It's amazing the things we do unconsciously isn't it? I've noticed recently that when I'm unnerved because I can hear footsteps behind me or there's a large group of guys around I'll get my house keys out LONG before I get anywhere near my house without ever really noticing I've done it till afterwards... not sure if I think I can use them in defence or if it's just to get me into the house faster :-S

I think there are things that (in a generalisation) women think about more than men even if we don't realise we're doing it. Men I know have in the past not understood at all why walking behind a woman when you're the only two people on the street in the dark is a bad thing but I know very few women who wouldn't immediately spot the danger/feeling of fear.

It does get exagerated I think but equally that's because even more of the time it gts downgraded till it's almost disappeared.