378 ROBERT M. ALLEN AND THOMAS D.

HAUPT

The results from this study tend to confirm Thorne’s contention regarding
the fixity and fluidity of sexual attitudes, drives, interests and patterns. A particular
scale score should be assessed as tapping, on the one hand, relatively fixed, stable
attitudes and, on the other, situational, temporary sexual reactions and/or patterns
in the stage of development and stabilization.
SUMMARY
This paper reports on the test-retest reliabilities of the ten scale scores and the
200 items of The Sex Inventory. The sample consisted of male and female college
students tested three months apart. The results suggest acceptable levels of re-
liability for all scale scores. The coefficients for most items point to the presence
of relatively stable attitudes, interests and drives. Scale scores are interpreted as
reflecting current psychological states in which both fixed, stable attitudes as well
as temporary interests, drives and reactions and possibly developing sexual patterns
are tapped.
REFERENCES
1. SNEDECOR, G. W. Statistical methods. (4th ed.) Ames, Iowa: Collegiate, 1946.
2. THORNE, F. C. The Sex Inventory, Female Form. Brandon, Vermont: Clinical Peychology
Publishing Co., 1965.
3. THORNE, F. C. The Sex Inventory. J. clin. Psychol., 1966,22,
4. THORNE, F. C. A factorial stud of sexuality in adult males. J. clin. Psychol., 1966,28,
5. THORNE, F. C. and HAUPT,T. 8. The objective measurement of sex attitudes and behavior in
adult males. J. din. Psychol., 1966,28,-.

A FACTORIAL STUDY OF SEXUALITY I N ADULT MALES*

FREDERICK C. THORNE
Univenity of Miami

PROBLEM
This paper reports a factor analytic study of sexuality in adult males utilizing
The Sex Inventory, a 200 item objective questionnaire especially constructed for
the investigation of sex delinquency. The objective measurement of sexuality
presents difficult technical problems due to the delicate nature of the issues involved,
and the question of obtaining truthful answers as far as the subject can conciously
report his sexual feelings. Due to the intluence of Freudian theories of the repression
of sexuality, most measurement attempts have utilized indirect projective ap-
proaches. However, long clinical experience with instruments such as the MMPI
indicates the difficulty of constructing projective items which can be established
as valid measures of sexuality.
Because pilot studies conducted by us had*indicated the relative invalidity
and unproductivity of indirect-subtle, projective-type items in the study of adult
male sexuality, and also because the Kinsey studies had indicated the feasibility
of using obvious-direct questions, this study utilized a very obvious-direct approach
*Grateful acknowledgement is made to a large number of individuals and institutions making
ossible the collection and anal is of the data reported. in this paper. Dr. Robert M. Allen, Dr.
kukene H. M a p and Mr. T. Haupt of the Umversit of Miami collaborated on the research
design and secunng of grants in aid of computer research. $he subjects from the University of Miami
were secured through the cooperation of Drs. M. R. Jones and R. M. Allen. Dr. Fred Cutter of the
California Rehabilitation Center a t Corona secured the addiction cases. Mr. James H. Panton of the
North Carolina State Prison a t Raleigh, coilaborated in the collection of items for The Sex Znvenloy,
and provided several large eamples of felons. The large group of convicted sex delinquent6 from the
Ionia (Mich.) State Hospital was obtained through the cooperation of Dr. A. A. Birsgalis, Supt.,
and Roger 0. Olive, Chief Psychologist.
 A FACTORIAL STUDY OF SEXUALITY I N ADULT MALES 379

