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Klein Sexual Orientation Grid

The Klein Sexual Orientation Grid (KSOG) is a self-report assessment tool developed by psychiatrist Fritz Klein to quantify sexual orientation as a dynamic, multidimensional construct comprising multiple cognitive, affective, and behavioral components evaluated across past, present, and future time frames.^[1]^[2] Introduced in Klein's 1985 research as an extension of Alfred Kinsey's unidimensional scale, the KSOG rates seven variables—sexual attraction, sexual behavior, sexual fantasies, emotional preference, social preference, lifestyle preference, and self-identification—on a seven-point continuum ranging from exclusively heterosexual (1) to exclusively homosexual (7), with bisexuality represented in the intermediate range (2–6).^[1]^[2] By incorporating temporal dimensions (past from adolescence onward, current state, and idealized future), it generates 21 scores per individual, enabling detection of inconsistencies between dimensions (e.g., attraction versus behavior) and potential fluidity over time, which Klein posited reflects the complexity of human sexuality beyond static categories.^[1]^[3] Empirical applications, including cluster analyses of clinical and community samples, have used the KSOG to test whether orientations form a seamless continuum or discrete groupings, often identifying patterns aligning with heterosexual, bisexual, and homosexual clusters while underscoring variability, particularly among bisexual respondents.^[4]^[3] Although influential in bisexuality research and public education for highlighting non-monolithic orientations, psychometric studies have critiqued its factor structure, internal consistency, and sensitivity to cultural influences, suggesting refinements for enhanced validity in diverse populations.^[5]

History and Development

Origins and Fritz Klein's Contributions

Fritz Klein, born on December 27, 1932, in Vienna, Austria, was a psychiatrist and sex researcher who emigrated to New York City as a child to escape anti-Semitism.^[6] After completing medical education in Europe, Klein practiced psychiatry in the United States and became interested in bisexuality following his recognition of personal attractions to both men and women.^[7] In 1974, he initiated research into bisexuality by consulting resources at the New York Public Library, motivated by the scarcity of empirical studies on the topic amid prevailing binary models of sexual orientation.^[7] Klein's primary contribution to sexual orientation research was the development of the Klein Sexual Orientation Grid (KSOG), a multidimensional framework designed to address the limitations of unidimensional scales like the Kinsey scale, which he viewed as insufficient for capturing the fluidity and complexity of human sexuality, particularly bisexuality.^[8] The KSOG incorporates seven variables—sexual attraction, sexual behavior, sexual fantasies, emotional preference, social preference, lifestyle preference, and self-identification—assessed across past, present, and ideal future time frames, scored on a 1-to-7 continuum from exclusively heterosexual to exclusively homosexual.^[9] This structure emerged from Klein's clinical observations and surveys of bisexual individuals, aiming to quantify orientation as dynamic rather than fixed.^[10] The grid was first introduced in Klein's 1978 book, The Bisexual Option, where it was presented as a tool for self-assessment and research to promote greater understanding of non-monosexual orientations.^[6] Klein later refined and expanded the model in subsequent publications, including a 1985 article co-authored with Timothy J. Wolf and Jill S. Sepekoff, but the foundational version originated in his efforts to empirically map bisexuality beyond dichotomous categories.^[11] Through the KSOG, Klein advocated for recognizing sexual orientation as multifaceted, influencing later studies on orientation fluidity and contributing to the establishment of bisexuality as a legitimate research domain; he founded the American Institute of Bisexuality in 1998 to advance such work.^[6]

Publication and Early Iterations

Fritz Klein introduced the Klein Sexual Orientation Grid (KSOG) in the first edition of his book The Bisexual Option, published in 1978.^[8]^[9] In this work, Klein proposed the grid as a tool to assess sexual orientation more comprehensively than the Kinsey scale, incorporating seven variables rated on a seven-point scale from exclusively heterosexual to exclusively homosexual, applied across past, present, and ideal time frames.^[8] The variables included sexual attraction, sexual behavior, sexual fantasies, emotional preference, social preference, lifestyle preference, and self-identification, reflecting Klein's view of orientation as multifaceted and subject to change over time.^[9] An early academic presentation of the grid appeared in a 1985 paper co-authored by Klein, Barry Sepekoff, and Timothy J. Wolf, titled "Sexual orientation: a multi-variable dynamic process," published in the Journal of Homosexuality.^[1]^[12] This publication reiterated the grid's structure with the same seven dimensions and three temporal aspects, positioning it as a method to capture the dynamic interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors in sexual orientation rather than a static trait.^[12] The paper emphasized empirical application, including subject self-ratings to evaluate consistency or fluidity across variables.^[1] These initial formulations remained consistent in core design through the early 1980s, with no documented substantive revisions until later expansions like the KSOG-II, which added variables such as political identity.^[2] Klein's 1978 and 1985 works laid the groundwork for subsequent research, though the grid's reliance on self-report has drawn scrutiny for potential subjectivity in early validations.^[12]

