Журнал судебно-медицинских исследований

Tonic Immobility in Victims of Sexual Violence in the Spanish Forensic Context

Abstract

Jesus De La Torre Laso*

Tonic Immobility (TI) is a state of temporary involuntary motor inhibition that occurs in states of intense fear and has been studied among victims of sexual violence. Studies on TI are scarce and have mainly focused on rape victims, on describing the prevalence of this phenomenon, the variables involved or the consequences it causes at the psychological level and on its subsequent treatment. There are no studies that analyse the presence of TI in the legal and forensic context. The present study is an analysis of the presence of the TI phenomenon in the legal and forensic context, which aims to describe its relevance in this context. A review of court rulings containing the expression tonic immobility in the legal database CENDOJ, of the Spanish Ministry of Justice, has been carried out. The results show a worrying absence of judgments where this phenomenon has been mentioned or studied and, therefore, the need to carry out studies such as this one. The implications for the legal and forensic context of TI in victims of sexual violence is fundamental, as it may help to understand why some victims react by paralysing and not responding at all. In addition, forensic knowledge of TI may help facilitate the recovery of these victims. Limitations of the study are discussed.