in proposing questions concerning the most intimate aspects of sexuality. It is

hypothesized that in the 1960’s in the United States, taboos against the frank
discussion of sexuality in all classes of the population have lessened to the point
where truthful replies may be obtained using direct methods.
METHOD
Subjects. The Ss consisted of 545 adult males including 101 students a t the
University of Miami, 41 inmates of the California Rehabilitation Center at Corona
with addiction problems, 246 convicted felons of all types from ‘the North Carolina
State Prison a t Raleigh, and 157 convicted sex offenders from the Ionia (Mich.)
State Hospital. The demographic characteristics of the sample are given in Appen-
dix 1.’
The mean age of the total group was 30.1 years, SD 10.8, and range 15-65
years. The mean years of education was 10.74, SD 3.23, and range 3-19 years.
The religious affiliations of the group were Protestant 59. lyo, Catholic 12.5%,
Jewish 8.6%, and none or unknown 19.8%. The marital status of the group was
single 47.5y0, married 32.8y0, divorced 8. lyo,separated 7.0y0 and unknown 2.4y0.
Procedure. The Sex Inventory was administered by the group method using
the standard instructions printed a t the top of the answer sheet by clinical psy-
chologists at each of the cooperating institutions. The Ss were advised that they
could give or omit theik names as they saw fit and that in no case would any of the
results be used against them. Records which were obviously invalid because of
large numbers of incomplete items or inability to complete the test were discarded.
The Sex Inventory ( 2 ) consists of 40 subtle-indirect and 160 obvious-direct
items relating to all aspects of sexuality. Pilot studies performed with large samples
of comparable Ss using earlier forms of the inventory indicated that the items were
largely intelligible to Ss with 8 years of education, and that most 8s were responding
frankly and with internal consistency of answers. The items are stated in basic
English, and few Ss required help in completing the records.
Statistical Analysis. A special program for factoring a 190 X 190 item matrix
was written by Dean Clyde and Richard J. Sherin of the Biometric Laboratory,
University of Miami, and run on the IBM 7040. This program involved computing
product-moment coefficients equivalent to Phi coefficients and allowing for missing
data, computing principal components with unities in the diagonals, and using
a normalized Varimax rotation.
I n all the Tables, the per cents given in the column entitled “Sample Mean yo1’
refer to the item scoring as given in column 2 entitled “Scoring”. The factor loadings
in the last column refer to the stated form of the items.

RESULTS
Varimax rotation was carried out until 50 factors were identified, of which
eight factors had a sufficient number of items with loadings over .30 to be meaningful.
Analysis of the percentages of variance contributed by the various factors indicated
the great heterogeneity of factors sampled by The Sex Inventory. The highest
percent of variance contributed by any factor (Sex Drive) was only 4.64%, and
the mean percent of variance for the eight principal factors extracted was only
2.30%. This indicates that sexuality has many dimensions which only can be
sampled by items having high specificity.
Sex Drive and Inkrest. The largest single factor extracted was labelled Sex
Drive and Interest (Factor A) because of the breadth of positive interests and
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380 FREDERICK C. THORNE

TABLE A: SEX DRIVEAND INTEREST

1. FACTOR

Sample
Item Scoring Item Content Mean %
’ Loading
94 F Masturbation is unhealthy. 54 -62
73 F I don’t approve of too close sex contacts. 65 -61
85 F It is disgusting to see animals having sex relations in the 49 -60
street.
87 F Virginity is a girl’s most valuable possession. 35 -56
14 F Things are turning out just like the Bible said it would. 34 -55
69 F I think only rarely about sex. 60 -54
75 F I have always been very sensitive about natural functions. 58 -54
127 F I consciously try to keep sex thoughts out of my mind. 69 -53
141 F The opposite sex will respect you more if you are not too 39 -51
familiar with them.
81 F Bod odors are disgusting. 19 -50
177 T If I roved a erson, I could do anything with them. 45 49
50 F Young peopg should always be chaperoned. 59 -47
128 T I get pleasant feelings from touching my sexual parts. 32 47
171 F Conditions have to be just right to get me excited sexually. 61 -47
76 F Breasts don’t excite me particularly. 51 -44
82 T It is alright for children to see their parents naked. 19 44
88 F I am not very sexually attractive. 43 -44
34 F I often pray. -43
130 F Seeing a person nude doesn’t interest me. 54 -43
67 F It is disturbing to see necking in public. 50 -40
83 F Sexual feelings sometimes are unpleasant to me. 71 -38
NOTE:I t e m also showing relatively high loadings on this factor (with loadings in parentheses)
included 99T (36), 118T (36)’ 144T (36), 58 F (-33)’ 59T (33)’ 72T (33), 103T (30)’ 114F
(-30), 18OT (30) and 161T (25).