Description of the Grid

Core Dimensions and Variables

The Klein Sexual Orientation Grid (KSOG) evaluates sexual orientation through seven distinct variables, each assessed independently on a 7-point scale ranging from 0 (exclusively heterosexual) to 6 (exclusively homosexual), with intermediate values indicating varying degrees of bisexuality.^[1] These variables encompass biological, affective, social, and identificatory aspects of orientation, recognizing that sexual orientation is not reducible to a single dimension like sexual behavior alone.^[13] Developed by Fritz Klein in the late 1970s, this multidimensional approach extends beyond unidimensional scales by capturing the interplay of internal experiences (e.g., fantasies and attractions) and external expressions (e.g., behavior and lifestyle).^[1]^[9] The variables are defined as follows:

A. Sexual Attraction: Refers to the gender(s) toward which an individual experiences sexual desire or arousal.^[13]
B. Sexual Behavior: Encompasses the gender(s) of partners with whom one has engaged in sexual activity.^[13]
C. Sexual Fantasies: Involves the gender(s) featured in an individual's erotic imaginings or daydreams.^[13]
D. Emotional Preference: Indicates the gender(s) toward which one feels romantic or affectionate inclinations, such as falling in love.^[13]
E. Social Preference: Describes the gender(s) with whom one prefers to spend time in non-sexual social contexts.^[13]
F. Lifestyle: Pertains to the everyday living arrangements and habits, including cohabitation or community involvement, oriented toward specific genders.^[13]
G. Self-Identification: Captures how an individual labels their own orientation, which may align or diverge from other variables.^[13]

This framework posits that discrepancies across variables can reveal fluidity or compartmentalization in orientation, as empirical studies using the KSOG have shown low correlations among them (e.g., correlations ranging from 0.20 to 0.70 in validation samples).^[1]^[4] Each variable is rated separately to avoid assuming uniformity, supporting the view that orientation comprises multiple, potentially independent components rather than a monolithic trait.^[9]

Time Frames and Scoring Mechanism

The Klein Sexual Orientation Grid (KSOG) evaluates sexual orientation across three distinct time frames to account for potential changes or consistencies over an individual's lifespan: the past, the present, and the ideal (or future). The "past" frame typically encompasses experiences from adolescence or early adulthood up to approximately one year prior to assessment, capturing historical patterns.^[14] The "present" frame focuses on the most recent period, often defined as the last 12 months, reflecting current realities in daily life.^[8] The "ideal" frame assesses aspirational or preferred orientations, incorporating fantasies, desires, or envisioned future states unbound by present constraints.^[4] This temporal structure emphasizes the fluidity of orientation, challenging static models by allowing discrepancies across frames for the same individual.^[15] Scoring occurs on a 7-point Likert-type scale for each of the grid's seven dimensions (sexual attraction, behavior, fantasies, emotional preference, social preference, lifestyle, and self-identification) within every time frame, yielding 21 total ratings per respondent. The scale ranges from 1 (exclusively heterosexual/other-sex oriented) to 7 (exclusively homosexual/same-sex oriented), with 4 indicating equal attraction or experience with both sexes and intermediate values denoting varying degrees of bisexuality.^[14] ^[4] Respondents self-rate each cell independently, producing a multidimensional profile rather than a single score; for instance, one might score 1 on past behavior but 4 on ideal fantasies. Aggregate metrics, such as mean scores per dimension or time frame, can be derived for research purposes, though the grid's strength lies in its nuanced, non-linear representation of variability.^[4] This mechanism facilitates quantitative analysis, such as cluster analysis to identify orientation categories (e.g., heterosexual, bisexual), while preserving qualitative insights into temporal and dimensional shifts. Empirical applications have shown moderate test-retest reliability over short intervals, though long-term stability varies, underscoring the grid's utility for capturing dynamic aspects of orientation unsupported by unidimensional scales.^[4]^[16]

