Explanation of personal security factors. Also refer to succeed, physical harm, injury, killing, emotional, reputation, threat, attack, revenge, money, jealousy, divorce, drugs, motivations, reasons, defend, Ron Kurtus, School for Champions. Copyright © Restrictions
Personal Security
by Ron Kurtus (12 January 2002)
There are people with evil intentions who may want to harm you or your family. The harm is usually physical injury, but it may also be emotional harm or injuring your reputation. You must be aware of potential threats and take security measures to inhibit such people from achieving their goals.
Questions you may have include:
- Why would someone want to harm another person?
- What sort of threats are there?
- What type of security is needed?
This lesson will answer those questions. There is a mini-quiz near the end of the lesson.
Motivations for attack
Knowing the motivations of the criminally-minded person who may attack you personally is important in preparing your defenses for such an attack.
The reasons another person may want to harm you or your family can be classified as to:
- Gain revenge or in anger
- Get money
- Affect an organization
Gain revenge or in anger
Some people will try to harm another out of anger or revenge. This is usually a personal matter and may be anger over an argument, revenge for some past event, or jealousy.
Get money
There are some cases where a criminal is paid to murder or harm another person, but most situations are where a person gets harmed as a part of a robbery. The intention of the robber was to get money, but the person just happened to be in the way or could possibly provide identification.
Muggers often pick on people who look clumsy or unaware. They may harm the person as part of the mugging.
Affect organization
There are times when a person is harmed because he or she is part of a company, organization or country. In this situation, the is to harm the organization by harming one of its members.
Examples include a terrorist who wants to kill innocent people or an assassin who wants to kill some important person.
Types of harm
People need to be protected from others wanting to do them harm. That harm may be physical, emotional, financial, or even damage to the person's reputation.
Physical
A person may want to cause physical harm, such as beating, injuring, or even killing another person.
Many acts of violence occur as a result of an argument--especially when alcohol or illegal drugs are involved. Other examples of revenge include an estranged husband who wants to get back at his ex-wife and a crazed worker who wants to kill people at his workplace.
Physical harm can also be the result of a robbery or for political reasons.
Usually, the person who is angry will do the harm, although there are cases where assassins have been hired to do the dirty work.
Emotional
Someone may wish to harm another person emotionally by threatening loved ones, creating an atmosphere of terror, or other means.
Jealousy and revenge are often motives to try to hurt another person emotionally, although there are some people who do this to their spouse or children for no apparent reason but to dominate.
Financial
A person may want to inflict financial hardship on a rival by destroying or taking property, by ruining a business or job, or other devious means. This is different than a robbery by an unknown assailant.
Revenge may be the main reason for such an attack.
Reputation
Someone may wish to damage your reputation through spreading false rumors and such. There are also strangers who may steal your identity and harm your financial reputation.
Security steps
The steps to defend against personal attacks are:
- Be aware of possible motivations for attacks and the type of people who would attack you
- Make it difficult for the person to attack you
- Show that you are ready to counter-attack
- Sometimes, make a pre-emptive attack to nip it in the bud
Physical attack
The main problem concerning being personally attacked is not being aware you are in danger. Often people never suspect that someone want to harm them. For most people, it is sufficient to avoid dangerous areas and to have some sort of contingency plan if some madman attacks.
A person who knows his life is in danger can plan for his or her personal security. The obvious cases are dignitaries who have armed security guards and who wear bullet-proof vests when they go out in public.
What are things to do to reduce the risk of being physically attacked?
- Be aware if someone is out to get you
- Stay away from bad areas or be alert when in them
- Be prepared to counter-attack.
Emotional attack
You must protect what is dear to you and be prepared for such an attack, especially if you have enemies or know of people who wish to harm you.
What should you do when emotionally attacked? Don't accept such an attack. Fight back.
Reputation attack
It is probably the most difficult to know that someone is attacking your reputation, since it may be a very subtle attack.
One important thing is to know who your potential enemies are, especially those who are devious and would gain from having your reputation ruined.
Financial attack
Just like having your reputation tarnished, you need to know who would want to harm your financial situation.
Being aware of your rivals is probably the best defense in such a situation. Also, you must have good security for your property.
Summary
There are evil people who may want to harm you or your family through physical injury, emotional harm or damaging your reputation. You must be aware of potential threats and take security measures to inhibit such people from achieving their goals.
Be alert and protect yourself
Resources
The following are some resources on this topic.
Web sites
Books
Mini-quiz to check your understanding
1. Why would a person try to harm his or her spouse?
2. How can you avoid being physically attacked when in a bad neighborhood?
3. What is necessary to avoid an attack on your reputation?
If you got all three correct, you are on your way to becoming a Champion in Security. If you had problems, you had better look over the material again.
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Personal Security