Understanding the Sexuality Spectrum

Sexuality has many components, including sexual or romantic attraction, preferred partners, or behaviors. Sexual attraction is an individual’s interest in having sex or forming a sexual relationship with other people. Romantic attraction can describe a person’s expression of love. There are a lot of sexual orientations; people who identify with one or more may find that their sexuality changes over time. This process is perfectly normal — a person’s orientation can be fluid.

What Is the Sexuality Spectrum?

The term “spectrum” is widely used, but what does it mean when applied to gender and sexuality? As the language continued to evolve, spectrums and scales were created to help people figure out how to discuss sexuality. Spectrums also are a valuable tool for mental health professionals who often explain the concepts of gender and sexuality to clients and family members.

Defining your sexuality is yours and yours alone to do. So is the label you choose to use for yourself. Our sexual identities and orientations are complex, difficult to classify, and potentially fluid. Sexuality can change in different circumstances or over time.

Sexual Orientation Spectrums

Sexual orientation is a very complex topic producing much confusion for clients and therapists. A sexuality spectrum scale can be a helpful tool to help define sexuality. According to professionals, sexuality is fluid and not as black and white as homosexual, heterosexual, or bisexual. There are more than 200 scales to help define sexuality.

Spectrums go far beyond gender and sexual orientation —they can also measure romantic attraction and relationship style. Some scales and ranges exist within specific communities, such as the kink spectrum.

Some of the most commonly used sexuality spectrum scales include the Kinsey Scale, the Klein Sexual Orientation Grid, and Storms Sexuality Index.

The Kinsey Scale

The Kinsey Scale is one of the best-known and commonly used scales.If you wonder how you might fall on the Kinsey Scale, there is no official Kinsey “test.” The original Kinsey research team assigned a number based on a person’s sexual history.

The Kinsey Scale ranges from 0-6 (with an additional category of X) as follows:²

0 | Exclusively heterosexual

1 | Predominantly heterosexual, only incidentally homosexual

2 | Predominantly heterosexual, but more than incidentally homosexual

3 | Equally heterosexual and homosexual

4 | Predominantly homosexual, but more than incidentally heterosexual

5 | Predominantly homosexual, only incidentally heterosexual

6 | Exclusively homosexual

X | No socio-sexual contacts or reactions

Even though it was groundbreaking, the Kinsey Scale does not address all possible sexual identities. The Klein Sexual Orientation Grid and the Storms Scale have since stepped in to examine the concepts of sexuality further.

The Klein Sexual Orientation Grid

Research about sexuality has been restricted in scope and influence by the lack of clear and widely accepted definitions of heterosexual, bisexual, and homosexual. To better demarcate and understand the complexities of human sexual attitudes, emotions, and behavior, the Klein Sexual Orientation Grid (KSOG) was developed and administered.³

The KSOG is composed of the above-listed variables. Each of these is rated by the individual answering as applying to the present, past, or ideal.

The aspects of the Klein Sexual Orientation Grid are:

• Sexual attraction
• Sexual behavior
• Sexual fantasies
• Emotional preference
• Social preference
• Heterosexual/homosexual lifestyle
• Self-identification

Storms Sexuality Axis

In 1981, psychologist Michael Storms considered a new way to study sexuality. The Storm Sexuality Axis model allows for discovery in more arenas than simply homosexual/heterosexual. Previous sexuality researchers, including Drs. Kinsey and Klein, had primarily examined sexuality in a binary structure, meaning heterosexual-homosexual. Dr. Storms “positioned bisexuality in the area between homosexuality and heterosexuality.”⁴

Dr. Storms plotted homoerotic and heteroerotic motivations on a chart with horizontal and vertical axes. This model presented information that can help reduce discrimination and persecution, demonstrating that the capacity for homoerotic and heteroerotic behavior is potentially universal.⁵ If you are reading the chart, “hetero-eroticism” is rated on the horizontal axis from low to high, and “homo-eroticism” is placed on the vertical axis also from low to high.

The Asexuality Spectrum

Research findings highlight the heterogeneity of the ace community concerning interest in sexual behaviors and the importance of distinguishing between wanting and being willing to engage in sexual behaviors across the ace spectrum.⁶ If we look at the asexual sexuality spectrum, we see that many potential identities can exist along that continuum.

An individual who identifies as asexual (“ace”) is a person who does not desire a sexual relationship or has minimal sexual desires. Asexuality is the lack of sexual attraction to others or low or absent interest in or desire for sexual activity. Like all elements of sexuality, asexuality may also be categorized more specifically to include a broad spectrum of asexual sub-identities.