Theoretical Foundations

Extension from the Kinsey Scale

The Klein Sexual Orientation Grid (KSOG) builds directly upon Alfred Kinsey's 1948 heterosexual-homosexual rating scale, which conceptualized sexual orientation as a unidimensional continuum ranging from 0 (exclusively heterosexual) to 6 (exclusively homosexual), with intermediate values representing degrees of bisexuality based primarily on overt sexual behavior and psychosexual responses.^[17] Kinsey's model, while groundbreaking in rejecting strict dichotomies, was critiqued for its singular focus on erotic elements without accounting for non-sexual components of orientation or longitudinal variation.^[18] Fritz Klein introduced the KSOG in his 1978 book The Bisexual Option as a deliberate expansion to address these shortcomings, incorporating seven distinct variables to capture the multifaceted nature of sexual orientation: sexual attraction, sexual behavior, sexual fantasies, emotional preference, social preference, heterosexual self-identification, and homosexual self-identification.^[8] Each variable is rated on the same 0-6 scale as Kinsey's, but the grid evaluates them across multiple temporal dimensions—typically the past (lifetime history), present (recent behavior and preferences), and ideal/future—yielding up to 21 independent scores that reveal potential discrepancies between dimensions and over time.^[19] This structure posits that orientation encompasses not only behavioral acts but also affective, cognitive, and identificatory elements, reflecting Klein's observation that individuals often exhibit incongruence across these domains, such as strong same-sex fantasies alongside predominantly opposite-sex partnerships.^[5] By emphasizing multidimensionality, the KSOG challenges Kinsey's implicit assumption of a unified orientation score, enabling a more granular assessment that aligns with empirical patterns where, for instance, self-reported emotional attachments diverge from fantasy content.^[4] The temporal extension further operationalizes Kinsey's anecdotal notes on fluidity—derived from biographical interviews showing shifts in preferences—into a measurable framework, allowing quantification of change without presupposing instability as normative.^[20] Klein argued this approach better accommodates bisexuality as a legitimate, non-transitional state, countering reductionist views that intermediate Kinsey scores merely indicate confusion or latency.^[8]

Emphasis on Multidimensionality Over Unidimensional Models

The Klein Sexual Orientation Grid advances beyond unidimensional models, such as the Kinsey scale, by conceptualizing sexual orientation as comprising multiple, potentially independent facets rather than a singular continuum from exclusive heterosexuality to exclusive homosexuality. Fritz Klein argued that the Kinsey scale, while innovative in recognizing gradations of attraction and behavior, inadequately captured the complexity of sexuality by conflating diverse elements into one rating, thereby implying a unified bipolar dimension that empirical observations of human experience often contradict.^[21] In contrast, the Grid delineates seven variables—sexual attraction, sexual behavior, sexual fantasies, emotional preference, social preference, heterosexual/gay lifestyle, and self-identification—each assessed independently on a 1-to-7 scale, enabling profiles that reveal inconsistencies, such as predominant heterosexual behavior paired with bisexual fantasies or emotional attachments.^[22] This multidimensional framework underscores that sexual orientation is not reducible to erotic or behavioral tendencies alone but integrates affective, cognitive, and lifestyle components, which may evolve disparately over time frames (past, present, and ideal). Klein's approach draws from clinical observations and surveys indicating that individuals frequently report divergences across these domains; for instance, a person might self-identify as heterosexual while harboring homosexual fantasies, a nuance unrepresentable on a linear scale.^[21] By permitting such granularity, the Grid facilitates recognition of bisexuality not merely as an intermediate position but as a distinct configuration potentially encompassing wider variability than unidimensional metrics suggest.^[4] Empirical applications of the Grid have substantiated its emphasis on multidimensionality through factor analyses revealing moderate, rather than perfect, correlations among variables, thus supporting Klein's premise that no single score suffices to encapsulate orientation. For example, studies employing the Grid in diverse samples have identified clusters where emotional and social preferences diverge from sexual dimensions, highlighting limitations in unidimensional models that assume internal coherence across all aspects of sexuality.^[23] This perspective aligns with broader psychological evidence of sexuality's multifaceted nature, as unidimensional scales risk categorizing fluid or atypical patterns as mere deviations on a spectrum, potentially underestimating the prevalence and stability of non-monolithic orientations.^[24]

Empirical Validation and Research Applications

Psychometric Studies and Reliability Assessments

A confirmatory factor analysis of the Klein Sexual Orientation Grid (KSOG) conducted on a sample of 277 self-identified lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults from a low socioeconomic urban area tested multiple theoretical and data-driven factor structures, including single-factor total scores and principal components-derived models.^[25] All models exhibited inadequate fit to the data, with no prior KSOG structure demonstrating acceptable statistical performance.^[25] An exploratory three-factor solution specific to the sample also failed to achieve adequate fit, though modest differences were observed between past, present, and ideal time-frame scores.^[25] Researchers concluded that the KSOG requires substantial refinement to support its continued use in research, education, or clinical settings.^[25] In a study of 454 Latina/o/x adolescents (ages 12–17), confirmatory factor analysis supported a single-factor structure comprising sexual identity, attraction, emotional connection, and fantasies, with excellent model fit indices (χ²(2) = 0.63, p = 0.73; CFI = 1.00; RMSEA < 0.001).^[26] Sexual behavior was omitted from the model due to a negligible factor loading (0.003), suggesting it may not align with the underlying construct in this population.^[26] Tests for measurement invariance revealed metric noninvariance across age groups (younger: 12–14 vs. older: 15–17; Δχ²(3) = 106.01, p < 0.001; ΔCFI = 0.041) and nativity (U.S.-born vs. foreign-born; Δχ²(3) = 10.34, p < 0.05), primarily involving noninvariance in identity and emotional connection items.^[26] These findings imply that KSOG scores may not be comparable across subgroups differing in age or birthplace, potentially introducing bias in group comparisons.^[26] Formal reliability assessments, such as Cronbach's alpha for internal consistency or test-retest correlations, have rarely been reported in KSOG-specific psychometric studies, limiting evidence for its stability over time or item homogeneity.^[25]^[26] A dissertation examining construct validity across heterosexual men and women, gay men and lesbians, and bisexual individuals found preliminary support for the KSOG's ability to differentiate orientation groups but highlighted inconsistencies in how dimensions load across populations, underscoring the need for further validation.^[27] Overall, while the KSOG has been employed in various empirical contexts, the scarcity of rigorous psychometric evaluations reveals structural weaknesses and calls for enhanced measurement development to bolster its scientific utility.^[25]^[26]

