Sexual Sensation Seeking Scale (SSSS)
Measure your tendency to seek novel and intense sexual experiences
How drawn are you to intense, novel sexual experiences? The SSSS measures your tendency to seek out sexual novelty and sensory intensity. 10 items, about 3 minutes. Sexual sensation seeking is a personality trait, not a disorder.
Are you a sexual risk-taker?
Some people stick with what they know in bed. Others are always looking for the next new thing. The SSSS tells you where you land on that spectrum.
Kalichman and Rompa published it in 1995, alongside the Sexual Compulsivity Scale (SCS). The two are often used together but measure different things: SSSS asks about appetite for novelty; SCS asks about loss of control.
Where it comes from
The scale builds on Zuckerman's sensation seeking theory — the idea that some people need more stimulation to feel "enough." Kalichman adapted it specifically for sexual behavior because the general sensation seeking scale had outdated items and didn't predict sexual risk-taking well enough on its own.
It is not a diagnostic tool. People high in sexual sensation seeking tend to get bored with routine and seek variety. People on the low end prefer what is familiar. Both are normal variations.
Scale Structure
- 10 items, single-factor structure
- 4-point Likert: 1=Not at all like me to 4=Very much like me
- No reverse-scored items
- Scoring: Sum, range 10-40. Higher = stronger sensation seeking
- Time: About 3 minutes
Sample items
- "I like wild 'uninhibited' sexual encounters."
- "My sexual partners probably think I am a 'risk taker.'"
- "I enjoy the sensations of intercourse without a condom."
Psychometrics
Internal consistency: Good across samples. Item-total correlations range from .25 to .79. Test-retest: r = .69 at 2 weeks, r = .78 at 3 months.
Validity: Higher SSSS scores predict more sexual partners, lower condom use, and more one-night stands. Berg (2008) found it was the single strongest predictor distinguishing men who have unprotected sex without concern from those who simply don't engage in the behavior.
References
- Kalichman, S. C., & Rompa, D. (1995). Sexual sensation seeking and sexual compulsivity scales: Reliability, validity, and predicting HIV risk behavior. Journal of Personality Assessment, 65(3), 586-601.
- Berg, R. C. (2008). The Sexual Sensation Seeking Scale: Psychometric properties and relationships with risky sexual behavior among men who have sex with men. Journal of Homosexuality, 55(4), 642-658.
Scoring Guide
Total score range: 10-40. Each item scored 1-4, all forward-scored.<br><br>Score ranges:<br>- 10-17: Lower sexual sensation seeking<br>- 18-25: Moderate<br>- 26-32: High<br>- 33-40: Very high<br><br>Note: This is a screening tool, not a diagnostic instrument.Result Interpretation
Finish the 10 questions and you get your results straight away — no account, no sign-up, no waiting.
We calculate your total from your answers, then give you a plain-language explanation of what the numbers mean. Whenever possible, we also show how your results compare to population norms.
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