The Victim Effect

Historically, sexual victimization research has primarily focused on the effects and recovery process of women. However, as research has extended past female and children survivors of sexually traumatic experiences, is it evident that between 2% and 15% of men have reported child sexual abuse and between 4% and 8% of men have reported adult sexual victimization. Unfortunately, these statistical numbers consider only those who have openly reported sexual victimization. Due to cultural beliefs implying that males who experience sexual trauma are unaffected, and due to the detrimental threat that sexual trauma poses to a man’s masculinity, many men who are victims of sexual assault do not report it. In fact, about 60% of rape survivors do not conceptualize unwanted sexual experiences as rape, which is considered to be a subconscious defense mechanism to avoid accepting the experience.

As with women, the impact of sexual trauma is everlasting. A natural defense mechanism of men is to suppress pain to maintain one’s personal male dominant traits. This natural defense mechanism of suppression inadvertently causes long-term distress, shame and guilt, concerns of masculinity, a sense of personal blame, and embarrassment. Thus, a male sexual trauma survivor is reluctant to seek support, treatment, and justice. For a myriad of reasons, men who experience sexual abuse or assault remain isolated and closely connected to their trauma - meaning, this is their best kept secret. This leads to internal, emotional consequences of feeling alone, unique, and different. 

For males who have been sexually abused by males in their youth, the trauma is ongoing. No longer is trauma defined by the event; instead, it is defined by the male’s response to the experience. Although not recognized as a clinical diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental (5th ed; American Psychiatric Association, 2013), males who have experienced sexual trauma suffer from complex trauma, which is the repeated and cumulative trauma over a period of time within specific relations or contexts. This includes the perpetuating notions of shame and guilt (i.e., self-blame for not escaping from the offender); weakness (i.e., not being “strong enough” to overcome the offender); and posttraumatic stress responses (i.e., concerns of this happening again). 

Not only does a male survivor suffer internally from their trauma; but they may suffer externally as well. For example, men who have been raped or sexually abused by other men experience long-term crises of sexual orientation confusion, which is due to the compromise of their masculinity. A 2018 study provided insight: Rape survivors who identified as a sexual minority displayed higher incidence of acknowledgement of the trauma than did rape survivors who identified as heterosexual. This finding exemplifies cultural acceptance of rape for those with a sexual orientation other than heterosexual; thus, increasing the sociological pressures against reporting a rape as a heterosexual male. 

Like their female counterparts, male sexual trauma survivors may experience intimacy and relationship struggles ranging from infidelity to hypersexuality. Intimacy is impaired when a male experiences sexual trauma, as the intimacy becomes associated with shame and guilt. Instead, intimacy translates to display dominance or submission instead of encouraging the warmth of mutuality. The skewed interpretation of intimacy results in a display of inappropriate sexual behavior, distortion of sexuality, and challenges of sexual impulsivity. The interruption in intimacy may then create difficulty in emotional and sexual communication among primary intimate partners. The disconnection from intimacy results in decreased confidence of others’ dependability, decreased closeness and vulnerability within a partnership, and increased fears of abandonment. Therefore, many adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse turn to extramarital sexual partners or impulsive sexual behaviors to avoid the closeness of a vulnerable and intimate relationship. Additionally, male sexual trauma survivors encounter difficulties in emotional and sexual functioning. As a result of an impaired ability to form healthy and satisfying emotional and sexual relationships, a confusion between love and sex develops. 

The concept of male rape myths - or false conceptions of rape - is prevalent in our society and even more so in the criminal justice system, making it difficult for male sexual trauma survivors to report their experiences. Because of the male stereotypes put forth by society, which add pressure on men to declare their masculinity, male survivors are discouraged to seek aid. Society speculated that “seeking help” is seen as a sign of weakness. Instead, survivors suffer in silence, fighting to overcome sexual and emotional dysfunctions alone. However, with the recent movement of more and more men coming forward to share their stories of sexual trauma, male sexual trauma survivors are finding strength in numbers. No longer are male sexual trauma survivors discouraged from coming forward and seeking help, providing hope for those still suffering. 

Trauma survivors, along with their primary intimate partners, are encouraged to seek help from professionals specializing in sexual trauma. Sexual trauma professionals utilize various therapeutic and psychological techniques to assist in a survivor’s recovery process. Examples include, experiential therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), and non-traditional interventions such as sensate focus. Sexual trauma therapy can be conducted individually, and psychiatric professionals encourage the trauma survivor to include their intimate partner in the therapy, if deemed appropriate.

References:

• American Psychiatric Association: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders:

• Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Association, 2013. 

• Voller et al., (2015). Self-efficacy, male rape myth acceptance, and devaluation of emotions in

• sexual trauma sequelae: Findings from a sample of male veterans. Psychological Services,12(4), 420-427. doi:10.1037/ser0000046

• Wilson, L. C., & Newins, A. R. (2019). Rape acknowledgment and sexual minority identity: The

• indirect effect of rape myth acceptance. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity,6(1), 113-119. doi:10.1037/sgd0000304