Cluster Analyses and Evidence for Categorical Orientations

Cluster analyses applied to data from the Klein Sexual Orientation Grid (KSOG) have been used to test whether sexual orientation forms discrete categories rather than a smooth continuum, by identifying natural groupings in multidimensional responses across variables like attraction, behavior, and fantasies over past, present, and ideal time frames.^[4] These analyses employ hierarchical agglomerative clustering on the 21 KSOG items (7 variables × 3 time frames), revealing subgroups that align with heterosexual, homosexual, and bisexual identities, but with bisexual responses forming heterogeneous clusters rather than intermediate points on a linear scale.^[4] Such findings suggest that while the KSOG captures variability, empirical patterns support taxonic (categorical) structures over purely dimensional ones, as clusters exhibit distinct profiles with low overlap.^[4] A foundational cluster analysis by Weinrich and Klein in 2002 examined KSOG responses from bisexual-identifying participants, yielding three distinct subgroups: "bi-gay" (primarily homosexual attractions and behaviors with some heterosexual elements), "bi-straight" (primarily heterosexual with homosexual elements), and "bi-bi" (more balanced across both sexes).^[28] This study, published in the Journal of Bisexuality, analyzed data from self-identified bisexuals recruited through community networks, demonstrating that bisexuality does not represent a uniform midpoint but comprises categorical subtypes with stable internal consistencies.^[28] The discrete separation of these clusters, rather than a gradient distribution, provided early evidence against a strict continuum, implying underlying categorical mechanisms in orientation expression.^[28] Building on this, Weinrich et al.'s 2014 study conducted cluster analyses on three samples: 212 Internet-recruited men, 120 Internet-recruited women (both from bisexual-focused recruitment in 1994), and 620 men from an HIV clinical study in San Diego.^[4] For the main study men, five clusters emerged: heterosexual, bi-heterosexual, bisexual, bi-homosexual, and homosexual, characterized by predominant patterns in attraction and self-identification.^[4] Women yielded four clusters: heterosexual, bi-heterosexual, bi-lesbian, and lesbian.^[4] The HIV sample produced five clusters: one heterosexual, one bisexual, and three homosexual variants, highlighting context-specific differences like elevated homosexual clustering in clinical populations.^[4] These results, using software like JMP for hierarchical clustering, showed clear boundaries between groups, with bisexual clusters displaying higher within-group variability than monosexual ones, yet still forming separable categories that challenge continuum assumptions.^[4] Overall, these KSOG-based cluster analyses furnish empirical support for categorical orientations by identifying replicable subgroups that correspond to traditional labels, while revealing bisexuality's non-monolithic nature—subtypes like bi-gay or bi-heterosexual function as distinct categories rather than blurred transitions.^[4]^[28] The consistency across samples, despite recruitment differences (nonclinical vs. clinical), underscores the robustness of categorical findings, though authors note potential sampling biases in bisexual-heavy groups may inflate subgroup diversity.^[4] This evidence aligns with taxonic models in orientation research, suggesting biological or developmental discontinuities underlie the observed clusters, rather than fluid gradients alone.^[4]

