The purpose of this article is to describe briefly the current status of a taxonomic program that was developed for studying rapists. An overview of the research strategies is provided, as well as a summary of some of the validity data that have been gathered on the most recent version of the rapist typology (the Massachusetts Treatment Center Rapist Typology, Version 3 [MTC:R3]). Moreover, several projects that have focused attention on the treatment implications of taxonomic systems have arisen. In addition, the author speculates on some treatment implications of the current taxonomic system. He compares the underlying dimensions of the current typology that have been identified as temporally stable, discriminating characteristics of various types of rapist with those behavioral domains that have emerged as targets in the treatment of both sexually aggressive and persistently violent offenders. This speculative comparison of dimensions and treatment targets provides an opportunity to hypothesize about possible interfaces between the taxonomy and therapeutic intervention.
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