A major goal is to dispel the myths that surround the crime of rape, such as the beliefs that rape is a sex act, that nice girls don't get raped, that women want to be raped, and that no woman can be raped against her will. In addition, rapists' motives and personalities are examined. The choice of a victim, places victims are found, the amount of violence used to subdue victims, lone and gang rapists, and prostitutes as victims are some of the topics considered in this examination. Attention is also focused on the methods rapists use to abduct their victims. The simple 'blitz' rape and the 'confidence' rape are discussed, and an explanation of the connection between the games rapists employ and their relationships to their victims is offered. The outcome of these games is seen as dependent upon whether the rapists' aims were sex, aggression, or a mixture of the two. Another area of concern is the victims' reactions to rape, which often determine the form of the police response. These reactions do not stop after the immediate crisis has subsided, and both short and long-term effects are dealt with. Also addressed are the social conditions in English and American societies which have created the climate for the increased number of rapes every year and the police role in apprehending offenders. Finally, the similarities and differences in the rape laws of England, California, and Michigan are studied. It is noted that no State in the United States has adopted a law which encompasses the provisions of the 1976 Sexual Offences Amendment Act in England. Ideas from the fields of sociology, social psychology, medicine, criminology, and the law have been brought together for readers in various professions. Chapter references and texts of statutes are included.