attitudes expressed towards a wide variety of expressions of sexuality. Table 1

(as do all succeeding tables) presents the item numbers, direction of scoring, item
content, mean percentage of sample ( N = 545) answering in scored direction, and
the factor loading. Thirty items of The Sex Inventory showed loadings over .25
on this factor. Analysis of the content of these items reveals that sex drive mani-
TABLE 2. FACTOR B: SEXUAL FRUSTRATION AND M A L A D J U S ~ N T

Sample
Item Scoring Item Content Mean % Loading
111 F All in all, I am satisfied with m sex life. 27 -74
168 T Something is lacking in my sex Hfe. 21 68
8 F My sex behavior has never caused me any trouble. 36 -66
196 T I have been arrested for a sex offense. 30 63
142 T I have felt deprived sexually. 17 56
116 T My love life has been disappointing. 30 54
117 F Sex contacts have never been a problem to me. 30 -45
56 T I neverhadman dates. 23 48
120 T Sometimesit hasteen a problem to control my sex feelings. 36 47
78 T I have felt guilty about sex experiences. 33 45
143 T I had some bad sex experiences when I was young. 25 42
157 T Perverted thoughts have sometimes bothered me. 24 36
188 T At times I have been afraid of myself for what I might do 15 36
sexually.
86 T I have had conflicts about my sex feelings towards a person 18 34
of my own sex.
42 F I have many friends of the opposite sex. 23 -33
185 T I have strong sex feelings but when I get a chance I can’t 34 33
seem to exprw myself.
192 T Little children sometimes attract me.sexually. 7 33
166 T My conscience bothers me too much. 19 32
153 T My parents’ influence has inhibited me sexually. 17 29
104 T I would like to see a psychiatrist. 36 28
65 T Thoughts about sex disturb me more than they should. 14 27
 A FACTORIAL STUDY OF SEXUALITY IN ADULT MALES 38 1

fests itself in a wide variety of interests and forms of expression. The high internal
consistency of the items making up this factor indicates the validity of obvious-
direct items sampling a n area as delicate as sexuality.
Sexual Frustration and Maladjustment. Factor B, representing 3.37% of the
variance, was labelled Sex Frustration and Maladjustment because the items are
consistent in reflecting dissatisfaction with sex life, feelings of deprivation, diffi-
culties with the opposite sex, guilt and worry over sex, and fears about sex impulse
control (Table 2 ) . It is interesting that 36y0 of the entire group expressed a desire
to see a psychiatrist in this connection. Close to Boy0 of the entire group (N=545)
admit to serious problems in securing outlets for sexuality or in expressing it. These
findings in general support Kinsey’s results concerning the incidence of sex frus-
tration and maladjustment among males.
Neurolic ConJict Associated with Sex, Factor C contributed the third highest
percent of variance (3.42%) represented by a large number of symptoms of anxiety,
guilt, depression, nervousness, irritability, psychosomatic conditions, impulsive-
ness and paranoid projections (Table 3). I n contrast with Factor B where all the
items were more or less directly connected with sex problems and involved direct
references to sexuality, the items reflecting Factor C are characterized by more
generalized neurotic conflict and symptomatology. Perhaps Factor B represents
a condition in which disturbance is exactly represented in consciousness with no
repression of causes, while Factor C reflects typical psychoanalytic repression
mechanisms resulting in neurosis. Again, attention should be drawn to the high
percentages of subjects admitting problem behaviors and the resulting conflicts.
TABLE3. FACTOR C: NEUROTIC CONFLICT ASSOCIATED WITH SEX

