I learned to recognize predators and prey through writing characters for my stories...
I love writing dark fantasy, and while I enjoy world-building, crafting the characters is my favorite part. I'm especially drawn to creating antagonists, as I don't really write anti-heroes. My stories tend to feature morally gray characters. The best part of character creation for me is delving into their mindset.
When I inhabit a character, I have to think like them. But I also have to be cautious. For instance, one character led me to explore a destructive relationship with alcohol. She used it to numb her feelings and thoughts, essentially trying to destroy her own mind, without regard for the consequences.
I tend to create complex, emotionally driven characters. They're not shining beacons; they're raw and vulnerable in their darkness. Sometimes, these characters give me a better understanding of what makes someone a predator, not necessarily a sexual predator, but more how someone exploits others' vulnerabilities through emotional and mental manipulation. That's why I've been listening to people familiar with cults and their tactics of brainwashing and grooming.
It's important to understand dark social psychology, as it involves numerous tactics used to manipulate others. Having adopted a "predator's mindset," while also considering an "ideal prey" profile, I began observing the surrounding people, including those on social media, and analyzing their communication styles and topics of discussion, seeing them almost as potential targets.
People with low self-esteem are the easiest targets. Those who crave conventional beauty and worry about their appearance are especially vulnerable. Who benefits from this social dynamic? While "pretty privilege" offers advantages, it also creates disadvantages in certain life areas, making even those who are considered attractive prey.
The halo effect plays a significant role, becoming a dangerous force when it comes to people. I once jokingly pointed out that blue eyes can be deceiving. Because they are often seen as attractive, it generates an emotion in some people to view them as innocent and trusting. People with blue eyes benefit from the halo effect, especially in entertainment careers, the fashion industry, and so on. You get what I’m talking about. Combining this with modern beauty standards amplifies its influence. However, this can make them the most deceptive if they are secretly predatory.
People with low self-esteem who feel unlovable, especially due to their appearance, are vulnerable. They may become overly attached to someone who shows them any kind of attention. Even a basic compliment, something everyone deserves, can make them view that person favorably, even if that person was a sleazebag.
I knew someone like this, and it happened with her first boyfriend. She'd talk about him like he was the love of her life, the "ugly duckling" he'd chosen. But the things he did were so minimal; I thought she was deluded. Turns out, he'd been cheating on her for a year with her best friend. Later, he died, and she still idealized him, despite his awful behavior. It was all because of her mindset. That's why desperation rarely ends well, at least not after the initial delusion wears off. Eventually, you get burned, and the only option is to gaslight yourself. My friend was so self-deceived, I wondered if she lived in reality. I stopped associating with her because she let so much bad stuff happen, and wouldn't even report it to the police, because she didn't want to lose friendships that were worthless. This was before I understood the predator-prey dynamic.
In times like these, I find myself reflecting on this dynamic more than ever. I wonder how we arrived at this point. When I consider these dynamics and the minds of history's most evil figures, I see this as the perfect environment for controlling the masses.
Understanding the halo effect and really delving into how villains and morally gray characters operate, I believe, unconsciously, I honed my perception. It's like I developed a radar. Now, I often feel like I'm perched on the fence, observing the oblivious "captive animals"—humans—as they roam, completely unaware of the wolves among them.
I just heard an insightful person in the health and fitness industry speak. I noticed that when they showed any vulnerability, even though they were incredibly dedicated to their field, I immediately saw them as prey. Not just prey, but like lambs, inadvertently helping wolves in sheep's clothing gain access to more victims. Because his viewpoints were centered on a deceptive ideology, and he missed the marker that beauty standards have indeed changed drastically, based on eras. He believed they were not that different culturally, but the question wasn’t really about culture. The interviewer was referring more to the fact that beauty is a trend. It changes with time.
Dude, obviously, never set foot in a museum that showcased pieces during the Victorian and medieval eras, or any other era in history across the globe. Them folks from those time periods, if they walked around today, would be labeled ugly as fuck. Cleopatra wasn’t the beauty that the entertainment industry portrayed her as. Actually, she carried abnormalities that happen with too much inbreeding. But they were considered the ideal beauty standard of that day. And Henry the 8th was a walking tub-o-thon. Even the ladies in the Tudors, and the actor who played Henry, no. In the series, they looked nothing like the actual historical figures. No actor looks like the figures of the past, because modern looks are different from the past, because we mixed and mingled. Genetic mixes make for more unique looks.
I mean, the reason white women focused on thinness in America is because of racism and having to look starkly different from black women.
Yet again, these are all ideologies that were perpetuated by the colonizer, the patriarchal system that is struggling to maintain its hold. And I listened to basically a white male in the fitness industry talk about beauty, who got plastic surgery because even with what he achieved and looking ripped, he still doesn’t like himself. Those are all signs that you are insecure, but he masks around as a brute figure who thinks he’s funny. And he doesn’t even realize that bodybuilders are not normal. But it’s not like we want to judge that, but I’m sorry, the bodies that bodybuilders have and what people try to achieve fitness-wise, aesthetically, is not normal. I’m gonna state it out there. It’s not about what’s normal or not normal; it’s what they believe is normal and should become normal for everyone else. Those are actually eugenic ideologies, and what’s associated with eugenics? You probably guessed it… The F-ism.
By the way, women are just as horrible when it comes to aiding the patriarchal system and misogyny. How the patriarchy gets to women is through other women. "The Hunting Wives" is a good example of how this dynamic works and how dangerous it can be.
Certain groups target specific communities for a reason, often exploiting vulnerabilities. These can include a lack of socioeconomic stability, strong relationships, or a sense of belonging, as well as a desire for acceptance, low self-worth, and poor self-esteem.
Surprisingly, people often misunderstand the emotional fragility of a narcissist. While you *can* inflict emotional and mental harm, it requires sacrificing your own integrity, realizing you have the power to break them down internally.
Neutralizing someone with narcissistic traits isn't hard for me, but it *does* mean swallowing my pride. The trick is to avoid reacting and giving them fuel. They want to keep you engaged so they can constantly chip away at your self-worth and feel superior. Then try to leave if you can, but if that’s not the case, really fortify your mind. And everything they say is bullshit. I say it in my mind every time: “They are bullshit on steroids.” And I move on with my day.
Some people are masters of words and charisma, and they're well aware of their ability to manipulate others. Their charming personalities and eloquent speech allow them to prey on people, a reality we see play out in society. This inherent skill influences how others perceive them, but it doesn't work on me.
I see them like a siren's song—meant to lure me to my doom. So, I'm always cautious. Frankly, it's wise to be wary of anyone; you never truly know someone until their true colors surface.
Yesterday, I learned that if a specific part of the brain, like the area responsible for judgment, doesn't receive blood flow, those minds won't recognize any red flags. Something to think about, readers. Maybe you should listen to the people around you when they point out the red flags. Love is not blind, but lack of awareness is, especially if your are clouded with hormones, consumed with the things I mentioned in the beginning of this blog, and if your judgement is not working because of lack of blood flow to that area of the brain.
For my characters, I sometimes have to get inside the head of a predator. I think it's actually helped me in the long run.