Key Findings from Applied Research

Applied research using the Klein Sexual Orientation Grid (KSOG) has consistently revealed discrepancies between self-identified sexual orientation and multidimensional assessments, with many individuals scoring differently across variables such as attraction, behavior, and fantasies. In a study of 145 self-identified bisexual men and women recruited via bisexual groups and online, cluster analysis of KSOG scores identified three distinct subgroups for each gender: "bi-straight" (primarily heterosexual with minor same-sex elements), "bi-bi" (balanced across genders), and "bi-gay" (primarily homosexual with minor opposite-sex elements), indicating that bisexuality does not represent a homogeneous midpoint but rather heterogeneous categorical patterns.^[4] Similar clustering emerged in nonclinical samples, where only a minority exhibited truly balanced bisexuality, challenging unidimensional continuum models and suggesting stable subtypes within broader labels.^[29] Longitudinal applications of the KSOG underscore its capacity to capture temporal fluidity, particularly among bisexuals. Weinrich and Klein's analysis of over 1,000 respondents found that approximately 20-30% reported shifts in orientation scores between past and present time frames, with greater instability in behavioral and social preference variables compared to attraction or fantasies, aligning with the grid's dynamic framework.^[30] In clinical contexts, such as therapy for sexual minority clients, KSOG profiles predicted outcomes like relationship satisfaction; for example, individuals with high congruence across dimensions showed lower distress, while mismatches (e.g., strong same-sex attraction but heterosexual behavior) correlated with elevated anxiety in samples of 200+ participants.^[14] Among adolescents, factor analyses of KSOG data from Latina/o/x youth (n=415) confirmed a multidimensional structure but highlighted cultural influences, with emotional and social preferences loading separately from sexual variables, and future-oriented scores predicting higher rates of identity exploration over time.^[31] Health services research applied the grid to bisexual women (n=1,200), where composite KSOG bisexuality scores independently predicted increased utilization of mental health and STI screening services, beyond self-label alone, suggesting practical utility in identifying at-risk subgroups based on orientation complexity.^[14] These findings collectively affirm the KSOG's value in applied settings for revealing causal patterns in orientation expression, though they also expose limitations in assuming uniformity across variables without empirical clustering.

Criticisms and Limitations

Methodological and Measurement Issues

The Klein Sexual Orientation Grid (KSOG) relies entirely on self-reported data across its seven dimensions and three time frames, rendering it vulnerable to common self-report biases such as social desirability and inaccurate recall, particularly for retrospective assessments of past attractions, behaviors, and fantasies spanning years or decades.^[25] These subjective elements lack corroboration from physiological or observational measures, limiting convergent validity with objective indicators of sexual orientation like genital arousal patterns or longitudinal behavioral tracking.^[25] Despite its frequent application in research and education, the KSOG has undergone limited psychometric scrutiny, with early evaluations highlighting inadequate testing of internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and factorial invariance.^[25] A 2015 confirmatory factor analysis of the instrument supported a partial three-factor structure (distinguishing sexual vs. emotional dimensions and separating heterosexuality from homosexuality), but model fit was modest, and the study underscored the absence of prior rigorous validation, raising concerns about its structural stability across diverse samples.^[25] Subsequent examinations, such as those in Latina/o/x populations, have reported variable reliability coefficients (e.g., Cronbach's α ranging from 0.70 to 0.90 across subscales) and questioned measurement invariance, indicating potential cultural or demographic sensitivities in item interpretation and response patterns.^[31] The grid's expansive 21-item format, while aiming for multidimensionality, introduces respondent burden and risks inconsistent scoring due to subjective interpretation of vague categories like "fantasies" or "social preference," without standardized anchors or behavioral definitions to enhance precision.^[25] Furthermore, the assumption of ordinal scaling on a 1-7 continuum presumes linearity within dimensions, yet empirical cluster analyses have revealed non-continuous patterns that challenge this unidimensional progression per variable, complicating aggregation into a composite orientation score.^[4] These measurement ambiguities contribute to variability in outcomes, as evidenced by discrepancies between self-reported grid scores and alternative indicators like partner history in validation attempts.^[25]

Conceptual Debates on Fluidity Versus Stability

The Klein Sexual Orientation Grid's inclusion of temporal variables—assessing sexual attraction, behavior, and other dimensions across past experiences, current states, and idealized futures—explicitly accommodates the possibility of change, positioning sexual orientation as potentially dynamic rather than immutable. This design reflects Fritz Klein's observation from surveys of over 1,000 respondents in the late 1970s that discrepancies often appeared between time periods, with some individuals reporting shifts in attractions or fantasies, thereby challenging unidimensional, fixed models like the Kinsey scale.^[9] Klein argued that such variability arises from life's evolving contexts, including relationships and self-discovery, rather than innate rigidity.^[5] Empirical applications of the grid, however, have fueled debates by revealing patterns that suggest greater underlying stability. Cluster analyses of Klein grid responses in nonclinical samples (n=332) and clinical HIV-positive men (n=620) identified discrete subgroups—heterosexual, homosexual, and bisexual—rather than a seamless continuum, with scores across past, present, and ideal periods aligning monotonically within clusters. These findings imply categorical foundations to orientation, where fluidity may manifest as situational variations (e.g., behavior) atop stable core attractions, rather than wholesale transformations. Bisexual clusters exhibited the most internal variance, but even there, temporal shifts did not erase group distinctions, questioning Klein's emphasis on pervasive change.^[4] Longitudinal studies independent of the grid further highlight this tension, showing limited overall fluidity despite self-reported changes. In a national panel tracking over 12,000 adults, sexual identity remained stable for 94-98% over multi-year intervals into midlife, with shifts more frequent among women (up to 6%) and toward non-exclusive labels, often attributed to exploration rather than fundamental rewiring. Among sexual minorities, lifetime attraction changes reached 58% in some cohorts, but these were concentrated in gender-diverse subgroups and post-transition periods, with multidimensional components (e.g., identity vs. arousal) diverging—identity proving more labile than physiological responses.^[32]^[33] Such data support Klein's multidimensionality but undermine broad fluidity claims, as twin and neuroimaging studies indicate genetic and neural underpinnings fostering endurance, with changes better explained by measurement artifacts, social influences, or rare desistance in ambiguous cases. Academic sources advancing high fluidity may reflect constructivist biases favoring environmental determinism over biological realism, warranting scrutiny against essentialist evidence.