Sample
Item Scoring Item Content Mean % Loading
22 T I do many things which I often regret afterwards. 54 61
16 T I often feel blue and sad. 34 59
13 T Often I can’t understand why I am so ill-tempered and 24 58
hard to get along with.
31 T Even when things are going well, I often have an “I don’t 26 56
care” feeling.
36 T I often worry too much over things which really don’t 43 55
matter.
17 T Sometimes I do things I don’t understand. 42 54
32 T I often feel lonely when I am with other people. 29 52
30 T I often feel that other people are against me. 20 46
20 T I find it hard to keep up hope that I will someday amount 29 45
t o something.
T I often have dreams that I am afraid t o tell anybody. 15 45
12
29 T I am restless and disturbed during sleep. 16 44
38 T One or more members of my family is a very nervous 44 37
person.
175 T Sometimes I have felt people were talking about me. 49 37
62 T Sometimes I wish I were a child again. 42 36
3 T Often I feel tired when I wake up in the morning. 48 35
19 T I feel very resentful if I am outsmarted by anyone. 23 35
27 T I am sometimes cross when I am not feeling well. 75 35
40 T Sometimes I have done things which embarrassed my 73 33
family.
7 T Sometimes I think about things which are too bad to talk 35 31
t o others about.
25 T My muscles are jumpy and twitchy a t times. 24 31
65 T Thoughts about sex disturb me more than they should. 14 31

Sexual Fixations and Cathexes. An attempt was made during construction of

The Sex Inventory to include items sampling a wide variety of sex cathexes. Table 4
presents a listing of itcms classified according to type of symptom or cathexis.
The percentages of variance contributed by all of these items were very small, and
382 FREDERICK C. THORNE

none were highly correlated enough to justify any kind of a scale. It appears that
sexual conditionings and cathexes are highly specific and must be treated indi-
vidually. We have not attempted to construct any kind of a scale representing
these items, and it is suggested that positive responses to the more deviant items
constitute indications for more intensive clinical investigations.
TABLE
4. SEXUAL AND CATHEXES
FIXATIONS
Impotence (Frigidity) 84T. 132T,
84T, 132T. 151T
Passive-submissive SexualLity 46T; 105T,
46T, 105T; 124T
Children 24T, 186T, 192T
Daydreaming (Autism) 47T, 135T
Exhibitionism 139T
Voyeurism 55T, 63T, 71T, 82T, 85T, 122T, 130F
Olfactory stimulation 81F, 115F
Cutaneous stimulation 103T, 151F
Anal eroticism 75T, 100T, 118T
Oral eroticism 54T, 164T
Breast eroticism 76F, 184T
Genital eroticism 170T
Foot fetish 172T
Oedjpal fixation 153T, 154T, 198T
Sadmm 163T, 188T
Masochism 89T, 183T

Repression of Sexuality. Factor El contributing 1.05% of variance, consists

of two clusters of items which are presented in the two sections of Table 5. The
first cluster has been identified as a factor of repression because it involves items
expressing difficulties of expressing sexuality, disapproval of sex activities, repres-
sive attitudes and regression desires. The second cluster involves conservative
and reactionary attitudes towards sex, including approval of chastity, disapproval
of uncontrolled sexuality and suppression of socializing with out-groups. It is
interesting that this latter cluster includes the item denying ever having had a
sex climax, indicating that the conservative-repressive attitudes have been carried
out in action.
TABLE E: REPRESSION
5. FACTOR OR SUPPRESSION
OF SEXUALITY

Sample
Item Scoring Item Content Mean % Loading
92 F There are some things I wouldn’t want to do with anyone. 17 -62
48 F Children should be taught about sex. 14 -44
133 F I could get sexually excited a t any time of the day or night. 27 -36
103 F I enjoy petting. 20 -31
51 F I approve of necking. 19 -24
120 F Sqmetimes it has been a problem to control my sex feel- 62 -24
mgs.
144 F It doesn’t take much to get me excited sexually. 44 -24
72 F I get excited sexually very w i l . 62 -20
62 T Sometimes I wish I were a chidagain. 42 19
99 F I think about sex almost every day. 53 -19
134 T I would not want to experiment with sex before marriage. 13 65
58 T It is better not to have sex relations until you are married. 38 55
60 T I have never had a sexual climax. 10 32
51 F I approve of necking. 19 -31
140 T The thought of a sex orgy is disgusting to me. 29 31
160 T If my son were in the service I wouldn’t want him to 13 24
socialize with foreign women.
122 F When I was ounger, I used to like to look at sexy pictures. 27 -23
98 F It wouldn’t {other me if the person I married were not a 27 -22
virgin.
156 T My religious beliefs are against sex. 9 22
 A FACTORIAL STUDY OF SEXUALITY IN ADULT MALES 383

