See the Unseen
A quick guide in reading attacker/target body language
Walking down the street with my classmates, we came across a group of people who seemed threatening. No one around me could tell if we were in danger or how they should act.
User Need:
There is a lack of knowledge in how to recognize when another person’s aggressions are actually a risk as well as how important their own behavior is.
The Solution:
A set of illustrations and gifs showing different behaviors, including facial expressions and body languages as well as quick, concise info on what to do.
Baseline - Neutral - Control
Aggressive - Dangerous
Anxious - Confident
Let's break those down.
Target Stare: furrowed brow, narrowed eyes, focused
Heavy breathing
​
Clenching/unclenching hands
Arms above waist
​
​
​
​
​
​
Knees slightly bent
​
Bouncing on balls of feet
Highly
Aggressive
Macro
Expression
Subtle
Aggressive
Micro
Expression
Hand at face
Target Stare
Arms above waist
Tight/Tensing arms
​
Clenching hands
​
Blading
Pointing front foot at you, back foot out
*Slowed down and zoomed in micro expression for better viewing.
Target Stare
Arms above waist
Tight/Tense arms
Clenched hands
Blading: putting the non-dominant foot in rear
Pointing front foot at you, back foot out
Medium
Aggressive
Macro
Expression
Raising neck in reaction
Target Stare to full anger
Hand at face
​
Arms above waist
​
Tight hands
​
​
​
​
Pointing front foot at you, back foot out
Sitting
Aggressive
Macro
Expression
Easy
Target
Macro
Expression
Head bowed down
Eyes darting around, avoiding eye contact
Obsessively checking behind themselves
​
Shoulders hunched
​
Holding body tightly
​
Quick paced walk
Chin up
Eyes focused forward, holding eye contact for a few seconds
Checking behind them less often
​
Shoulders pulled back
Arms out away from body
​
​
​
​
Slower, more intentional walk
​
Non
Target
Macro
Expression
Great. What now?
Do not engage:
If someone is making these signals at you, then you need to make some distance. Maybe call some one for safety, but don't engage with the aggressor, no matter how provoking.
If they attack anyways:
Your targets are the Eyes - Throat - Knees.
If they can't see, breathe, or run, they can't get you.
​
You can strike with open palms, scratching, or strong kicks to disable these targets.
