Signs of a predator

5 Signs to Look For

Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors

Medically Reviewed by Dan Brennan, MD on November 20, 2020

What is a Sexual Predator?

A sexual predator is a person who seeks out sexual contact with another person in a predatory or abusive manner. People who are sexual predators may or may not have committed sex crimes — like sexual harassment, assault, rape, and pedophilia — but all sexual predators have sought out inappropriate contact in one way or another.

Those who exploit others in a sexual manner may not be just seeking sex. Rather, they see sex as a form of dominance and control.

While some sexual predators attempt to exploit adult victims, many are child sexual predators. These abusers have a distinct sexual preference for children. They look for minors, typically pre-pubescent (before puberty), and will build trust with their victim as a form of grooming.

Approximately 96% of child sexual abuse perpetrators are male. About 90% of children who are sexually abused report that their perpetrator was somebody they already knew and trusted.

Signs of a Sexual Predator

Knowing how to identify the signs of sexual abuse and predatory behavior can help stop the abuse as soon as possible — or before any more harm can be done. Not all of these warning signs indicate sexual abuse. However, they can act as a red flag for abusive, and possibly sexually predatory, behavior.

1. Associating with Children

A sexual predator with a particular interest in children may show a preference for associating with grade school, middle school, or high school-aged children. They may have few friendships of their own age or have unusually close friendships with children.

In addition to spending a lot of time around children, they might also engage in inappropriate behaviors. For example, they may show an unusual interest in physical play with a child, like wrestling, tickling, kissing, or hugging.

2. Creating Dependency

A sexual predator may begin manipulating their chosen victim to create dependency and intimacy. In the beginning, they may be very attentive, showering the individual with gifts, praise, phone calls, and texts.

This creates a feeling in the victim that the perpetrator has a special bond with them. The victim may feel that the perpetrator can provide something nobody else can — and they are the only person who truly understands, respects, and cares for the victim. This builds loyalty and vulnerability, which the sexual predator can then use to their advantage.

3. Using Manipulative Language

You may notice a potential sexual predator using manipulative language. They may insult or mock the victim on their behavior, appearance, clothes, friends, or other parts of their personal life. When challenged on this behavior, they may lie and twist the information, making the victim feel as though they are at fault. They may repeatedly focus on their own feelings in order to make the victim feel guilty for hurting them.

Some predators may also engage in gaslighting. Gaslighting is a form of emotional abuse where the perpetrator makes a person question their thoughts, memories, and events they have experienced. The goal of gaslighting is to force the victim to question their own memory, or even their sanity, in favor of the abuser’s version of events.

4. Pushing Physical and Sexual Boundaries

Sexual predators may push past healthy boundaries. This behavior may begin with seemingly innocent touches on the back, hand, or leg. But it may escalate to inappropriate touching on the thigh, near the genitals, on breasts, or even fondling without the person’s consent.

If the predator is already in a relationship with the victim, they may cross pre-established boundaries or fail to ask for consent. They may use manipulation to push the person to carry out tasks they are not comfortable with.

For children, this can look like rubbing the child’s leg, drying them off with a towel, changing their clothes, hugging, or cuddling. This may then escalate to more sexual behavior.

Before doing so, the predator may introduce and normalize ideas of sex to the child. By talking to the child about sex, making suggestive jokes, showing them pornography, or encouraging them to be naked together, they may be able to introduce sexual activity by telling the child it’s a “game".

5. Expressing Jealousy and Controlling Behavior

In many cases, the sexual predator may be jealous and controlling around friends, family members, or other romantic interests. They may monitor the victim’s social media activity, personal life, and day-to-day activities.

This can be taken a step further, to the point where the predator becomes controlling. They may seek to limit the victim’s contact with others, especially those of the opposite sex.

Dealing with Sexual Predators

In some cases, these warning signs can be innocent. Others may be signs of emotional or physical abuse, but not sexual abuse.

However, if you strongly suspect someone you know may be a sexual predator—or may be a victim of a sexual predator — you should report it immediately to the police and/or the department of child services in your state. Other organizations, like the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline or the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, can help direct you towards immediate assistance, as well as resources and support for survivors.

Once a sexual predator has been investigated and found to be guilty of sexual offenses, they may enter treatment to discourage the behavior. Treatment for sexual predators has been a source of debate for decades, but offenders can lead productive and offense-free lives after treatment.

One study found that sex offenders were less likely to go back to prison for the same offense than others in the general criminal population.

Types of treatment can include:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Hormonal medication
Therapeutic communities
Psychotherapy and counseling
Medical castration

Five Signs to Look out For

An individual who employs predatory or abusive methods of obtaining sexual contact with another person is known as a sexual predator. In some cases, sexual predators are not just looking for sex. Sexual intimacy is seen as a way to assert dominance. Sexual predators may prey on children. The most effective way to protect your children is being able to identify the common traits of sexual predators and learning to recognize these five warning signs below.

