The sexual assault of adult and teenage females by male assailants is a social problem of considerable significance. Definitions of rape have varied over the years, and recent changes in the criminal codes have attempted to de-emphasize penile penetration of the woman's vagina so that the assaultive aspects have become more salient. Rapists are characterized by an array of problems, including deviant fantasies (nonsexual fantasies are likely to be more primary than sexual fantasies), social skill deficits (e.g., anger problems, empathy deficits, low self-esteem, relationship difficulties), cognitive distortions and inappropriate attitudes, and various additional problems (e.g., substance abuse). These issues are typically addressed in both the assessment and treatment of rapists. Although treatment appears to be effective with rapists, more research is needed to further enhance the efficacy of treatment with these men, and suggestions have been made about how these programs might be expanded. 187 references