Most people agree that rape is wrong. But far fewer understand what it actually is—and what it isn’t. In this episode, we confront the myths and misconceptions that continue to shape how we define rape, treat survivors, and pursue justice.

We explore the neuroscience behind trauma responses like freezing and fawning, and why these involuntary reactions are still so often misunderstood in courtrooms, conversations, and cultural narratives. From the impact of the #MeToo movement to the hardwired survival mechanisms of the brain, we examine what needs to change—and why it matters.

This is not an easy conversation. But it’s one we all need to have.

If you have any topic suggestions for future episodes, don't hesitate to reach out! Send us an email at info@brainblownpodcast.com.

We'd love to hear from you.

REFERENCES

• Medicolegal Findings of Rape Victims: A Retrospective Study of 69 Cases at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Dhaka City
  Palash Kumar Bose, Mamtaz Ara, Md. Syedur Rahaman, Mohammad Jubaidul Kabir, Prodip Biswas

• Assault-Related Self-Blame and Its Association with PTSD in Sexually Assaulted Women: An MRI Inquiry
  Zohar Berman, Yaniv Assaf, Ricardo Tarrasch, Daphna Joel

• Rape Myth Scale: Factor Structure and Relationship with Gender Egalitarianism Among Japanese Professionals
  Masayo Uji, Masahiro Shono, Noriko Shikai, Toshinori Kitamura

• Neuroscience Evidence Counters a Rape Myth
  Ebani Dhawan, Patrick Haggard

• Neuropsychological and Electrophysiological Evaluation After Rape: A Case Study of a Teenage Girl
  Lucía Ester Rizo-Martínez, Miguel Ángel Guevara, Luis Francisco Cerdán, Francisco Abelardo Robles-Aguirre, Araceli Sanz-Martin, Marisela Hernández-González