Often if the attacker

needs more information he will initiate
an exploratory approach, coupled with disarming dialogue. It
is also used as a secondary awareness assessment -the
attacker wants to see if you are switched on, wants to make
sure he is safe before he attacks. If at this point, or at any
point after victim stalking, the victim appears switched off,
the mugger may initiate his threatened attack without further
priming. Unless the attacker is a real pro he will show signs
of adrenal reaction in the exploratory approach that you will
sense. Listen to your instincts.
If the attacker feels that the chosen victim is switched onto
the attempt and his secondary assessment is negative, he will
often abort and find a more vulnerable victim. If he feels that
the chosen victim is switched off he may initiate the
attack/threatened attack whilst the victim is engaged in
answering his disarming question -this may be any thing
from asking directions to asking the time. Often the
disarming question will switch off those that are switched
on. An experienced attacker will use deception to take down
any defensive fences that his intended victims may have put
up.