brought it up. He borrowed more money from me. Then he bragged to me about how cold his house is on the hottest muggy day cause he runs the AC. While I was sweating over here cause I don’t have AC. I filed in small claims after I gave up on getting him to pay. Jim talked me into dropping the suit. We agreed that he would work off his debt. He never worked off his debt and instead he got more money out of me.
He said I have emailed people he knows. Yes I emailed his friend in 2008 or 2009? I loaned his friend two of my electric heaters when he ran out of propane and didn’t have money for propane. The friend kept my heaters for a year. He got propane yet continued to keep my heaters. Winter was setting in and I needed my heaters back. Jim was not interested in my urgency so I emailed his friend. I got a nasty email back. The other time I contacted someone Jim knows was after July 4 weekend. . Jim and I had our yard sale at his customer’s property. (handyman customer) I broke it off with Jim on July 3rd. My possessions were still at this property. Jim would not let me get my stuff. He said he would call the police if I stepped foot on that property. I asked the police what to do. I was told to get permission from the property owner and then I can get a peace officer to escort me on property to get my stuff. So that is when I emailed the property owner. He never responded.
Jim stated that I have been violent in the past. I am so laid back and easy going that I have to check to see if I have a pulse. I have to be backed into a corner before I get mad.
Holy cow my post blew up the place, it’s long!!!!!
Keep in mind I’m not planning to use the whole thing, I’m bringing it just in case I’m questioned.
Ox Drover thank you for the suggestion of common house cleaner spray. My sister was freaking out about whether pepper spray is legal. But, hey if I happen to have a can of something rolling on the floor of my car all I have to say is Gee officer, that’s where that is! I was searching through all my grocery bags for that oven cleaner…
Erin I am trying and feel free to edit. I hope to have this ready by Tuesday.
Skylar, I don’t have to mention the money owed. I got my rebuttal written down in case Jim brings up me using the court as harassment.
jeannie812- i am glad you got everything down on paper.
i think that this is much too much to take to court with you. it is full of conjecture – you need to give ONLY facts and that you are in fear of your life. there is too much story here, and I doubt a judge will wade through it.
what you need is:
a list of the days and times her has yelled at you;
and what he has yelled at you from across the street;
the times and dates he has watched you from across the street;
any times he came onto your property or property you were staying on, working on, without your permission, and to harass you;
that you have asked him to stop, told him to stop, to go away;
any onther specific harassing or threatening behaviors.
do say that you suffer panic and anxiety in relation to him;have nightmares in relation to him, and this most recent episode; that you fear for your safety.
DO NOT mention your health or addiction issues UNLESS directly asked. If asked, state as you have, ‘that you are getting your life on track’