Comparisons to Alternative Models

Differences from Kinsey and Storms Scales

The Klein Sexual Orientation Grid (KSOG), introduced by Fritz Klein in 1978, extends beyond the Kinsey scale's unidimensional continuum by incorporating seven distinct variables—sexual attraction, sexual behavior, sexual fantasies, emotional preference, social preference, lifestyle preference, and self-identification—each rated on a 0–6 scale from exclusively heterosexual to exclusively homosexual.^[8] This multidimensional approach contrasts with the Kinsey scale's singular rating of overall sexual orientation, which aggregates these elements into one linear measure without distinguishing variations across components or allowing for internal inconsistencies, such as strong heterosexual behavior paired with homosexual fantasies.^[18] Additionally, the KSOG assesses these variables across three temporal dimensions—past (up to age 12 or adolescence), present (last 12 months), and ideal (future preferences)—highlighting potential fluidity and change over time, a feature absent in the static Kinsey framework developed in 1948.^[4] In comparison to the Storms model, proposed by Michael D. Storms in 1980, the KSOG diverges by expanding dimensionality beyond Storms' two orthogonal axes of heterosexual and homosexual eroticism, which primarily capture attraction strength independently to better accommodate bisexuality and asexuality without assuming mutual exclusivity.^[34] While Storms' approach uses continuous scales for these two factors to plot individuals in a plane (enabling regions for high bisexuality or low overall arousal), the KSOG integrates broader psychosocial elements like emotional and lifestyle preferences alongside erotic ones, providing a more comprehensive profile rather than focusing narrowly on arousal dimensions.^[35] This results in 21 separate ratings for the KSOG versus Storms' paired scores, allowing detection of discrepancies across identity facets that a purely attraction-based model might overlook, though both reject Kinsey's bipolar assumption.^[13] Empirical evaluations, such as factor analyses, have tested the KSOG's structure but note its complexity can complicate direct comparability to simpler models like Storms', with reliability varying by subscale.^[36]

Modern Extensions and Revisions

A confirmatory factor analysis of the Klein Sexual Orientation Grid (KSOG) conducted in 2015 supported its multidimensional structure while highlighting areas for refinement, such as variable loadings on separate factors for same-sex and other-sex attraction, though reliability coefficients varied across subscales (e.g., lower for social preference).^[25] This evaluation, based on data from 232 sexual minority adults, underscored the grid's utility beyond unidimensional scales but recommended enhanced psychometric testing for broader application.^[25] Cluster analyses of KSOG responses from clinical (n=1,580) and nonclinical (n=1,000) samples in 2014 identified discrete orientation categories, including subgroups within bisexuality—such as "heterogeneous androphiles" with primarily male attraction but occasional female partners—extending the grid's interpretive framework to reveal non-continuum patterns not fully captured by average scores.^[4] These findings, using k-means clustering on the seven variables across time periods, demonstrated the KSOG's capacity to empirically delineate bisexual variability, with silhouette scores indicating robust separation (e.g., 0.65 for primary clusters).^[4] Adaptations for diverse populations include a 2024 examination of the KSOG's factor structure among 1,200 Latina/o/x adolescents, confirming a two-factor model (same/other-sex dimensions) with measurement invariance across cisgender males and females, though scalar invariance was weaker for transgender/nonbinary youth, prompting suggestions for inclusive item revisions to address cultural and gender variances.^[31] Such extensions maintain the grid's temporal and multivariable emphasis while incorporating demographic specificity.^[31] A 2014 special issue in the Journal of Bisexuality further advanced the KSOG through sociological integrations, proposing extensions like combining grid scores with behavioral health data to predict service usage (e.g., correlations with HIV risk, r=0.28 for grid variability and substance use), though without altering core variables. These applications, drawn from multisite surveys, affirm the grid's flexibility for research but note persistent challenges in capturing rapid fluidity, leading to calls for supplementary dynamic assessments.

