Anticipating abuse reduces fear, but surprise attacks terrify.

Evidence

‘In a way, I anticipate it to happen so I am not scared. For example, when people are pointing at me from far, I expect them to say or do something when I’m close. It is scary when people have spat at me or pulled my headscarf and I did not see that coming.’ (Sophie) ‘We can’t say anything. — Irene Zempi and Imran Awan, Islamophobia, 274

Categorization

• QUESTION: Worth chasing: does constant hypervigilance genuinely blunt fear, or merely convert it into a permanent readiness that exacts its own cost?