It's the Way You Walk: Kinematic Specification of Vulnerability to Attack

This chapter considers whether human gait conveys information to observers about one's vulnerability to attack. Specifically, it describes a program of research in which the "kinematic fingerprint" of physical vulnerability is assessed. Observers of point-lightdefined body motions form impressions of physical vulnerability that achieve a high level of consensus. Additionally, the authors examine factors that contribute to these perceptions (e.g., manner of dress) and that can mitigate these perceptions (e.g., changing gait).