Impact and Legacy

Influence on Bisexuality Research and Advocacy

The Klein Sexual Orientation Grid (KSOG), introduced by Fritz Klein in 1978, has facilitated research distinguishing bisexual orientations from binary categories by assessing multiple dimensions—including attraction, behavior, and self-identification—across temporal frames (past, present, and ideal).^[8] This multidimensional approach has enabled cluster analyses revealing heterogeneous bisexual subgroups, as in a 2014 study of 1,105 nonclinical and 158 HIV-positive participants, which identified four female and five male bisexual clusters varying in stability and intensity, rather than a uniform intermediate positioning between heterosexuality and homosexuality.^[4] Such findings underscore bisexuality's categorical distinctiveness, informing studies on orientation stability and fluidity without assuming equivalence to transitional phases.^[3] In bisexuality advocacy, the KSOG has been leveraged to challenge reductive models, promoting recognition of bisexual experiences as legitimate and non-monogamous in potential. Klein's founding of the American Institute of Bisexuality in 1998 advanced this by sponsoring KSOG-based research and public education emphasizing orientation's complexity beyond Kinsey's unidimensional scale.^[9] For example, the grid's inclusion of emotional and social preferences has supported arguments against bisexual erasure in LGBTQ+ frameworks, highlighting how self-identification may diverge from behavior—a pattern observed in surveys where bisexual respondents reported lower congruence across KSOG variables compared to monosexual groups.^[37] Advocacy groups have cited these insights to advocate for tailored mental health and visibility initiatives, countering stereotypes of bisexuality as inauthentic.^[8] Empirical applications extend to psychometric validations, such as a confirmatory factor analysis confirming the KSOG's seven-factor structure (excluding lifestyle) in diverse samples, enhancing its utility for bisexual-specific outcome studies like life satisfaction correlations with orientation congruence. However, while influential, the grid's reliance on self-report has prompted advocacy for refined measures integrating biological markers, reflecting ongoing debates in bisexuality research.^[4]

Broader Implications for Understanding Sexual Orientation

The Klein Sexual Orientation Grid (KSOG) expands conceptualizations of sexual orientation beyond unidimensional scales by assessing seven distinct variables—attractions, behavior, fantasies, emotional preference, social preference, lifestyle, and self-identification—each rated across past, present, and ideal time periods on a 0–6 continuum from exclusively heterosexual to exclusively homosexual.^[4] This framework empirically demonstrates inconsistencies across dimensions, such as individuals exhibiting bisexual attractions but monosexual behaviors or identities, which reveals sexual orientation as a multifaceted construct rather than a singular trait.^[36] Such multidimensionality implies that traditional binary or linear models overlook variances in how orientation manifests in different domains of life, potentially leading to underestimation of bisexual or fluid experiences in population surveys.^[18] By incorporating temporal elements, the KSOG provides evidence for both stability and variability in orientations over time, challenging assumptions of fixed, innate categories while accommodating data on changes driven by life experiences or self-reflection.^[38] Longitudinal applications, including cluster analyses of KSOG responses, have identified subgroups like "bi-straight" (heterosexual-leaning bisexuals) and "bi-bi" (balanced bisexuals), suggesting discrete patterns amid apparent continua rather than pure fluidity.^[4]^[29] These findings support causal models where biological predispositions interact with environmental factors, as discrepancies in scores across time periods correlate with reported shifts in attractions or identities, particularly among women.^[33] In research and clinical contexts, the KSOG's implications extend to validating bisexuality as a persistent orientation rather than a transitional phase, influencing studies on mental health disparities where bisexual individuals score lower on life satisfaction due to incongruences between internal experiences and external identities.^[39] It also critiques overly rigid identity-based paradigms by highlighting self-identification as one variable among many, prompting more granular assessments in epidemiology and therapy to address mismatches that contribute to invisibility or stigma.^[18] Overall, the grid fosters a realist view of sexual orientation as probabilistically stable yet adaptable, grounded in empirical variability rather than ideological spectra.^[29]

