I believe that having [[Adult ADHD]] and being [[Neurodiversity]] is a risk-factor for being taken advantage of. I believe that I was victimized in my [[Traumatic Experience at Work]] in part because of being [[Neurodiversity | neurodiverse]] I also believe that predators are keenly able to detect and exploit this kind of vulnerability. The best way to describe it is to say: You have a fucking shooting target on you at all times that predators pick up on right away... ![[target.png]] That predators are keenly aware to identify vulnerabilities, including neuro-diverse disorders such as [[Adult ADHD]]. There seems to be a study where predators were asked to pick their victims from a group and they usually could identify the weakest, most vulnerable. # Learning Resources ## Creepology - [How to identify predators](https://neuroclastic.com/an-introduction-to-creepology-how-to-identify-predators/) ### Notes from “Sexual Predators and Women on the Spectrum” > I once read that seventy percent of girls with disability are attacked by sexual predators at least once (Krohen, J., 2014). This includes girls on the Autism spectrum, though a lot of us are only diagnosed as adults (Leedham, A. et al, 2020). Looking back, many of the statistics for the needs or experiences of children with disability apply to me. - Krohn, J. (2009). Sexual Harrasment, Sexual Assault, and Srudents with Special Needs: Crafting an Effective Response for Schools. Retrieved December 17, 2020, from https://heinonline.org/HOL/Page?collection=journals - Leedham, A., Thompson, A. R., Smith, R., & Freeth, M. (2020). ‘I was exausted trying to figure it out’: The experiences of females receiving an autism diagnosis in middle to late adulthood. Autism, 24(1), 135-146. - Smith, A. (2009). The Empathy Imbalance Hypothesis of Autism: A Theoretical Approach to Cognitive and Emotional Empathy in Autistic Development. The Psychological Record, 59, 489-510. - Dadds, M.R., Hawes, D.J., Frost, A.D., Vassallo, S., Bunn, P., Hunter, K. and Merz, S. (2009), Learning to ‘talk the talk’: the relationship of psychopathic traits to deficits in empathy across childhood. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 50: 599-606. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.2008.02058.x - Khan, A., & Ferrari, M. (2018). Wisdom of Young Adults with High Functioning Autism in Canada and Pakistan: A Cross-cultural Study. Journal of Education & Social Sciences, 6(1), 3-22. ### Notes from “Victimization and Perpetration Experiences of Adults With Autism” > This study aimed to describe the self-reported experiences of childhood and adult victimization and perpetration in adults with autism spectrum conditions (ASC) compared to a matched sample, and how victimization and perpetration are associated with autism-related difficulties. Forty-five adults with ASC and 42 adults without ASC completed questionnaires regarding violence victimization and perpetration, emotion regulation, and sociocommunicative competence. Participants with ASC reported experiencing, as children, more overall victimization; specifically, more property crime, maltreatment, teasing/emotional bullying, and sexual assault by peers, compared to participants without ASC. Participants with ASC also reported experiencing more teasing/emotional bullying in adulthood and greater sexual contact victimization. No significant differences were found between groups on perpetration. Sociocommunicative ability and emotion regulation deficits did not explain the heightened risk for victimization. Individuals with ASC have an increased vulnerability to violence victimization, which speaks to the need for interventions, and proactive prevention strategies. - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5980973/ ### Notes from “Girls with autism at high risk of sexual abuse, large study says” #### [Childhood neurodevelopmental disorders and risk of coercive sexual victimization in childhood and adolescence - a population-based prospective twin study](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29570782/) > Results: In females, ASD was associated with an almost threefolded increased risk of coercive sexual victimization, and ADHD with a doubled risk. In males, the risk associated with ASD and ADHD was of the same magnitude but not significant. > When controlling for overall NDD symptom load ASD or ADHD, no longer uniquely predicted coercive sexual victimization. > The association between the NDD general factor and coercive sexual victimization was due to shared genetics. > Conclusions: General NDD symptom load, rather than specific ASD or ADHD symptoms, seems to be a moderate vulnerability factor for coercive sexual victimization. > We speculate that an evocative gene-environment correlation might account for this observation, such that sexual perpetrators actively target NDD individuals. #### [Association of autistic traits in adulthood with childhood abuse, interpersonal victimization, and posttraumatic stress](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25957197/) > Persons with