ABSTRACT
Probably the most contentious sociobiological criminological theories to emerge in recent years have been those proposed to explain the act of rape. These explore what role, if any, evolutionary-psychological adaptations play in causing the act of rape in animals and humans and are highly controversial, as traditional sociologically-based theories do not consider rape to be a behavioural adaptation. Furthermore, and perhaps not surprisingly, some have objected to such theories on ethical, religious, feminist or political as well as scientific grounds. Evolutionary psychology proposes that human and primate cognition and behaviour should be understood in the context of human and primate evolutionary history.