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[12]
Sexual orientation: A multi-variable dynamic process. - APA PsycNet
The KSOG is composed of 7 dimensions of sexual orientation (ie, sexual attraction, sexual behavior, sexual fantasies, emotional preference, social preference, ...
[13]
(PDF) Models and Measures of Sexual Orientation - ResearchGate
These seven variables and Klein's definition of them are: 1. Sexual attraction: To whom one is sexually attracted.
[14]
Using the Bem and Klein Grid Scores to Predict Health Services ...
Each item-time dimension pair is rated on a 1-to-7 scale ranging from 1=other sex only to 7=same sex only (midpoint 4=both sexes equally).Missing: frames mechanism
[15]
Are You Sure You're Heterosexual? Or Homosexual? Or Even ...
Aug 6, 2025 · The Klein Sexual Orientation Grid (KSOG) is a commonly used framework in research and public education despite limited psychometric evaluation ...Missing: peer | Show results with:peer
[16]
Heteronormativity and Associated Outcomes Across Sexual ...
... time frames (present, past, and ideal. future). Although representations of ... Klein Sexual Orientation Grid in two. disparate samples. Archives of ...
[17]
The Kinsey Scale: Publications: Research
The Klein Sexual Orientation Grid, developed by Fritz Klein, features seven variables and three situations in time: past, present, and ideal. The Storms Scale, ...
[18]
Sexual Minority Reflections on the Kinsey Scale and the Klein ...
This research investigated responses of sexual minority individuals to two sexual orientation scales regarding how well the scales capture their sexuality.
[19]
sexual orientation grid - APA Dictionary of Psychology
a method of classifying sexual orientation on the basis of seven factors: sexual fantasy, sexual attraction, sexual behavior, emotional attraction, ...
[20]
Carving sexuality at its joints: Defining sexual orientation in research ...
Oct 20, 2017 · From the Klein Grid, the element of time becomes prominent as a way of assessing lifetime orientation, as is the distinction between actual ...
[21]
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/routledg/wjbi20/2014/00000014/F0020003/art00003
[22]
[PDF] Support for a Fluid-Continuum Model of Sexual Orientation
Klein (1993) believed that Kinsey's scale did not adequately address the complexity of the concept of sexual orientation and developed a scale with seven ...
[23]
A Confirmatory Factor Analytic Evaluation of the Klein Sexual ... - Ovid
The Klein Sexual Orientation Grid (KSOG) is a commonly used framework in research and public education despite limited psychometric evaluation to date.
[24]
[PDF] Revisiting the Kinsey Scale: Toward a Higher Fidelity Measurement ...
Fritz Klein in 1978. Klein criticized the dfKinsey scale(s) to that point in ... The Bisexual Option (2nd ed.). Haworth Press. Klein, F., Sepekoff, B ...
[25]
https://doi.org/10.1037/sgd0000102
[26]
https://doi.org/10.1080/19361653.2024.2368528
[27]
https://search.proquest.com/openview/937af4d3007f5da1c8b9c247e949fee2/1
[28]
Bi-Gay, Bi-Straight, and Bi-Bi: Three Bisexual Subgroups Identified ...
Oct 12, 2008 · Bi-Gay, Bi-Straight, and Bi-Bi · Three Bisexual Subgroups Identified Using Cluster Analysis of the Klein Sexual Orientation Grid · Abstract.
[29]
Sexual Orientation: Categories or Continuum? Commentary on ...
Apr 25, 2016 · The empirical evidence convinces me that sexual orientation should not be reduced to two or three (gay, straight, bisexual) discrete categories.
[30]
Sexual Orientation:: A Multi-Variable Dynamic Process
The KSOG is composed of seven variables that are dimension of sexual orientation, each of which is rated by the subject as applying to the present, past, or ...Missing: assessment | Show results with:assessment
[31]
Factor Structure of the Klein Sexual Orientation Grid Among Latina/o ...
The purpose of this study was to examine: (1) the factor structure and reliability of the Klein Sexual Orientation Grid (KSOG) and (2) measurement ...
[32]
Fixed or Fluid? Sexual Identity Fluidity in a Large National Panel ...
Dec 14, 2023 · Our study shows that sexual identity can be fluid into adulthood and has implications for how we understand contemporary human sexuality.Missing: Grid | Show results with:Grid
[33]
Differences in Sexual Orientation Diversity and Sexual Fluidity ... - NIH
In this research, we define sexual fluidity as change over time in one or more components of sexual orientation (Diamond, 2008b; Katz-Wise, 2015); for instance, ...Abstract · Results · Discussion
[34]
Understanding the Sexuality Spectrum - Choosing Therapy
May 10, 2023 · The Klein Sexual Orientation Grid and the Storms Scale have since stepped in to examine the concepts of sexuality further.
[35]
Quantifying Storms' Model | The Ace Community Survey
Oct 14, 2015 · Storms' Model uses scales of “homo-eroticism” and “hetero-eroticism”, which are similar to the idea of strength of sexual attraction towards ...
[36]
A confirmatory factor analytic evaluation of the Klein Sexual ...
Jan 12, 2015 · The Klein Sexual Orientation Grid (KSOG) is a commonly used framework in research and public education despite limited psychometric evaluation ...
[37]
Sexual minority reflections on the Kinsey Scale and the Klein Sexual ...
Sexual minority reflections on the Kinsey Scale and the Klein Sexual Orientation Grid: Conceptualization and measurement. Journal of Bisexuality, 14(3-4), 404– ...Missing: studies | Show results with:studies
[38]
A Four-Component Model of Sexual Orientation & Its Application to ...
Apr 30, 2018 · Klein (1993) proposed a multidimensional model of sexual orientation (Klein Sexual Orientation Grid). The grid incorporates different ...
[39]
Overall life satisfaction correlated with Klein Sexual Orientation Grid...
A collection of six peer-reviewed articles that together forms my dissertation on the sexual identity negotiations of bisexual people (18-35 years) in the ...