Revised Mosher Guilt Inventory (RMGI)

Abstract

The Revised Mosher Guilt Inventory (RMGI) is a foundational psychological instrument developed to offer a multi-dimensional assessment of trait-level guilt. Initially conceived by Donald L. Mosher in 1966, the RMGI was subsequently revised to measure three theoretically independent dimensions: Sex-Guilt, Hostility-Guilt, and Morality-Conscience Guilt. Unlike scales that treat guilt as a monolithic construct, the RMGI provides nuanced measurement essential for research in personality dynamics, moral development, and the psychological impact of internalized norms.

The RMGI functions as a self-report inventory, requiring respondents to rate their agreement with various paired statements concerning self-punishment, reactions to conflict, and responses to sexual stimuli, typically using a 5-point Likert scale. Its comprehensive subscales are highly valued in academic and clinical research for differentiating specific psychological manifestations of guilt, allowing for greater precision in predicting behavioral and emotional outcomes.

Keywords

Guilt Measurement, Sex-Guilt, Hostility-Guilt, Morality-Conscience Guilt, Psychological Assessment, Personality Inventory, Mosher Scale, Sexual Attitudes, Self-Punishment, Psychopathology Research, Moral Development

Authors

Donald L. Mosher

Purpose

The primary purpose of the RMGI is to quantitatively establish individual differences in the tendency to experience guilt across three major, distinct domains of human experience: sexuality, interpersonal hostility, and general morality. By isolating these components, the RMGI enables researchers to conduct highly focused studies exploring how specific types of guilt correlate with diverse psychological outcomes, including clinical syndromes, behavioral patterns, and personal adjustment.

This instrument is crucial for investigating the interplay between internalized cultural or religious norms and subsequent emotional responses. The scale is widely applied in research concerning sexual behavior, religious orientation, anxiety disorders, and various forms of psychopathology, providing a sophisticated alternative to general guilt measures by allowing for the targeted analysis of specific guilt dimensions.

Construct

The RMGI is fundamentally designed to capture trait-based guilt—stable personality tendencies rather than transient emotional states. It posits that guilt manifests along three relatively independent dimensions, which define an individual’s psychological framework regarding self-evaluation and moral standards:

• Sex-Guilt (SG): This dimension quantifies feelings of anxiety, shame, or guilt related specifically to sexual thoughts, fantasies, desires, and behaviors. This includes responses to masturbation, premarital sex, or exposure to erotica.
• Hostility-Guilt (HG): This factor assesses the guilt experienced following expressions of aggression, anger, or hostility directed toward others. It often correlates strongly with self-punishment tendencies and internalized conflict resolution styles.
• Morality-Conscience Guilt (MCG): This scale reflects the individual’s internalized standards of right and wrong, measuring guilt stemming from perceived moral transgressions, religious sins, or failure to achieve one’s own high ethical benchmarks.

The strength of the RMGI lies in its capacity to delineate these three dimensions, reflecting the different sources and psychological manifestations of guilt, thereby offering enhanced insight into emotional vulnerability.

Validity

The rigorous initial development of the scale included a multitrait-multimethod matrix analysis. This advanced psychometric methodology successfully demonstrated the discriminant and convergent psychometric properties of the three subscales, confirming that Sex-Guilt, Hostility-Guilt, and Morality-Conscience Guilt are indeed measuring distinct, non-overlapping psychological constructs.

Consistent subsequent research has upheld the strong construct validity of the RMGI. The Sex-Guilt subscale, in particular, has demonstrated significant predictive validity concerning sexual anxiety, repression, and the subjective experience of arousal in response to sexual stimuli. The RMGI is frequently cited as a valid and reliable measure for assessing the internalization of religious or stringent cultural norms related to sexual conduct.

Reliability

The RMGI exhibits high internal consistency across its primary subscales, confirming the instrument’s strong reliability over time and across item sets. For example, a 2014 study by Sobia F. Ali-Faisal reported exceptional Cronbach’s Alpha coefficients for the major factors, indicating robust measurement precision:

• Morality-Conscience Guilt: Alpha 0.92
• Hostility-Guilt: Alpha 0.96
• Sex-Guilt: Alpha 0.97

Furthermore, internal analyses of the Sex-Guilt subscale have identified three subfactors—Moral and acceptable sexual behaviors (Alpha 0.947), Unusual or private sexual behaviors (Alpha 0.929), and Telling dirty jokes and talking about sex (Alpha 0.94)—all demonstrating coefficients that confirm the high consistency of the items within each specific cluster.