Identity possibilities on the asexuality spectrum include (but are not limited to):

• Asexual: Asexuality includes a lack of sexual attraction to others or a low interest in sexual activity. A person who identifies as asexual does not have sexual feelings or a desire to engage in sex with another person. Sometimes individuals who are ace desire a romantic connection with other people.
• Aromantic: A person who identifies as aromantic is not interested in romantic relationships with other people. Sometimes individuals who are aro are interested in sexual relationships.
• Graysexual/Grayromantic: Greyromantic can be used as a specific identity for any aro-spec identity that isn’t purely aromantic, including demiromantic and others. Graysexual refers to people who experience limited sexual attraction. In other words, they experience sexual attraction very rarely or with very low intensity. On the asexual spectrum, graysexual/grayromantic sits between firmly asexual and allosexual identities. This stems from the idea that there’s a “gray area” that many people use to describe their sexuality. Grayromantic is a romantic identity on the aromantic spectrum. Individuals identifying with this sexuality feel that the word aromantic doesn’t fully explain parts of their experience.
• Demisexual/Demiromantic: An individual who identifies often feels sexual attraction after building an emotional bond or connection with someone. Those who are demisexual note they do not feel immediately attracted to individuals based on looks, smell, and other features.
• Reciprosexual: A person who falls on the recipro part of the spectrum will likely feel sexual or romantic attraction once the other party feels or shows that attraction. They may like you back but won’t be the first.
• Akiosexual: A person who identifies as akiosexual (lithsexual) experiences sexual attraction, but their feelings fade if reciprocated. Akiosexual can also be defined as someone who doesn’t care or want their feelings returned. A person who is akioromantic would have romantic attraction until those feelings are reciprocated.
• Aceflux/Aroflux: An aroaceflux individual may feel very strongly asexual and/or aromantic one day and less asexual and/or aromantic another day. Aroaceflux is sexuality where someone is both aceflux and aroflux. Their sexual and romantic orientation fluctuates but generally stays on the asexual and aromantic spectrums. These fluctuations may occur at the same time, or they may be independent. The change in romantic and sexual orientation may or may not happen simultaneously or correlate. Aroaceflux can be an orientation on its own or combined with other orientations.

Other Types of Scales & Sexual Spectrums

Human sexuality can also be measured on other scales such as the Sexuality Scale and Kink scale.

The Sexuality Scale measures three aspects of human sexuality:

• Sexual esteem is positive regard for and confidence to experience one’s sexuality satisfyingly and enjoyably.
• Sexual depression is defined as the experience of feelings of depression regarding one’s sex life.
• Sexual preoccupation is defined as the tendency to think about sex to an excessive degree.⁷

Another scale that can measure sexuality is kink. Kink describes sexual behaviors and identities encompassing bondage, discipline, domination and submission, sadism and masochism (collectively known as BDSM), and sexual fetishism.⁸ Even though kinkiness can be very difficult to define, a broader definition would include sex that falls outside of heteronormative sexual behaviors. A kink scale would measure how varied your sexual preferences are. Like all other elements of sexuality, kink, and kinky behaviors are based on individual preference and chosen labels.

Why Are Sexuality Spectrums Important?

The sexualities discussed here are not exhaustive; dozens of other identities fall under the LGBTQ++ spectrum. Many may wonder why we need all these identities. While this may seem excessive to some, having these identities can be important for many people. It allows them to cast light on otherwise hard to understand experiences and helps them find communities they identify with. If someone finds a label that fits their experience, it can alleviate feelings of brokenness. Modern language hasn’t caught up with how people can identify. Still, we can keep learning about the people behind the labels.

Where to Get Support With Sexuality Concerns

Sometimes, it can be challenging to identify your feelings. If you are having difficulty identifying the exact emotion you have when you are fond of someone or trying to figure out what your feelings mean regarding relationships, there are plenty of resources. You might seek a safe friend or family member or even try some therapy to help you feel comfortable with the feelings. Look here to begin searching for an LGBTQ++-affirming therapist. In addition to therapy, there are plenty of LGBTQ+ platforms, either online or in person.

Final Thoughts

Remember that your sexuality is yours to define or label. Sexuality is a personal element of yourself and can change throughout your lifetime. Understanding the various scales and sexuality spectrum identities can help you figure out who you are and are attracted to. Familiarizing yourself with language that describes different sexual and romantic feelings and orientations will help you, your partners, and your friends understand how people experience and identify their sexuality.

It’s understandable and normal to feel unsure or overwhelmed by the terms we have to describe sexual and romantic orientation, attraction, and behavior.

Expanding the language you use to describe your sexuality can provide essential guidance, validation, and access to community while on your journey of sexual self-discovery and satisfaction.