COMMON ATTITUDES AND BELIEFS CONCERNING RAPE ARE EXPLORED, AND THE SOCIAL CAUSES AND COSTS OF THE CRIME ARE DISCUSSED.FOUR EXAMPLES OF RAPE CASES ARE SHOWN. IT IS POINTED OUT THAT ALL COMMUNITIES, ETHNIC GROUPS, AND AGE GROUPS ARE AFFECTED, AS WELL AS BOTH SEXES. STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT THE PRIMARY MOTIVATION FOR RAPE IS NOT SEXUAL DESIRE, BUT ANGER. COMMUNITY RESOURCES, SUCH AS RAPE CRISIS CENTERS, WHICH ARE AVAILABLE TO VICTIMS ARE ALSO DISCUSSED.