Kinsey scale

Often misused as a measure of sexual orientation, the Kinsey scale is a graphic representation to describe sexual history , that is former partners in respect to their biological sex. An easy way to remember the difference between sexual history and sexual orientation is that there are only four orientations: homosexual, heterosexual, bisexual, and asexual; sexual history is one's past and may not "line up with" one's orientation. The scale itself is probably the most well-known product of the Kinsey Reports. For first-hand information, consult the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and Reproduction Web-site.

The scale is as follows:

• 0 - Exclusively heterosexual experience(s)

• 1 - Predominantly heterosexual experience(s), only incidentally homosexual

• 2 - Predominantly heterosexual experience(s), but more than incidentally homosexual

• 3 - Equally heterosexual and homosexual experience(s)

• 4 - Predominantly homosexual experience(s), but more than incidentally heterosexual

• 5 - Predominantly homosexual experience(s), only incidentally heterosexual

• 6 - Exclusively homosexual experiences(s)

External links

• Kinsey Institute home page