Intuition: The Internal Alarm

Some threats are glaringly obvious and seen, while others are felt. A common trope in horror movies is when characters venture towards dark, foreboding areas where danger may, or almost always, lurks. The audience’ gut feelings tell them, “Don't go in there!”, as the character inches towards inevitable doom. Unfortunately, the behavior of the horror movie character danger is more common offscreen.

Unlike animals who move away from any sign of potential danger, humans sometimes willingly go towards it, even when their intuition tells them otherwise. Intuition is our innate ability to understand something and predict outcomes by unconsciously processing the present environment. It triggers involuntary reactions that include emotional discomfort (e.g., doubt, apprehension, suspicion, fear, anxiety, nagging feelings) and physical discomfort (e.g., sweating, upset stomach, heart palpitations). Note that our intuition is a reaction to what we can observe: the reality of our surroundings and the people around us. However, unfounded paranoia can be confused with legitimate dangers, and it is crucial to know the difference.

  • UNWARRANTED FEAR/PARANOIA: Anxiety over past, future, or nonexistent threats

e.g., You don't cross the busy street because you think a group of drunk, rowdy teenagers will appear on the other side.

  • WARRANTED FEAR/INTUITION: Anxiety over present threats

e.g., You don't cross the busy street because you see a group of drunk, rowdy teenagers on the other side.

Many survivors recall having suspicions about their attacker at the beginning of their encounter or just moments before the attack. The targets that listened to their intuition escaped before the attack occurred, but this is not to blame those who did not heed their intuition as our rationale to combat intuition often happens when a situation or person’s behavior conflicts with our beliefs and assumptions (e.g., “It’s not a big deal,” “They would never hurt me”). However, ignoring our intuition and dismissing red-flag behaviors can be costly. Even if there's a chance your intuition may be wrong, pay attention to your unconscious reactions to people and surroundings.

 
 
“The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.”

A L I C E W A L K E R

  • • de Becker, Gavin. "The Gift of Fear." Dell Publishing. 1998.

    • Larkin, Tim. "Survive the Unthinkable: A Total Guide to Women's Self-Protection." Rodale Books. 2013.

 
Katrina Velasquez