Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Bisexuality pp 19–36Cite as

2 Models and Measures of Sexual Orientation

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Abstract

This chapter provides an in-depth examination of the varied models and measures most commonly used to determine sexual orientation, in general, or bisexuality, in particular. The chapter identifies the components of and the strengths and weaknesses of each. The chapter presents each chronologically starting with the Kinsey Heterosexuality–Homosexuality Rating Scale, followed by the Klein Sexual Orientation Grid, Storms Erotic Response and Orientation Scale, the Sexual Identity Model, the Multidimensional Scale of Sexuality, Savin-Williams Assessment of Sexual Orientation, and, finally, Sexual Configurations Theory. Following the individual assessment of each model, the chapter concludes with general critiques of all existing models and offers some recommendations for the establishment of future models and measures with the goal of better capturing the complexity of bisexual orientation and the goal of creating greater synergy in research assessment and more accuracy in estimating the number of bisexual individuals.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   119.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Change history

  • 17 April 2019

    This book was inadvertently published with the incorrect author name for chapters 2 and 3.This has now been amended throughout the book.

References

  • Baldwin, A., Schick, V. A., Dodge, B., van Der Pol, B., Herbenick, D., Sanders, S. A., et al. (2016). Variation in sexual identification among behaviorally bisexual women in the Midwestern United States: Challenging the established methods for collecting data on sexual identity and orientation. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 46(5), 1337–1348. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-016-0817-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bem, S. L. (1974). The measurement of psychological androgyny. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 42, 155–162.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berkey, B. R., Perelman-Hall, T., & Kurdek, L. A. (1990). The multidimensional scale of sexuality. Journal of Homosexuality, 19(4), 67–87. https://doi.org/10.1300/J082v19n04_05

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bullough, V. L. (1976). Sexual variance in society and history. Los Angeles, CA: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Epstein, R., & Robertson, R. E. (2014). How to measure sexual orientation range and why it's worth measuring. Journal of Bisexuality, 14(3-4), 391–403. https://doi.org/10.1080/15299716.2014.933378

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, T. D., Davis, C. M., Yarber, W. L., & Davis, S. L. (2013). Handbook of sexuality-related measures. New York: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Galupo, M. P., Mitchell, R. C., Grynkiewicz, A. L., & Davis, K. S. (2014). Sexual minority reflections on the Kinsey scale and the Klein sexual orientation grid: Conceptualization and measurement. Journal of Bisexuality, 14, 404–432. https://doi.org/10.1080/15299716.2014.929553

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hanson, C. E., & Evans, A. (1985). Bisexuality reconsidered: an idea in pursuit of a definition. Journal of Homosexuality, 11(1-2), 1–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kinsey, A. C., Pomeroy, W. B., & Martin, C. E. (1948). Sexual behavior in the human male. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kinsey, A. C., Pomeroy, W. B., Martin, C. E., & Gebhard, P. H. (1953). Sexual behavior in the human female. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klein, F. (1993). The bisexual option (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Haworth Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klein, F., Sepekoff, B., & Wolf, T. (1985). Sexual orientation: A multi-variable dynamic process. In F. Klein & T. Wolf (Eds.), Two lives to lead: Bisexuality on men and women (pp. 35–49). New York: Harrington Park Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laumann, E. O., Gagnon, J. H., Michael, R. T., & Michaels, S. (1994). The social organization of sexuality: Sexual practices in the United States. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Masters, W. H., & Johnson, V. E. (1979). Homosexuality in perspective. Boston, MA: Little, Brown.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mustanski, B., Kuper, L, & Greene, G. J. (2014). Development of sexual orientation and identity. In D. L. Tolman & L. M. Diamond (Eds.), APA handbook of sexuality and psychology: Vol. 1. Person-based approaches. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/14193-019

  • Ross, M. W. (1983). Homosexuality and social sex roles: A re-evaluation. Journal of Homosexuality, 9(1), 1–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Savin-Williams, R. C. (2010). Sexual Orientation Label (7-point). Retrieved from http://www.human.cornell.edu/hd/sexgender/research.cfm

  • Savin-Williams, R. C. (2014). An exploratory study of the categorical versus spectrum nature of sexual orientation. Journal of Sex Research, 51(4), 446–453. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2013.871691

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sell, R. L. (1997). Defining and measuring sexual orientation: A review. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 26(6), 643–658.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shively, M. G., & de Cecco, J. P. (1977). Components of sexual identity. Journal of Homosexuality, 3, 41–48.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spence, J. T., & Helmreich, R. L. (1980). Masculine instrumentality and feminine expressiveness: Their relationships with sex role attitudes and behaviors. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 5(2), 147–163.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Storms, M. D. (1980). Theories of sexual orientation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 38(5), 783–792.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swan, D. J., & Habibi, S. (2017). When is a bisexual really bisexual? Testing the “one and done” rule of male same-sex behaviour. Psychology of Sexualities Review, 8(2).

    Google Scholar 

  • Udis-Kessler, A. (2013). Genealogy of the concept of bisexuality. In M. Storr (Ed.), The critical bisexuality reader. New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • van Anders, S. M. (2015). Beyond sexual orientation: Integrating gender/sex and diverse sexualities via sexual configurations theory. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 44, 1177–1213. doi:10.10.1007/s10508-015-0490-8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weinberg, M. S., Williams, C. J., & Pryor, D. W. (1994). Dual attraction: Understanding bisexuality. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weinrich, J. D. (2014). Multidimensional measurement of sexual orientation: Present. Journal of Bisexuality, 14(3-4), 373–390. https://doi.org/10.1080/15299716.2014.951138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weinrich, J. D., Klein, F., McCutchan, J. A., & Grant, I. (2014). Cluster analysis of the Klein Sexual Orientation Grid in clinical and nonclinical samples: When bisexuality is not bisexuality. Journal of Bisexuality, 14(3-4), 349–372. https://doi.org/10.1080/15299716.2014.938398

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whalen, R. E., Geary, D. C., & Johnson, F. (1990). Models of sexuality. In D. P. McWhirter & J. M. Reinisch (Eds.), Homosexuality/heterosexuality concepts of sexual orientation (pp. 61–70). New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology and Social Sciences, Woodbury University, Burbank, CA, USA

    D. Joye Swan Ph.D.

Authors
  1. D. Joye Swan Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to D. Joye Swan Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology and Social Sciences, Woodbury University, Burbank, CA, USA

    D. Joye Swan

  2. Department of Psychology, Mount Saint Mary’s University, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Shani Habibi

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Swan, D.J. (2018). 2 Models and Measures of Sexual Orientation. In: Swan, D., Habibi, S. (eds) Bisexuality. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71535-3_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-71535-3_2

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-71534-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-71535-3

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation