Sexual Inhibition/Sexual Excitation Scales (SIS/SES)
Assess a person's propensity for sexual inhibition and excitation based on the dual control model of sexual response.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Sexual Inhibition/Sexual Excitation Scales (SIS/SES) was developed by Erick Janssen, John Bancroft, Cynthia A. Graham, Deanna L. Carpenter (2002). It is designed to measure Sexual Inhibition and Sexual Excitation. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 45 items organized into 3 factors/subscales: Sexual Excitation (SES), Sexual Inhibition 1 – Threat of Performance Failure (SIS1), Sexual Inhibition 2 – Threat of Performance Consequences (SIS2).
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Sexual Excitation (SES) | 1,3,4,6,7,11,13,14,16,25,26,29,30,32,35,37,38,39,43,44 | 20 |
| Sexual Inhibition 1 – Threat of Performance Failure (SIS1) | 5,9,10,17,19,20,21,23,33,36,40,41,42,45 | 14 |
| Sexual Inhibition 2 – Threat of Performance Consequences (SIS2) | 2,8,12,15,18,22,24,27,28,31,34 | 11 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a 4-point Likert scale (1 = Strongly Disagree to 4 = Strongly Agree).
The scale includes 43 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 20 to 80. Interpretation guidelines:
- Sexual Excitation (SES) Score Range: 20 – 80
- Sexual Inhibition 1 (SIS1) Score Range: 14 – 56
- Sexual Inhibition 2 (SIS2) Score Range: 11 – 44
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of SES alpha: .87-.89, SIS1 alpha: .76-.83, SIS2 alpha: .69-.75.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.