
Investigating the Self-Protective Potential of Immobility in Victims of Rape
Using a nationwide sample of reported rape cases collected by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI; 389 victims; 89% stranger rapes), this study investigates assumptions about self-protective behaviors for rape victims. Past research on victim resistance strategies often specifies
active resistance as self-protective, inadvertently underestimating the potential for biologically based reactions, such as tonic immobility, to be self-protective as well. Results confirm that rape victims who were verbally and physically immobile during the attack were less likely to be
injured and have force used against them. In addition, victims who were verbally immobile suffered a less severe attack. The results indicate that immobility may protect the victim from increased injury, force, and severity of the attack. Implications for the legal and public definition of
consent are discussed.
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Keywords: CONSENT; RAPE; RESISTANCE; TONIC IMMOBILITY; VICTIM INJURY
Document Type: Research Article
Publication date: April 1, 2017
This article was made available online on January 27, 2017 as a Fast Track article with title: "Investigating the Self-Protective Potential of Immobility in Victims of Rape".
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