Loss of Sex Controls. The Sex Inventory was deliberately constructed to include
a number of obvious-direct items referring specifically to symptoms related to
poor impulse control and tendencies to act-out dangerously. Table 6 presents two
groups of items contributing to Scale F measuring Loss of Sex Controls. The first
nine items had loadings over .20 and, together, reflect a syndrome of imminent
breakdown of sex controls. It is significant that the incidences of significant re-
sponses to these items in the total sample of 545 cases ranged from 5% expressing
a need to be institutionalized for protection against sex impulses to 36% expressing
a need to see a psychiatrist. Although our population is admittedly skewed, in-
cluding an atypical number of confirmed sex deviants, it speaka well for the validity
of The Sex Inventory that these trends show up on an objective questionnaire.
Incidentally, a sufficient number of normal college students also admitted problems
of sex control to indicate the generality of the factor in the general population.
TABLE F: Loss
6. FACTOR OF SEX CONTROLS

Sample
Item Scoring Item Content Mean % Loading

200 T Need t o be institutionalized for protection against own 5 65

sex impulses.
188 T Afraid of what might do sexually. 15 50
199 T Sometimes sexual feelings overpower me. 16 40
163 T Sometimes I get a thrill hurting people. 8 35
55 T Impulse t o peek in windows. 13 32
147 T Sex thoughts almost drive me crazy. 8 31
190 T When I get excited I can think of nothing else but satis- 25 30
faction.
104 T I would like t o see a psychiatrist. 36 28
102 T Little children attract me sexually. 7 24
184 T Breasts excite me most. 25 21
12 T I am restless and disturbed during sleep. 16 20

8 F My sex behavior has never caused me any trouble. 36

120 T Sofnetimes it has been a problem to control my sexual feel- 36
mgs.
7 T Sometimes I think about things which are too bad t o talk 35
t o others about.
24 T I have been accused of molesting a child. 24
65 T Sex thoughts disturb me more than the should. 14
139 T I have been arrested for exposing myseg. 8
NOTE:The last seven items have loadings of less than .20 on this factor but are included for clinical
reasons. Items 192T and 199T also load .35 and .27 on the Sex Drive scale. Item 8F loads -.66
on the Neurotic Conflict scale. Items 65T and 7T both load .31 on the Sexual Frustration and
Maladjustment scale. Items 184 and 12 were included in t h k scale because of their loadings
but are not considered clinically &s “Stop” items.

The items in the second group did not load highly on Factor F but did load
highly on other scales and are included because clinical judgment indicates their
importance as indices of lowered impulse control. These items include three ( S 8 ,
120 and 196) loading highly on sex frustration and maladjustment, two ( S7, 65)
loading highly on neurotic conflict, and two ( B 24, 139) representing the socially
dangerous cathexes of child molestation and indecent exposure.
The items of Scale F are all designated as “Stop” items, potentially indicative
or pathognomonic of breakdown of impulse controls. It is intended that these
Stop items should serve as a positive indication that the person is potentially
dangerous sexually and should be subjected to further intensive clinical investiga-
tion. Persons admitting one or more of these signs should be committed for further
observation or should be retained in an institution until such signs clear up.
Homosexuality. Factor G involves 1.86% of the variance and includes two
clusters of items whose existence and relationships had not been predicted during
384 FREDERICK C. T H O R N E

construction of The Sex Inventory but which logically enough represent inverse
facets of the condition. The first cluster consists of a number of homosexual signs
(Table 7) expressing preference for the same sex and unease with the opposite sex.
This combination of preference for one’s own sex and nervousness with the opposite
TABLE
7. FACTOR
G: HOMOSEXUALITY

