A Qualitative Investigation of Unwanted Arousal During Rape

Research acknowledges that survivors can unwillingly become aroused during rape, although shame and fear of judgment may prevent them from disclosing the unwanted arousal. It is unclear how survivors make sense of unwanted arousal and its impacts. The authors utilized a Consensual Qualitative Research (CQR) approach to investigate survivors’ experiences of unwanted arousal during rape, including their thoughts, feelings, impact on their well-being, and process of recovery. Twelve cisgender women who reported experiencing unwanted arousal during rape were interviewed for this study. CQR data analysis revealed nine thematic domains, including impact of unwanted arousal, complex emotional reactions about the arousal, ambivalence: your body betrays you, coping with unwanted arousal, fear of disclosing the arousal, seeking/not seeking help due to unwanted arousal, intimate partners’ messages about arousal, sex education about unwanted arousal, and acceptance of the unwanted arousal. Findings indicate that unwanted arousal is a significant source of psychological distress above and beyond the rape itself, compounded by victim-blaming and self-doubt. Findings also show that inadequate sex education, fear of disclosure, and societal misconceptions about unwanted arousal contributed to challenges in recovery. Professionals are encouraged to include unwanted arousal in sex education programs, discuss unwanted arousal as a normative response to rape, and implement trauma-informed care recommendations into their daily practices.