ACT Personal Defense: Victim Selection/Criminal Psychology

Essential to avoiding, deterring and recognizing criminal advances is an understanding of criminal psychology and the victim selection process. There are many models and studies from professional criminologist which provide insight or seek to explain criminality. Understanding can also be gained from those less scholarly but perhaps more directly experienced individuals.

Even when a criminal's motivation appears to be illogical, their planning and execution may be rational. Once understood, potential targets can choose to take steps to better protect themselves and avoid certain situations. It's important to recognize that criminals prefer targets who offer maximum gain, control, and access. They favor locations that minimize the risk of detection and situations that reduce contact with possible guardians.

Routine Activity Theory

http://www.crimeprevention.nsw.gov.au/Documents/routine_activity_factsheet_nov2014.pdf

https://crimesciencejournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40163-015-0036-3

See: Hiding in Plain Sight ch 4

Routine activity theory

An application of CRAVED to the choice of victim in sexual homicide: a routine activity approach