Sample
Item Scoring Item Content Mean yo Loading
Homosexual Signs
97 T I feel nervous with the opposite sex. 14 75
49 F I feel at ease with people of the opposite sex. 21 -74
93 T It is hard t o talk with people of the opposite sex. 18 70
158 T I feel more comfortable when I am with my own sex. 25 51
42 F I have many friends of the opposite sex. 23 -37
174 T Frankly, I prefer people of my own sex. 11 33
ii5 T I don’t like to be kissed. 7 27
23 T I t makes me uncomfortable to be the center of attention. 40 25
119 T I didn’t learn the facts of life until I was quite old. 33 23
Denial of Homosexuality
113 F People of my own sex frequently seem attracted to me. 79 -72
155 F People have called me a queer. 85 -67
174 F Frankly, I prefer people of my own sex. 84 -58
189 F Since age 16,I have had intimacies with both sexes. 77 -50
158 F I feel more comfortable when I am with my own sex. 66 -39
61 F I understand homosexuals. 49 -35
86 F I have had conflicts about my sex feelings towards a per- 74 -34
son of my sex.
157 F Perverted thoughts have sometimes bothered me. 63 -26
165 F Homosexuality is normal for some peo le. 46 -25
143 F I had some bad sex experiences when f w a s young. 72 -20

sex is probably to be regarded as pathognomonic of homosexuality. It is again

significant that obvious-direct items are the most highly loaded on this factor,
with only one projective item ( B 23) being loaded highly enough to be included.
The second cluster of items, involving denial of homosexuality, may be regarded
as eliminating homosexuality by exclusion. This cluster of items reflects the claim
of normalily in that being a “queer” or attractive to one’s own sex are denied, as
well as denial of preference for the same sex or perverted thoughts. These people
do not understand homosexuality and deny that it is normal. It may well be that
the failure t o claim normality is by implication a sign of homosexuality.
Sex Role Confidence. Factor H has been designated as measuring sex role
confidence because it consists of three clusters of items denying worry about sex,
TABLE
8. FACTOR
H: SEX ROLECONFIDENCE

Sample
Item Scoring Item Content Mean %
’ Loading
53 F I worry a lot about sex. 87 -67
44 T I have a lot of sex appeal. 34 63
65 F Thoughts about sex disturb me more than they should. 84 -53
88 F I am not very attractive sexually. 43 -50
52 F I am embarrassed t o talk about sex. 84 -46
147 F Sometimes sex thoughts drive me almost crazy. 90 -46
74 F Sometimes thinking about sex makes me very nervous. 82 -44
64 T Curfew is a good thing for young people. 70 38
114 F Sex jokes disgust me. 79
.. -38
__
41 T I like to dance. 70 35
42 T I have many friends of the opposite sex. 74 30
110 F I often daydream about sex. 72 -29
 A FACTORIAL STUDY OF SEXUALITY I N ADULT MALES 385
expressing positive sex confidence, denying frustration or conflict over sex, and
claiming good adjustment to the opposite sex (Table 8). Compared with the second
cluster of factors in Factor G denying homosexuality, i.e., denying the presence
of deviation, Factor H expresses a positive mental health factor involving the
presence of adjustment and positive attitudes toward the opposite sex.
Promiscuity and Sociopathy. Factor I includes four clusters of items which
are interpreted clinically as reflecting a range of amoral and sociopathic tendencies.
The first section in Table 8 reflects liberal-radical attitudes towards sexuality
which may lead to promiscuity or amoral behavior.
The second section of items reflects three clusters involving extreme degrees
of acting-out amoral attitudes, admitting going to prostitutes, venereal disease,
illegitimacy and promiscuity. Here again, these items are internally consistent
and probably reflect low Super-Ego functioning.
TABLE I: PROMISCUITY
9. FACTOR

Sample
Item Scoring Item Content, Mean % Loading

109 T Young people should learn about sex through their own 23 74
experience.
131 T A person should learn about sex gradually by experiment- 41 66
ing with it.
112 T I believe in taking m pleasures where I find them. 29 49
138 T Young people shouldie allowed out a t night without being 48 38
too closely checked.
197 T It is alright t o seduce a person who is old enough t o know 47 31
what they are doing.
28 T Most people are honest because they are afraid of being 54 29
caught.
68 T I would not particularly protect my children from contacts 28 29
with sex.
48 T Children should be taught about sex. 85 25
148 T Self-relief is not dangerous as long as it is done in a healthy 72 24
way.

