BODY LANGUAGE OF WOMEN AND JUDGMENTS OF VULNERABILITY TO SEXUAL ASSAULT

The present study experimentally examined the effects of body language on judgments of vulnerability to sexual assault by strangers. Four fe atures of body language (stride length, weight shift, body-limb moveme nt, and foot movement) were manipulated to create 2 typical victim pro files and 1 typical nonvictim profile. Short videotapes of 3 adult fem ale models walking alone in each of the 3 body language profiles were filmed. Forty-one college students and 33 police officers individually viewed 3 videotapes (each showing a different model and a different b ody language profile) and made judgments for each about the woman's co nfidence level and vulnerability to sexual assault. As predicted, wome n in the 2 victim profiles were judged to be significantly more vulner able to sexual assault and signifcantly less confident than women in t he nonvictim profile. Implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.