Kinsey report

Kinsey Reports

The Kinsey Reports are two books on human sexual behavior, Sexual Behavior in the Human Male (1948) and Sexual Behavior in the Human Female (1953), written by Alfred Kinsey, Wardell Pomeroy, Clyde Martin, and (for Sexual Behavior in the Human Female) Paul Gebhard. These publications were among the first scientific approaches to understanding human sexuality and were highly influential in the sexual revolution of the 1960s and 1970s.

Background

Alfred Kinsey was a trained biologist and a professor of entomology and zoology. He founded the Institute for Sex Research at Indiana University, now known as the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction. Kinsey's research on human sexuality profoundly influenced social and cultural values in the United States and many other countries.

Methodology

The Kinsey Reports are based on in-depth interviews with approximately 18,000 people. The data was gathered using a method Kinsey designed, which involved detailed questioning about sexual behaviors and responses. The methodology was considered revolutionary at the time and has been both widely praised for its thoroughness and criticized for its reliance on self-reporting.

Findings

The Kinsey Reports' findings caused shockwaves through American society. They revealed that premarital sex, extramarital sex, and homosexuality were far more common than previously believed. The reports also introduced the Kinsey Scale, a tool that measures a person's sexual orientation based on their sexual experiences or responses.

Impact

The Kinsey Reports are considered landmark works in the field of sexology. They challenged many widely held beliefs about sexuality and led to a greater public discussion about sexual behavior and attitudes. The reports have also been the subject of controversy and criticism, particularly from social conservatives and religious groups.

See also

• Sexology
• Human sexuality
• Sexual revolution
• Kinsey Scale