Sexual aggression invariably involves the use of threat, intimidation, exploitation of authority, or force with the aim of imposing one’s sexual will on a non-consenting person for the purpose of personal gratification that may or may not be predominantly sexual in nature. The chapter focuses on issues central to an understanding of sexual aggression. It discusses the scope of sexual aggression; categories of victims; sexual aggression as a dimensional concept; sexual aggression and dating behavior; the nature of aggression, including biological, ethological, developmental, psychodynamic, familial, and sociocultural considerations; the relationship between sexual aggression and narcissism; and the role of sexual trauma in the etiology of sexually abusive behavior. The increasing exposure of youth to violence and violent sexual behavior, whether through coercive family experiences, sexual victimization, media portrayal of explicit sexual aggression or the increased cultural tolerance of sexually aggressive behavior, has resulted in children who are at increased risk of becoming sexually aggressive. References