The absence of reaction during a rape could be explained by the blocking of the neural circuits due to fear and threat.
- 70% of women who have been sexually assaulted or raped report feeling “frozen”, unable to move or cry out in response to the assault.
- This involuntary immobility would be linked to a blockage of the neural circuits, which control action and bodily movements, in response to fear and threat.
- A better legal understanding of neuroscientific evidence on this lack of response could prevent inappropriate blaming of victims.
“30% of women have been sexually assaulted in their lifetime. The consequences of this violence on victims and society are devastating, but the subject is often overlooked. For example, in England and Wales, the police recorded more than 70,000 rapes in 2021 and 2022, but only 3% of them resulted in an indictment”, said two researchers from University College London (UCL). They specified that, during trials, those attacked were often reproached for not having fought back or having tried to flee.
Rape: neural circuits shut down in the face of a threat
In a study published in the journal Nature Human Behavior, scientists have reported that 70% of women who were raped reported being “frozen”, unable to move or cry out in response to the assault, even when not physically restrained. This lack of reaction would have a neurological explanation. The team argued that the immobility of the victims was likely unintentional. According to her, fear and threat could block the neural circuits which allow to control the action and the movements of the body.
“Many animals freeze briefly in response to a mild threat, in order to be ready to trigger a fight or flight response. But in response to an immediate and severe threat, the behavior may evolve into prolonged immobility where the body becomes either completely congealed or limp. Similar processes occur in human beings”, explain the authors in a statement.
“Preventing inappropriate blaming of victims” with neuroscientific evidence
Thus, the arguments “sometimes misinterpreting the absence of a struggle during the rape as an indication of consent” are “unjust”. “The law has long recognized ‘loss of control’ defenses and may award attenuated liability in specific situations, where the evidence shows that the acts were done outside of any willful control. It may s certain medical conditions, such as sleep disorders, as well as extreme situations such as coercive control. After reviewing the neuroscientific evidence, we suggest that the same consideration be given to involuntary immobility during rape or sexual assault. We hope this will help prevent inappropriate blaming of victims and draw society’s attention to the critical importance of active consent.” said Patrick Haggard, co-author of the work.
