Heather C. Orr 👩🏻‍💻💎

Scientific research shows that predators consistently target women based on one trait. When federal attorney Adeline Dimond was catcalled by two men in 2025, she bypassed the standard safety playbook of ignoring and walking faster. Instead, she confronted them with screamed profanities and threats, leaving her harassers visibly stunned. While Dimond initially wondered if her outburst was reckless, psychological and physiological research reveals that 'out-crazying' a threat is actually a highly effective self-defense mechanism. For over a decade, criminological studies have shown that predators select victims based on body language. In a pivotal study from the Journal of Interpersonal Violence, incarcerated violent offenders consistently targeted individuals whose gaits and posture projected anxiety, insecurity, and vulnerability, while avoiding those who displayed confidence and the potential to fight back. Beyond sheer confidence, unleashing active anger and erratic behavior can physically short-circuit an attacker's brain. Evolutionary biology conditions humans to fear the unpredictable—such as a sudden, frantic lunging or wild, unhinged movements. Similarly, maximizing the visibility of the sclerae, or 'crazy eyes,' subconsciously triggers panic in others, reversing who feels like the prey. While patriarchal societies have historically conditioned women to suppress their anger to avoid social judgment, experts note that doing so only benefits abusers and perpetuates their impunity. Reclaiming the protective power of rage is more than a psychological boundary; it is a vital, biology-backed defense tool that transforms a target from passive prey into an unpredictable threat. source: Dimond, A. (2025). Should You Out-Crazy Men? A reflection on female rage. Medium.