The introduction reviews literature which has theorized that rape is an adaptive reproductive strategy adopted by males who have been unsuccessful in achieving reproduction through consensual sexual relations. Various definitions of rape used by sociobiologists are examined, along with some of the implications of the view that rape has an evolutionary basis. A look at the theory of sociobiology considers the roots of sociobiology, theoretical assumptions of human sociobiology, and their application to rape behavior. A critical examination of animal data used to support the sociobiological view of rape precedes a review of myths about human rape and the implications of such myths for victims and society. The sociobiological explanation of rape behavior is interpreted as a version of utilitarian and classical economic theory; sociobiological and feminist views of rape behavior are compared and contrasted in terms of implications for rape prevention. It is argued that use of the word 'rape' to refer to apparently forced copulation in nonhuman animal species detracts from its traumatizing effects on human survivors of the act. The social psychology of the response of the psychological community to rape studies is considered in the final chapter. Appendixes contain letters commenting on the rape theories presented by sociobiologist Delbert Thiessen in an address at the University of Connecticut. Chapter references and author and subject indexes are provided. For individual chapters, see NCJ 99564-68.