Factor Analysis

The theoretical foundation of the RMGI rests upon a clear multi-factor measurement model. Original factor analysis studies revealed the presence of three orthogonal factors, corresponding precisely to the Morality-Conscience, Hostility, and Sex domains. This crucial underlying structure ensures that the dimensions are independent; scoring high on one type of guilt does not necessitate a high score on another, thereby maximizing the scale’s utility for differential diagnosis and research.

Subsequent refinement studies, particularly those focused on the extended Sex-Guilt subscale, have further validated and detailed the factor structure within that domain, isolating clusters related to attitudes toward public discussion of sex, private sexual behaviors, and moral judgments concerning accepted sexual practices. This continued empirical support confirms the instrument’s established differentiation capabilities.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report Psychological Inventory / Personality Scale

Format: Written inventory, typically featuring 114 items for the full RMGI, or 66 items for the extended Sex-Guilt Subscale. Items are presented as paired statements.

Language Available: Primarily English (used extensively in North American academic research).

Population Group: Non-clinical population, primarily used with college students and adults.

Age Group: Adolescents and Adults (typically university age and older).

Population Details: Originally normed on college populations. It has been successfully applied in cross-cultural and specific religious group studies, such as those involving Muslim women and men in Canadian and American contexts.

Test Methodology: Respondents use a 5-point Likert scale to rate their response to each item pair, ranging from 1 (Not at all true of/for me) to 5 (Extremely true of/for me).

Keywords

Psychology, Guilt Measurement, Sexual Health, Personality Trait, Self-Report, Moral Development, Psychopathology Research, Mosher

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not provided in source material.

Affiliation Email addresses: Not provided in source material.

Correspondence Address: Not provided in source material. Correspondence should generally be directed to the publisher of the Handbook of Sexuality-Related Measures for current contact information.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The Revised Mosher Guilt Inventory (RMGI) evolved from the original Mosher Guilt Inventory (MGI), first developed in 1966. Subsequent revisions were published in later years (e.g., 1998, 2011). The full scale is typically accessible through established academic handbooks, such as the 3rd edition of the Handbook of Sexuality-Related Measures (2011).

Researchers intending to utilize the RMGI should consult the latest edition of the Handbook of Sexuality-Related Measures for specific protocols regarding permissions and usage fees. Permissions are often required, especially for large-scale research projects or commercial applications, to ensure ethical and authorized use of the instrument.

Reference’s

The RMGI is extensively documented and utilized in academic literature. The following references document the scale’s development, psychometrics, and recent applications:

• Ali-Faisal‚ Sobia F.‚ (2014). “Crossing sexual barriers: The influence of background factors and personal attitudes on sexual guilt and sexual anxiety among Canadian and American Muslim women and men”. Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 5051. The original PDF for this thesis can be downloaded here: http://scholar.uwindsor.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6050&context=etd
• Asadzadeh Totonchi‚ Delaram. (2015). “Comparing Implicit and Explicit Measures of Sex Guilt in Predicting Sexual Behavior.” Old Dominion University. Master of Arts thesis‚ Psychology Theses & Dissertations. Paper 16.
• Janda‚ L. H.‚ & Bazemore‚ S. D. (2011). The revised Mosher Sex-Guilt Scale: Its psychometric properties and a proposed ten-item version. Journal of Sex Research‚ 48(4)‚ 392-396.
• Jones‚ Ann E. (2014). Moderating effect of religious orientation on the relationship between sexual self-discrepancies and guilt and Anxiety. Indiana State University. Master of Arts thesis.
• Mosher‚ D.L. (2011). Revised Mosher Guilt Inventory. In T.D. Fisher‚ C.M. Davis‚ W.L. Yarber‚ & S.L. Davis (Eds.)‚ Handbook of sexuality-related measures (3rd ed.)(pp.321-324). New York: Routledge.
• Mosher‚ Donald L. (1966). The development and multitrait-multimethod matrix analysis of three measures of three aspects of guilt. Journal of Consulting Psychology‚ 30(1)‚ 25-29.
• Mosher‚ D.L.‚ & Cross‚ H.J. (1971). Sex guilt and premarital sexual experiences of college students. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology‚ 36‚ 27-32.
• Mosher‚ D. L. (1998). Revised mosher guilt inventory. Handbook of Sexuality-Related Measures‚ 290-293.
• Mosher‚ D.L. (1979a). Sex guilt and sex myths in college men and women. Journal of Sex Research‚ 15‚ 224-234.
• Mosher‚ D.L. (1979b). The meaning and measurement of guilt. In C.E. Izard (Ed.)‚ Emotions in personality and psychopathology. New York: Plenum.
• Mosher‚ D.L.‚ & O’Grady‚ K.E. (1979). Sex guilt‚ trait anxiety‚ and females’ subjective sexual arousal to erotica. Motivation & Emotion‚ 3‚ 235-249.

