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Kinsey scale

Often misused as a measure of sexual orientation, the Kinsey scale is a graphic representation to describe sexual history, that is former partners in respect to their biological sex. An easy way to remember the difference between sexual history and sexual orientation is that there are only three orientations: homosexual, heterosexual and bisexual; sexual history is one's past and may not "line up with" one's orientation. The scale itself is probably the most well-known product of the Kinsey Reports. For first-hand information, consult the Kinsey Institute Web-site.

The scale is as follows:

• 0 - Exclusively heterosexual experience(s)

• 1 - Predominantly heterosexual experience(s), only incidentally homosexual

• 2 - Predominantly heterosexual experience(s), but more than incidentally homosexual

• 3 - Equally heterosexual and homosexual experience(s)

• 4 - Predominantly homosexual experience(s), but more than incidentally heterosexual

• 5 - Predominantly homosexual experience(s), only incidentally heterosexual

• 6 - Exclusively homosexual experiences(s)