Why Serial Killers Target Vulnerability (and How to Avoid Looking Like a Target) By Sensei Liam Musiak

One of the hardest truths about serial killers and predators is this: they don’t choose their victims at random. They look for opportunity. They look for vulnerability. And if we understand how they think, we can reduce our own risks in everyday life.

What “Vulnerability” Really Means

When we say vulnerability, we’re not talking about weakness or blame. No victim is ever at fault for what a predator does. Vulnerability simply means the traits that make someone easier to attack without consequence.

Serial killers and violent offenders often look for:

Isolation – Someone walking alone at night or leaving a bar by themselves.

Distraction – People absorbed in their phones, music, or intoxicated.

Compliance – Someone who seems unlikely to resist or cause a scene.

Trust – People who accept help or authority without questioning it (Bundy pretending to be injured or a police officer is a perfect example).

How Predators Think

Predators are opportunists. They don’t want a fair fight, and they don’t want attention. They want control. Someone who looks confident, alert, and aware is far less attractive to them than someone who looks unaware or easy to manipulate.

That’s why killers like Bundy, Gacy, and the Golden State Killer chose specific victims. They didn’t just attack the first person they saw. They waited for people who looked like they wouldn’t or couldn’t fight back.

How Not to Look Like a Target

You don’t need to be a fighter to reduce vulnerability. Small, consistent habits make a massive difference:

Walk with Purpose – Head up, eyes scanning, shoulders back. Confidence is a deterrent.

Stay Connected – Avoid isolated areas when possible. Let someone know where you are.

Limit Distractions – Don’t bury yourself in your phone when moving from A to B.

Trust Instincts – If something feels wrong, don’t dismiss it. Act on it.

Be Ready to Make Noise – Predators thrive in silence. A loud, sudden response can break their control.

The Core Lesson

Predators don’t pick victims because of beauty, status, or luck—they pick based on vulnerability. That’s why awareness training, self-defence, and mental readiness are so important.

The goal isn’t to live in fear. It’s to carry yourself in a way that says: “I am not the easy option.”