One of the best ways to avoid a confrontation is to project an image of strength. If your head is up, showing that you are aware of what is happening in your surroundings, then you are less likely to be attacked.

Eye contact is a crucial element of this projection of strength. If you look at someone’s eyes, then you also see the face, which can make potential attackers nervous about you being able to identify them to the police. It also shows that you are confident and sure of yourself, forcing them to wonder why. Eye contact is an important prevention tool of which few truly take advantage.

I learned this lesson walking around New York City back in 2003. For three months I explored the Big Apple, and while I found the people quite nice and helpful (if you made the first effort), I was amazed at how few would actually look others in the eye. This was especially prevalent when riding the subway system, which is where my demented sense of humor really flared. I would quietly sit peeking at others and if one ever glanced my way, I would peer straight into his or her eyes. In every instance, the person would spin away and never look in my direction again. I swear I thought a couple was going to break their necks in the process.

Another time, while strolling through Central Park with my Nikon 6006 and telephoto lens hanging from my neck, I noticed a scruffy-looking man walking toward me had a dead bead on my camera, all the while edging closer to my side of the sidewalk. At about 15 feet, he looked up from the camera at my face, and found me staring straight into his eyes. He immediately looked away, and returned to the other side. As he passed me, I stopped and turned around. After continuing for a few steps, he looked back to find me watching him. He kept going, and so did I. However, we both continued to look back until we were out of sight of each other.

Now I can’t say for sure if this guy had bad intentions, but I let him know that I wasn’t going to be an easy mark, which just might have prevented a potential situation from becoming real. A major part of self-defense is avoidance of situations where you would have to defend yourself, and eye contact can give you a real edge.