Sexual Assault and the Brain

Stress

"Reflexes and Habits" Is Much Better Than "Fight or Flight"

Jim Hopper, Ph.D. on February 12, 2021

Adding "freeze" can't salvage a phrase that harms sexual assault survivors.

Adding "freeze" can't salvage a phrase that harms sexual assault survivors.

Stress

Why Christine Blasey Ford Can’t Remember How She Got Home

Jim Hopper, Ph.D. on October 6, 2018

Stress and trauma have time-dependent effects on the hippocampus and memory, not just enhancing central over peripheral details, but eventually leading to a minimal-encoding phase.

Stress and trauma have time-dependent effects on the hippocampus and memory, not just enhancing central over peripheral details, but eventually leading to a minimal-encoding phase.

Sexual Abuse

Why Incomplete Sexual Assault Memories Can Be Very Reliable

Jim Hopper, Ph.D. on September 28, 2018

Incomplete memories of sexual assault, including those with huge gaps, are understandable—if we learn the basics of how memory works and we genuinely listen to survivors.

Incomplete memories of sexual assault, including those with huge gaps, are understandable—if we learn the basics of how memory works and we genuinely listen to survivors.

Sexual Abuse

Why It's Time for Sexual Assault Self-Defense Training

Jim Hopper, Ph.D. on September 5, 2018

Not victim blaming, not just physical skills, but proven ways to resist assault and coercion, especially habits of owning sexual desires, values, and rights.

Not victim blaming, not just physical skills, but proven ways to resist assault and coercion, especially habits of owning sexual desires, values, and rights.

Sexual Abuse

Freezing During Sexual Assault and Harassment

Jim Hopper, Ph.D. on April 3, 2018

Understanding the neurobiology of freezing can be very helpful in making sense of one’s own experiences, supporting others, and investigating or prosecuting.

Understanding the neurobiology of freezing can be very helpful in making sense of one’s own experiences, supporting others, and investigating or prosecuting.

Stress

Sexual Assault and Neuroscience: Alarmist Claims vs. Facts

Jim Hopper, Ph.D. on January 22, 2018

A misleading article provides an opportunity to clarify key facts about the well-established neurobiology of stress and trauma.

A misleading article provides an opportunity to clarify key facts about the well-established neurobiology of stress and trauma.

Stress

In Most Sexual Assaults, “Defense Circuitry” Runs the Show

Jim Hopper, Ph.D. on December 19, 2017

We need to know this circuitry and its impacts, even if it doesn’t sound as cool as “amygdala.”

We need to know this circuitry and its impacts, even if it doesn’t sound as cool as “amygdala.”

Trauma

The Brain Under (Sexual) Attack

Jim Hopper, Ph.D. on December 14, 2017

Is the brain’s response to being attacked basically the same, whether the attack is a sexual assault, physical assault, or enemy fire in military combat?

Is the brain’s response to being attacked basically the same, whether the attack is a sexual assault, physical assault, or enemy fire in military combat?