I know this is "unscientific" and not supportable with actual facts, but---

[3catwoman3]

53. Security expert Gavin deBecker...

…says we should never ignore our gut feelings about someone. Our very survival may depend upon doing so. He wrote a book called The Gift Of Fear.

I saw him a long time ago on an Oprah episode (I know, I know - it was before she went all preachy and woo-woo).

He said women, in particular, are not very good at this because we have been typically socialized since early childhood to always be nice and avoid hurting people’s feelings. The rather chilling example he gave, that has always stuck with me, was this:

A woman is waiting for an elevator. She is by herself. Elevator door opens, and there is a single occupant, a man who sends off vibes that make her uncomfortable. She suppresses the urge to wait for the next elevator, fearing that she will offend this stranger if she doesn’t get in.

De Becker said, “No other mammal on earth would get into a closed metal box with no escape with a creature/being that made them uncomfortable.” (Likely paraphrase, as this was years ago.)

I never did that, but I certainly went on dates that I wished I’d turned down (fortunately, nothing bad ever happened), and I used to speed up in poor visibility driving conditions if the person behind me indicated their displeasure at my decreased speed. Now, I just mutter “Fuck you.”