Do children who are sexually abused sometimes lose the will to fight or "lock up" when abused as adults?

Question

I am a professional writer. I'm seeking to craft a story which involves a character who suffered sexual abuse as a child. I'm aware that sexual predators often percieve something in their victims that allows them to "choose" their "prey" more effectively. The character will thus suffer from a date rape later in the tale, and, with appreciation tthat every experience differs, what are your views on it? Is it likely that she would "lock-up", go completely still, and be unable to fight back due to her previous trauma (perhaps flashbacks?). Would this stillness then result in a complete lack of physical evidence (only normal, minor vaginal bleeding / tearing), such that the perpetrator could concievably "get away with it"? Sorry that this may be a very personal question for some, but it's essential that the details of this are correct. I just want to know if the above scenario is even possible. Any doctors, past victims, or law enforcement experts out there who'd be willing share?

Answer 1

You are correct, in my experience, at least.

Answer 2

Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. This occurs after any major physical or mental trauma is experienced. If not treated immediately, it can scar a person for life and greatly affect the quality of their life. They tend to (unknowingly) gravitate toward the same type of people who abused them earlier in life because that is all they know and, in some strange way, are comfortable with. They also tend to believe that if they are everything to everybody (co-dependency), they will somehow cause that person to love them. In this, they lose their identity and become the weak victim over and over who attracts the big bad bullies who continue to abuse them. This is just in a nutshell, there's much more to it. There are numerous books on this subject in libraries. You may email me to find out more. I WAS such a victim and became a professional in the area of psychology and also plan to write about this subject.

Answer 3

Being a victim I will answer as correctly as I can. If it were me, and I have been in therapy for many years, I would fight and fight hard. No one will ever destroy me again without a fight. I believe that the after affects would be more traumatic then someone who has not gone through this before. Even now 30 years later, I have flashbacks and there are times I have difficulty having sex with my spouse, but I fight internally to not let it ruin things. But he is understanding and will not pursue it that time. I do at the time we are making love and have these flashbacks want to bite, kick, scream, yell get him off of me anyway I can, but as I said I realize who it is and ask him to please stop. So I guess the real answer would be, depends on the inner strength of the person as to whether she would freeze or fight.

Answer 4

a more likely response from the woman would be more similar to a trained solider. this is due to the fact that the woman has analyzed as much of this previous rape that she could remember
and imagined her responses in great detail to a similar event
should it ever take place in the future.
I am back just happen on this question again . anyway what you have in your story is much more a case of someone who has been abused many times for a long time like a battered wife .
you have confused the two and post traumatic stress is not as
common as you think at least not in so much as this girl in your story would likely suffer from it that would be odd. again ptsd. is more often seen in someone that has been in a war this is why in the past it was called shell shock. repeated exposure to trauma
for at least a matter of days or more likely a month or years. not one night while drugged and unaware of what is happening.
i hope this helps your story . i don't like stories like that as i have seen enough sadness and horror in this world with out having to dream it up or read about made up cases but good luck with your story

Answer 5

Yes, in many cases this results in a pre-conditioning "if you will" for helplessness. Subconciously the victim has been "trained" for lack of a better term to react passively to the aggressor. This results in giving up with little or no struggle at all.
The predator looks for those who are passive in nature, low self esteem, co dependant or,easily led, little or no initiative, etc. Basically any characteristic that allows them to insert themselves into a temporary position of authority or trust.