Tonic Immobility and Sexual Arousal During Sexual Violence

Tonic Immobility

Experiencing assault is a traumatic event that can initiate intense reactions in the body beyond a person’s control. These reactions are commonly known as the fight, flight, freeze, or fawn response, and understanding these responses is crucial for survivors and those who support them. The body’s reaction to trauma is natural and no matter the response that occurred during an act of sexual violence assault, it is never the victim-survivor’s fault. 

During the freeze response, something called tonic immobility, or an act of “involuntary, temporary motor inhibition” that happens to individuals when exposed to an extreme threat can occur. Tonic immobility causes the freeze response to be an even more intense situation for a victim-survivor because they may be temporarily paralyzed and unable to control their movements. They may hold their breath and go rigid, as if they are an animal playing dead, however it is completely involuntary. Tonic immobility is a survival instinct, one that we can also observe in animals, such as rabbits or sharks.

Tonic immobility can also impact a person’s mind and memory making it difficult to recall details of an act of sexual violence or can result in intense memory recall where a person may experience flashbacks, reenacting the state of tonic immobility. No matter the response or memory recall, it is not the victim-survivor’s fault or choice. 

Understanding tonic immobility as a physiological response is necessary when supporting individuals who have experienced sexual violence. It is too common for victim-survivors of sexual abuse to blame themselves for believing they let the violence happen because they didn’t physically fight back. This is a false and devastating idea that is perpetuated by fictional depictions of sexual assault in the media. 

A 2017 study published in the Swedish journal Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica found that 70 percent of participants said they experienced some sort of paralysis during a sexual assault and nearly 48 percent said they experienced significant immobility. The 48 percent of study participants who experienced “significant immobility,” were also found to be more likely to experience PTSD and depression after their assault. 

It is necessary for victim-survivors and those who support them to understand that there is research to back up survivors’ experiences and it should be shared. Education on tonic immobility could result in less PTSD and depression in victim-survivors. Instead of making statements such as “different people react in different ways,” supporters can provide legitimate scientific research to back it up. This type of psychoeducation helps survivors who are struggling with feelings of guilt and confusion. 

Arousal

Another common thing that may happen to a victim-survivor during a sexual assault is for an individual to experience arousal or orgasm. Many perpetrators will tell victim-survivors that their arousal or pleasure means they wanted the sexual violence to occur and will use arousal to justify their abuse. Similar to tonic immobility, arousal or orgasm is something that may contribute to blame and guilt for survivors, despite being normal and unrelated to consent. Victim-survivors may not want to admit their body had a physiological response to their attack because they don’t know that it’s normal. Those who support and care for victim-survivors of sexual violence must understand that involuntary responses such as arousal or orgasm are common. 

Simply listening and acknowledging a victim-survivor’s feelings is incredibly validating. Despite things like tonic immobility and arousal during abuse being normal and involuntary, loved ones should also give space for any negative feelings surrounding these trauma responses. Honestly addressing difficult emotions and conversations will create space for victim-survivors to feel they are worthy of support and love. 

Sources 

1. Möller, A., Söndergaard, H. P., & Helström, L. (2017). Tonic immobility during sexual assault – a common reaction predicting post‐traumatic stress disorder and severe depression. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, 96(8), 932–938. https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.13174