autistic traits may be at elevated risk for interpersonal victimization across the life course. > Children with high levels of autistic traits may be targeted for abuse, and deficits in social awareness may increase risk of interpersonal victimization. > Additionally, persons with autistic traits may be at elevated risk of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms subsequent to trauma. > We examined retrospectively reported prevalence of childhood abuse, trauma victimization and PTSD symptoms by autistic traits among adult women in a population-based longitudinal cohort, the Nurses' Health Study II (N=1,077). > Autistic traits were measured by the 65-item Social Responsiveness Scale. We estimated odds ratios (OR) for childhood sexual and physical/emotional abuse and PTSD symptoms by quintiles of autistic traits. We examined possible mediation of PTSD risk by abuse and trauma type. > Women in the highest versus lowest quintile of autistic traits were more likely to have been sexually abused (40.1% versus 26.7%), physically/emotionally abused (23.9% versus 14.3%), mugged (17.1% versus 10.1%), pressured into sexual contact (25.4% versus 15.6%) and have high PTSD symptoms (10.7% versus 4.5%). Odds of PTSD were elevated in women in the top three quintiles of autistic traits compared with the reference group (OR range=1.4 to 1.9). Childhood abuse exposure partly accounted for elevated risk of PTSD in women with autistic traits. > We identify for the first time an association between autistic traits, childhood abuse, trauma victimization, and PTSD. Levels of autistic traits that are highly prevalent in the general population are associated with abuse, trauma and PTSD. #### [Evidence That Nine Autistic Women Out of Ten Have Been Victims of Sexual Violence](https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnbeh.2022.852203/full) > Results: Both case identification methods yielded high figures: 68.9% victimization (open question) compared to 88.4% (standardized questionnaire). Two thirds of the victims were very young when they were first assaulted: among 199 victims, 135 were aged 18 or below and 112 participants were aged 15 or below. 75% of participants included in our study reported several aggressions. Analyses indicate that primo-victimization was highly correlated to revictimization and that being young increased that risk. Young victims were also at higher risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder. A third of the victims reported the assault. 25% of those were able to file a complaint (n = 12) and/or receive care (n = 13). For the remainder 75%, reporting did not lead to action. > Discussion: Those findings indicate a very large proportion of victims of sexual assault among autistic women, consistently with previous research. The World Health Organization states unambiguously that sexual violence is systemic and that vulnerable individuals are preferably targeted by offenders. We therefore postulate that it would be erroneous to consider that victimization of autistic women is mainly due to autism. On the contrary, autism seems to be just a vulnerability factor. Some authors propose that educating potential victims to better protect themselves would help preventing abuse. We reviewed this proposition in the light of our results and found it to be impossible to apply since more than half of the victims were below or at the age of consent. Literature about sexual violence is discussed. Large-scale prevention programs proposed by World Health Organization and the Center for Disease Control aim at cultural changes in order to diminish gender inequality, that they identify as the very root of sexual violence. ## Preventing Exploitation Toolkit - https://www.preventingexploitationtoolkit.org.uk/home/what-is-exploitation/what-is-vulnerability/autism-spectrum-conditions ## Recognizing and Preventing Sexual Abuse > According to a study with 55,000 children in Nebraska, a child with any type of intellectual disability was four times more likely to be sexually abused than a child without disabilities (Sullivan & Knutson, 2000). While no specific numbers exist for individuals with autism, research suggests our community may be particularly vulnerable. - https://www.autismspeaks.org/recognizing-and-preventing-sexual-abuse ### Maltreatment and disabilities: a population-based epidemiological study > Results: Analyses of the circumstances of maltreatment and the presence of disabilities established a 9% prevalence rate of maltreatment for nondisabled children and a 31% prevalence rate for the disabled children. Thus, the study established a significant association between the presence of an educationally relevant disability and maltreatment. > Conclusions: Children with disabilities are 3.4 times more likely to be maltreated than nondisabled peers. School professionals need to be cognizant of the high base rate of maltreatment among the children they serve. Disability status needs to be considered in national incidence studies of maltreatment. - [Maltreatment and disabilities: a