Being in Close Contact with Children

Often, a sexual predator specifically interested in children will prefer to be associated with children in elementary school, middle school, and high school. Many sexual predators don’t have many friends their own age or they spend a lot of time with children.

As they spend a great deal of time with children, they may behave inappropriately as well. For example, they may frequently engage in physical interaction with the child, such as wrestling, tickling, kissing, or hugging. Anyone can be a sexual predator, even someone close to you or your child. Activities such as coaching sports, driving buses, and being a camp counselor all provide opportunities for potential predators to interact with children on their own without parental involvement.

Creating Emotional Dependency

As the predator emotionally manipulates its chosen victim, it develops a sense of intimacy and dependency. The start of the relationship might be very supportive; sexual predators might give gifts, praise the individual, or call and text often.

This gives the victim the impression that a special connection exists between them and the perpetrator. In the victim’s eyes, they may feel that the perpetrator is the only one who knows, values, and cares for them, or is better for them than other loved ones. Sexual predators can take advantage of this heightened sense of loyalty and vulnerability.

Using Manipulative Behavior and Language

Using manipulative language may be a sign of a possible sexual predator. Often, the predator insults or ridicules the victim’s behavior, style, attire, or other aspects of their personal lives. Upon being confronted about their conduct, the perpetrator is likely to embellish or falsify the information, potentially leading the victim to believe that they are at fault. It is common for predators to continually emphasize their own feelings as part of their attempt to make the victim feel guilty.

Predators may also use gaslighting tactics. As a form of emotional abuse, gaslighting causes a person to question the memory, judgment, and views they hold. Gaslighting is meant to make the victim doubt their memories or perceptions by pushing them to accept the abuser’s interpretation of events or perception of the relationship.

Pushing Physical and Sexual Boundaries

Sexual predators may overstep acceptable boundaries. Initially, this may be seen as a harmless touch on the back, hand, or leg. But it may progress to unwelcome contact or unwanted sexual advances, such as touching or fondling without consent, near the genitals or breasts.

Sometimes, when a predator has already developed a relationship with a victim, they may violate a predetermined boundary or ignore the victim’s wishes. In some cases, manipulation can be used to coerce the victim into doing something that they don’t want to.

As part of the predator’s initial approach, they typically try to introduce and normalize sexual ideas to children. When talking about sexual activity to a child, a predator may use suggestive humor, show them pornographic material, or imply that they should perform certain actions, which may persuade the child to think that sexual activity is like a game.

Jealous and Controlling Behavior

Many times, sexual predators display jealousy, possessiveness, and unreasonable behavior directed towards friends, family, and other romantic partners. They may keep a close eye on the victim’s social media accounts, private life, and daily activities. In some cases, predators may appear to lack social connections. Additionally, they may disregard social boundaries.

There is a point at which a predator becomes controlling. The perpetrator may interfere with the victim’s relationship with others, especially if they feel threatened or if they are in the opposite sexual orientation as them.

Our Minnesota Child Sex Crime Lawyers Can Help

A parent who is accessible and has open communication with their children will be better able to protect them from predators. As children grow, they should be able to discern what is and isn’t appropriate behavior and express this openly with their families. Ideally, parents should be aware of and monitor their children’s daily lives and should set clear rules and boundaries regarding their children’s behavior and privacy. Sadly, that doesn’t always suffice.

If you believe your child was a victim of a sex-related crime, they may qualify for compensation. Find out if you qualify for civil litigation by contacting Knutson + Casey as soon as possible. We are available to take your call at (507) 344-8888 or submit your details to our online contact form to request a free consultation.

Signs of a predator and herbivore. Who is the person?

Signs of a herbivore and predator in a person

Interesting fact:
Vegetarianism was followed by: Buddha, Zoroaster, Pythagoras, Socrates, Plato, Plutarch, Hippocrates, Empedocles, Epicurus, Ovid, Seneca, Origen, John Chrysostom, Leonardotulian Vinci, Michelangelo, Newton, Spinoza, Voltaire, Rousseau, Goethe, Wagner, Schiller, Byron, Shelley, Bacon, Adam Smith, Montaigne, Schopenhauer, Maeterlinck, Lincoln, Nietzsche, Voltaire, Ibsen, Repin, Bernard Shaw, Rabindranath Tagore, Gandhi , Leo Tolstoy, Beketov, Struve and others. via

What is more in us from a biological point of view? From predators? Or from herbivores? What is natural for us, and what is imposed on us? I will not argue one way or the other. Here are some interesting facts from comparative biology between human herbivores and carnivores.

1. One of the important indicators is the ratio of the length of the intestine to the length of the body. Meat is digested quickly and must be quickly eliminated from the body. So that the products of decay do not poison the body. This results in a shorter intestine. The length of the small intestine in a predator is 3-6 body sizes, in humans and herbivores it is 10-12 body sizes.