187 T I have paid money for sex. 48 78

123 T Sometimes I like t o go with prostitutes. 36 71
173 T I have had a venereal disease. 18 68
193 T No one person seems t o satisf me 18 66
191 T I have had an illegitimate chi&. ' 12 41
198 T I always seem t o have affairs with older women. 23 -31
194 T I have been involved in more than one sex affair at the 24 30
same time.
124 T Sometimes the woman should be sexually aggressive. 67 25
156 F My religious beliefs are against sex. 87 -23

DISCUSSION
The implications of this study are somewhat curtailed by the unrepresentative
nature of the population studied. When study of The S e x Inventory first began in
1961, it was planned to obtain a representative population sample and clinical
groups of various types of sex delinquents equated on the demographic variables
of age, education, socio-economic level, race and religion. Unfortunately, within
the limits of the private resources with which this investigation was conducted
during the first five years, it proved impossible to locate and secure the cooperation
of all segments of the population. Strong biases against the overt study of sex-
uality still exist, and the only institutions where large scale cooperation was obtained
were prisons and corrective institutions.
The research design was adopted of using general prisoners (felons convicted
of property crimes such as breaking and entering, burglary, forgery and auto
386 FREDERICK C. T H O R N E

theft) as controls for sex criminals (aggravated sex, rape, indecent exposure and
homosexuality). There is evidence that the general prison population is comparable
in many demographic variables with the special groups of sex offenders. A third
prison group, differentiated on the basis of earlier unpublished studies which showed
atypical patterns of sexuality, consisted of felons convicted of crimes involving
physical violence against persons including assault and battery, manslaughter
and homicide. To represent high levels of intelligence and socio-economic status,
the college group was added to the various prison groups. Finally, the group of
convicted drug addicts was included as partially representative of adolescents in
rebellion against conventional society.
The very heterogeneous composition of the population under study provided
an extremely rigorous test for the factorial research design. Pilot studies showed
that different clinical groups were answering most of the items of The Sex Inventory
in opposite ways depending upon their different backgrounds and ideological-
attitudinal composition. The fact that such a large amount of contradictory respond-
ing existed among the widely heterogeneous groups undoubtedly lowered the level
of correlations and loadings of items and factors. However, the fact that such a
large number of clear-cut factors was extracted and in view of the relatively low
percent of variance contributed by the principal factors, it may be concluded that
factorial validity has been established.
The general reliability and validity of the use of obvious-direct items for the
study of sexuality is supported by the general consistency of individual responding
on the inventory, and the logical consistency of the factors extracted. Test-retest
reliability studies showed satisfactory intra-class correlations. A much more
severe test is provided by factoring a 190 X 190 item matrix with consistent results.
SUMMARY
The factorial composition of sexuality in young adult males was studied by
administering The Sex Inventory, a 200 item obvious-direct questionnaire to a
large heterogeneous sample (N = 540) of college students, youthful drug addicts,
general felons convicted of crimes against property, felons convicted of violence
against persons, and a special group of convicted sex criminals. The inventory
responses were factored by a special Varimax program using a 190 X 190 item
matrix.
Eight factors were extracted, based on items with high logical internal con-
sistency, which were labelled: Sex Drive and Interest (A), Sexual Maladjustment
and Frustration (B), .Neurotic Conflict Associated with Sex (C), Repression of
Sexuality (E), Loss of Sex Controls (F), Homosexuality (G), Sex Role Confidence
(H), and Promiscuity-Sociopathy (I). An additional scale, Sexual Fixations and
Cathexes (D), consisted of a large number of symptomatic expressions of sexuality,
each contributing a very low percent of variance, and which cannot be regarded
as having factorial homogeneity.
It is concluded that sexuality in young adult males may be studied reliably
and validly utilizing an objective questionnaire consisting largely of obvious-
direct items.
REFERENCES
1. ALLEN,R. M. and Ham, T. D. The Sex Inventory: TeabReteat Reliabilitiea of Scale Scores
and Items. J . din. Psydwl., 1966, 88,375-378.
2. TBORNE, F. C. The Sex Inventory. J . din. Psychology., 1966,$8,367374.