population-based epidemiological study](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11075694/) ### The prevalence of sexual harassment and assault among people with intellectual disabilities (NPR Series) Key points: - People with intellectual disabilities are sexually assaulted at a rate seven times higher than those without disabilities. This number comes from data run for NPR by the Justice Department from unpublished federal crime data. - The NPR data show they are more likely to be assaulted by someone they know and during daytime hours. - Predators target people with intellectual disabilities because they know they are easily manipulated and will have difficulty testifying later. These crimes go mostly unrecognized, unprosecuted and unpunished. And the abuser is free to abuse again. - Police and prosecutors are often reluctant to take these cases because they are difficult to win in court. - https://www.npr.org/series/575502633/abused-and-betrayed ## WHAT DOES A HUMAN PREDATOR LOOK FOR? ### “The CRAZY Grayson/Stein Study” - [Attracting Assault: Victims’Nonverbal Cues](https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1460-2466.1981.tb01206.x) - [Attracting Assault - Victims' Nonverbal Cues](https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/attracting-assault-victims-nonverbal-cues) > Abstract: More than 60 randomly selected persons were videotaped as they walked through one of the highest assault areas in New York City, and their assault inmates at a large Northeastern facility. The men, chosen for their general intelligence and verbal ability, were selected from a group of criminals convicted of assault against strangers. These prisoners descriptively evaluated each of the videotaped individuals, and their evaluations were used to establish a rating scale for use by a second group of inmates who acted as respondents. This second group consisted of 53 inmates convicted of assaultive crimes ranging from murder to simple assault on strangers. Both groups of inmates rated older men and women as more likely assault targets than younger men and women. To determine what movements differentiated victims from nonvictims, the videotapes were analyzed using a Labanalysis code and appropriate statistical analyses. The primary difference between perceived victims and nonvictims revolved around a 'wholeness' or consistency of movement. Nonvictims had an organized quality about their body movements. Perceived victims were nonsynchronous or antisynchronous in their movements. Eighteen references are included. ### Summary from Thriiv > Back in the 80’s two researchers, Betty Grayson and Morris I. Stein, conducted a study to determine the selection criteria applied by predators when selecting their victims. They videotaped several pedestrians on a busy New York City sidewalk without their knowledge. > They later showed the tape to convicts who were incarcerated for violent offenses (rape, murder, robbery, etc.) They instructed them to identify people on the tape who would make easy or desirable victims. The results aren’t what you’d think! > Within seven seconds, the participants made their selections. What baffled researchers was the victims who were chosen. Some of the small, slightly built females were passed over. Some large men were selected. The selection was not dependant on race, age, size or gender. > Even the convicts didn’t always know why they selected as they did. Some people just looked like easy targets. It appears that much of the predator/prey selection process is unconscious > Here’s what the researchers highlighted as “signals” the predators all agreed on… > 1. Stride: People selected as victims had an exaggerated stride: either abnormally short or long. They dragged, shuffled or lifted their feet unnaturally as they walked. Non-victims, on the other hand, tended to have a smooth, natural stride, heel-to-toe fashion. > 2. Rate: Victims tend to walk at a different rate than non-victims. Usually, they walk slower than the flow of pedestrian traffic. Their movement lacks a sense of deliberateness or purpose. However, walking too fast can project nervousness or fear. > 3. Posture and Gaze: A slumped posture is interpreted as weakness or submissiveness. A downward gaze implies preoccupation and being unaware of one’s surroundings. Also, someone reluctant to establish eye contact can be perceived as submissive. These traits imply an ideal target for a predator. > Obviously these traits aren’t an exact science but they do highlight body language, eye contact, and moving with confidence. You are communicating even when you don’t think you are!!! - https://thriiv.co/2020/07/08/what-does-a-human-predator-look-for/ ### Dating App Facilitated Sexual Assault: A Retrospective Review of Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examination Charts - https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/08862605221130390?journalCode=jiva ### Human predators outpace other agents of trait change in the wild - https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.0809235106