An attempt to explain why some survivors of sexual violence didn’t react—in the moment or even years later.
There are many complex psychological, biological, and social reasons why a survivor of sexual violence might not have responded during the assault—or even long afterward. This text aims to approach the topic from a psycho-biological perspective. It speaks to survivors who feel guilt, shame, or confusion over how (or why) they didn’t react when the incident occurred. It also addresses those who haven’t experienced sexual violence and find it hard to understand why someone didn’t leave, scream, react, or speak up immediately—or why they may have spoken only years later.
Acute Stress Response: brain and body
Have you ever noticed what you feel during an argument, when a sudden sound from the street startles you, or even when you observe a quarrel from afar? You may notice your heart racing, your breath becoming shallow, a compulsion to check your surroundings—or your blood “freezing.” These reactions are automatic: they are controlled by the brain and nervous system and occur without conscious thought.
Certain stimuli are interpreted by our brains automatically and unconsciously as threats—even if they’re not objectively dangerous. In the face of danger, the brain has a single goal: to protect us. When it perceives a stimulus as dangerous, specific responses—beyond our conscious control—kick in as the body enters survival mode.
This can include muscle tension, pupil constriction or dilation, saliva and sweat production, digestion halting—and more. We often observe the following five behaviours or reactions (the “5 F”):
- Fight
- Flight
- Freeze
- Friend (i.e., friendly toward the attacker or attempting to seek help)
- Flop (playing dead, like fainting)
These automatic survival responses—also referred to as hyperarousal or the acute stress response—are common across mammals, sharing similar brain structures.
How someone responds in a threat depends on various factors, such as the specific situation and which response has worked in the past. The crucial point is that these are not conscious decisions: the brain chooses within fractions of a second, with survival as its only goal. For example, when a lion chases an antelope, the antelope runs—not fights—because its brain calculates that fighting would be fatal.
The “5 F” in relation to sexual violence and trauma
Sexual violence includes any sexual behavior—such as erotic comments, exposure of genitals, touching, and others—without the consent of those involved.
When someone experiences sexual violence and the brain interprets it as a threat, the autonomic stress mechanism is typically activated, putting the body into survival mode. Depending on the brain’s assessment:
- A fight or flight response may occur if the brain estimates that resisting or fleeing is possible.
- If reacting strongly could cause greater harm, the brain may trigger freeze or flop.
So, the victim may freeze—feeling immobilized—or faint. Some individuals exhibit a friendly reaction, such as smiling or calling for help, as the brain attempts to reduce harm through appeasement. Importantly, these are survival mechanisms—not signs of consent. It’s safe to say the person did whatever they could to survive.
What is psychological trauma?
Psychological trauma is an unavoidable stress-inducing event that overwhelms an individual’s defense mechanisms. In the case of sexual trauma, the person may feel helpless. While many people go through traumatic experiences and manage to cope—sometimes without needing professional help—for others, the effects linger for months or years. Common symptoms include:
- Intrusive thoughts or images (flashbacks)
- Panic attacks
- Substance or alcohol misuse
- Self-harm
- Relationship difficulties
- Chronic pain
It is important to stress that these responses are within the spectrum of normal given the context.
“5 F” and victim blaming
Victim blaming occurs when we assume a survivor had control over what happened. We often hear phrases like, “Why didn’t they just stand up and leave? Why didn’t they say no? Why didn’t they file a report?” One possible answer is that the brain sensed danger, triggered the autonomic stress response, and shut down the conscious, thinking parts—leaving only survival mode.
The “5 F” response can also persist long after the assault; the brain continues to react in the present to a past event. This may explain why some survivors didn’t speak earlier—or ever. Their nervous systems may remain in a survival state for years.
Conclusion
Survivors’ responses and behaviors are shaped by complex biopsychosocial factors. This article aimed to explore the “5 F” survival responses in relation to sexual violence and trauma—particularly “freeze” behaviors that might wrongly lead others to think the victim was complicit. Further research is needed to better understand both immediate and long-term responses of those affected by sexual violence.
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