Crime can happen to anyone, right? Not necessarily. While we agree with criminology experts when they say that nobody is exempt from becoming a victim of crime, it is also true that your mindset can actually increase or decrease your chances of actually becoming the target of someone's evil intentions, a conclusion derived from psychological models that deal with the information processing of the mind.
No, we're not talking about wishful thinking here. We don't believe that constantly repeating to yourself: "I am safe, nothing will ever happen to me or my family" will actually have any significant effect.
However, cognitive-behavioral psychologists such as Dr. Albert Ellis and Dr. Aaron Beck have demonstrated in numerous ways that thoughts can actually determine what your behaviors and emotions will be in any given situation. That would explain why everybody reacts differently to the same stimulus: thoughts have the power to make all the difference.
If we extend those conclusions to the field of crime prevention, the logical implication would be that -although your chances of becoming a crime victim cannot be completely eliminated- your repertoire of thoughts can actually put you in a higher or lower risk position in relation to crime. Yes, your mind can act as an internal traitor. And because of that, the first and most basic strategy in any self defense plan should be creating low-risk, crime-smart thoughts...an advice that you and your loved ones should follow in order to stay safe.
Many people (maybe you included) think that they are already crime-conscious enough, so they don't see any need to make further thought modifications. However...When was the last time you saw someone walking slowly and carelessly towards his/her car, talking happily on the cell phone, taking his/her time to take the car keys out of his/her pocket (or purse), completely oblivious of his/her surroundings? Crime conscious...uh? Some people make easy targets out of themselves. But...What actually led that person to act that way?
Taking the cognitive-behavioral model into account, it may be hypothesized that the predominant responsible factor would be a distorted information processing style. In other words, maybe he/she is interpreting that the immediate environment is safer than it might actually be. Psychologically, the "internal traitor" might have taken the form of what experts call "emotional reasoning": a conclusion or inference based on an emotional state. For instance: "I feel safe". However, feeling safe (by itself) is not the same as actually being safe. The "I feel safe" distortion is what led our friend in the aforementioned example to act so carelessly in the first place, and might even be the initial factor in a series of events that led him/her to become a victim of crime. Get the picture?
A variation of the "I feel safe" distortion can be found in cases in which a more crime-conscious individual buys a non lethal weapon that is not as effective as the vendor claimed. The end result would be that the individual will feel "really safe" (with a low-powered stun gun or tear gas pepper spray, for instance), without actually being safe. That's why it is important to buy self defense products only from a retailer that offers only the most reliable devices: your life and well-being is at stake.
But what is the "antidote" to the "emotional reasoning" distortion? The first step is to recognize that you don't have to believe every thought that passes through your mind. You can -and must- be skeptical of your own cognitions. While we are not recommending that you invite paranoia into your mind, an acceptable remedy would be replacing your "I feel safe" thoughts with more realistic and pragmatic mind schemas, such as: "Nobody is 100% safe all the time, but I can decrease the chances of becoming a crime victim by always being aware of my surroundings, staying away from potentially dangerous circumstances, and carrying a reliable self defense product that can actually help me if the need arises (such as a TASER, a high-powered stun gun, or a OC pepper spray)". It can be hypothesized that many crime victims would not be so today, had they practiced an exact or similar way of thinking.
The next step would be to practice your new way of thinking as often as possible, specially every time your old pattern of thought emerges. The result should be a more prudent approach to safety, more controlled emotions (which stems from really being more in control of your circumstances) and a decreased chance of actually becoming a victim.
However, the "emotional reasoning" cognition is not the only form the internal traitor might take. Another common distortion is what psychologists call "overgeneralizations": the tendency to draw evidence from one experience or a small set of experiences to reach an unwarranted conclusion with far-reaching implications. For instance: "I've gone to the ATM machine at night quite a few times by now, and nothing has ever happened so far, so don't worry, I will be safe". But just because it hasn't happened so far doesn't really mean that it can't happen sometime, so lowering your defenses is not an appropriate course of action. Remember what criminologists say: Crime can happen to anyone, without exceptions. Decrease your chances of becoming a victim by getting rid of this harmful way of thinking, as soon as possible.
Still a third cognitive distortion can be found in "cognitive avoidance": unpleasant thoughts, feelings or events are actively suppressed or avoided, specially because they are erroneously perceived as overwhelming. That's precisely the reason that enforces the first two cognitive distortions: People fall victims of crime either because they do not wish to consider the possibility of that actually happening or because they minimize or just plainly ignore the fact that nobody is exempt. That's why they don't think, act or get properly protected in the first place, which increases their chances of becoming victims. Don't let that be your case.
Although there are other forms the internal traitor might take, those discussed so far are the ones that we consider to be the most important. These distortions can completely disable your potential of avoiding and/or defending yourself against crime successfully...should potential tragedy comes knocking on your door.
Avoid the aforementioned mental distortions, arm yourself with a first-rate self defense product, and decrease your chances of becoming a victim. To quote Charles Reade (a 19th century novelist): "Sow a thought, and you reap an act; Sow an act, and you reap a habit; Sow a habit, and you reap a character; Sow a character, and you reap a destiny".
In closing, sow crime smart thoughts and actions, and reap an increased chance of a crime-free life today for you and your loved ones. Start today. You won't regret you did.
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