2. The saliva of predators does not contain enzymes, because they simply swallow their food. In herbivores, as in humans, the process of breaking down food with the help of enzymes begins already in the mouth. In this regard, the esophagus in humans and herbivores is narrow, since already prepared food enters there.

3. The stomach of predators makes up 60-70% of the digestive system. In humans and herbivores - less than 30%. Its acidity in predators is much higher than that of herbivores and humans. The kidneys and liver are also sharply different in functionality. So, in predators, vitamin A is processed by the liver, in herbivores and humans are not.

5. Predator eats much less frequently - once every few days. Herbivore several times a day.

6. The musculoskeletal system is different. In predators, the limbs have a kink in the knees, which gives them the ability to silently move quickly and make a powerful jump. Humans and herbivores have straight limbs.

7. The structure of the mouth. In predators, the structure of the jaw and mouth allows you to swallow food in large pieces, in herbivores, the mouth opening is small, since the food comes in small portions. Herbivores drink liquid, carnivores lap their tongues.
The jaws of a predator move vertically, a herbivore - in a horizontal plane - to grind food. In humans - and so, and so.

8. Teeth. Carnivores have long and pointed teeth, herbivores have flat teeth, and there are fangs for a protective function. In humans, the type of teeth is like that of herbivores, the fangs are not pronounced, blunt.

9. Vision in predators is often monochrome. Better distinguish moving objects, see well in the dark. Herbivores are good at distinguishing colors and cannot see in the dark. The location of the eyes of herbivores on the sides of the head. In predators in front of the head.

10. Leather. Carnivores don't have pores. Cooling occurs through the mouth.

11. Predators sleep more than herbivores, they stay awake mainly at night.

12. The period of bearing offspring in predators is 2-3 times shorter than in herbivores, the offspring are more numerous.

13. Predator cubs appear blind, herbivores with open eyes.

14. Claws. Carnivores have it, herbivores don't.

What does the comparison show?

What conclusions can be drawn? The person has both. But the signs of herbivore are more pronounced.

You can also get acquainted with the statistics of diseases of countries where meat is consumed, and where it is less or not (for religious or any other reasons). Where they do not eat, there is much less and much death rate from cardiovascular diseases and from cancer.

Carnivores and herbivores have different pupil shapes

08/10/2015 00:06

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A group of scientists from the University of California at Berkeley (USA) and Durham University (UK) found that the form pupil of an animal can tell whether it belongs to predators or their prey. In the first, the pupil narrows into a vertical stripes, while the latter, on the contrary, in a horizontal - this scientists discovered a pattern by comparing the shapes of pupils in 214 animal species. About the study says Gordon Love, professor of physics at Durham University, one of the co-authors. Work published in magazine Science Advances .

“We found that animals whose pupils are dilated verticals, most often turn out to be predators attacking from ambush when the distance to the victim is minimal. Also for them usually that the eyes are located in front. For example, foxes and domestic cats. The difference between foxes and, say, wolves is whose pupils are round - that these latter do not suit ambush, but they hunt in packs, chasing their prey, ”explained Love.

But the pupils, stretching horizontally, are almost always inherent herbivores, whose eyes are located on the sides of the head, and, as a rule, these are animals that are hunted, for example, sheep and goats. See also the video at the bottom of the text, filmed by the participants research.

Computer simulations have shown that the vertical Oriented pupils allow you to accurately judge the distance without moving the head - this is important in order not to let the victim notice you. Horizontally oriented pupils and head on the sides, not front, in turn, give herbivores - who need both you can notice a predator earlier and be ready to run away - your kind of panoramic vision, almost 360°. Thanks to this form pupils, the amount of light coming from above is reduced and from below, which improves the quality of visual information about the surrounding space at ground level, which is useful not only for notice a predator, but also during an attempt to escape.

If this hypothesis is correct, then the greatest advantage is vertical pupils should give animals a small stature. Data validation on animals with vertical pupils and eyes located in front, showed that 82% of them have a height of no more than 42 cm. (among animals with round pupils, there are only 17% of them).

But how do the pupils of herbivores behave when they nibble on grass? After all in this case, given the location of the eyes on the head, the pupils are no longer parallel to the ground. It turned out that in in this case, the pupils of goats, elks, horses and sheep rotate, maintaining a horizontal orientation.

By the way, in the world of animals there are many more amazing pupils. For example, in mongooses, the pupils are oriented horizontally, but eyes are located in front - probably the first is explained the need to notice the snake as early as possible, and the second by the fact that mongooses are just waiting for snakes in ambush. Geckos have pupils in the expanded state is round, but narrowing, they turn into several individual points. But the most interesting thing is the pupils of cuttlefish - in the shape of the letter W (in the illustration at the bottom right, the other three eyes belong to sheep, wolf and fox)

eyes pupils predators

Information provided by the Information Agency "Scientific Russia". Mass media registration certificate: IA No. ФС77-62580, issued Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Communications on July 31, 2015.

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