THE VARIOUS GENERAL THEORIES RELATING TO THE NATURE OF ACTUAL CONSENT ARE ANALYZED. THE AUTHOR SUGGESTS THAT THE CURRENT EMPHASIS ON ASCERTAINING THE VICTIM'S SUBJECTIVE STATE OF MIND IS, IN SOME CONTEXTS, ILL-CONCEIVED AND ARGUES THAT THE SOCIETAL INTERESTS INVOLVED IN HUMAN INTERACTIONS SHOULD BECOME A MAJOR FOCUS OF THE ANALYSIS. THE EFFECT OF SUCH CONSENT ON THE LIABILITY OF A PERSON CHARGED WITH CRIMINAL ASSAULT IS EXPLORED, BOTH IN GENERAL AND IN CONNECTION WITH CONDUCT IN A SPORTS CONTEST. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT ANALYSIS OF EFFECTIVENESS MUST ALSO EXPRESSLY CONSIDER SOCIETAL INTEREST BOTH IN ALLOWING SPORTS TO FLOURISH AND IN LIMITING VIOLENCE. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)...EB