Items of the Revised Mosher Guilt Inventory (RMGI)

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

For the next 114 questions‚ you are to rate your response on a 5 point scale from 1‚ which means not at all true of (for) me to 5‚ which means extremely true of (for) me.

I punish myself…

1. very infrequently.
2. when I do wrong and don’t get caught.

When anger builds up inside me…

3. I let people know how I feel.
4. I’m angry at myself.

“Dirty” jokes in mixed company …

5. do not bother me.
6. are something that make me very uncomfortable.

Masturbation …

7. is wrong and will ruin you.
8. helps one feel eased and relaxed.

I detest myself for…

9. nothing‚ I love life.
10. for my sins and failures.

Sex relations before marriage …

11. should be permitted.
12. are wrong and immoral.

Sex relations before marriage ruin…

13. a happy couple.
14. are good in my opinion.

Unusual sex practices …

15. might be interesting.
16. don’t interest me.

When I have sexual dreams …

17. I sometimes wake up feeling excited.
18. I try to forget them.

After an outburst of anger…

19. I am sorry and say so.
20. I usually feel quite bitter.

When I was younger‚ fighting …

21. didn’t bother me.
22. never appealed to me.

Arguments leave me feeling …

23. depressed and disgusted.
24. elated at winning.

“Dirty” jokes in mixed company…

25. are in bad taste.
26. can be funny depending on the company.

I detest myself for …

27. nothing at present.
28. being so self-centered.

When someone swears at me …

29. I swear back.
30. it usually bothers me even if I don’t show it.

Petting …

31. I am sorry to say is becoming an accepted practice.
32. is an expression of affection which is satisfying.

When I was younger‚ fighting …

33. disgusted me.
34. was always a thrill.

Unusual sex practices …

35. are not so unusual.
36. don’t interest me.

After a childhood fight‚ I felt …

37. good if I won‚ bad otherwise.
38. hurt and alarmed.

After an argument …

39. I am sorry for my actions.
40. I feel mean.

Sex …

41. is good and enjoyable.
42. Sex should be saved for wedlock and childbearing.

After an outburst of anger …

43. I usually feel quite better.
44. I feel ridiculous and sorry that I showed my emotions.

After an argument …

45. I wish that I hadn’t argued.
46. I feel proud in victory‚ understanding in defeat.

I detest myself for …

47. nothing‚ I love life.
48. not being more nearly perfect.

A guilt conscience …

49. is worse than a sickness to me.
50. does not bother me too much.

“Dirty jokes” in mixed company …

51. are coarse to say the least.
52. are lots of fun.

When I have sexual desires …

53. I enjoy it like all healthy human beings.
54. I fight them for I must have complete control of my body.

After an argument …

55. I am disgusted that I allowed myself to become involved.
56. I usually feel better.

Obscene literature …

57. helps people become sexual partners.
58. should be freely published.

One should not …

59. lose his temper.
60. say “one should not”.

Unusual sex practices …

61. are unwise and lead only to trouble.
62. are all in how you look at it.

Unusual sex practices …

63. are OK as long as they’re heterosexual.
64. usually aren’t pleasurable because you have preconceived feelings about their being wrong.

I regret …

65. all of my sins.
66. getting caught‚ but nothing else.

Sex relations before marriage …

67. in my opinion‚ should not be practiced.
68. are practiced too much to be wrong.

After an outburst of anger …

69. my tensions are relieved.
70. I am jittery and all keyed up.

As a child‚ sex play …

71. is immature and ridiculous.
72. was indulged in.

I punish myself …

73. by denying myself a privilege.
74. for very few things.

Unusual sex practices

75. are dangerous to one’s health and mental condition.
76. are the business of those who carry them out and on one else’s.

Arguments leave me feeling …

77. depressed and disgusted.
78. proud‚ they are certainly worthwhile.

After an argument …

79. I am disgusted that I let myself become involved.
80. I feel happy if I won or still stick to my own views is I lose.

When I have sexual desires …

81. I attempt to repress them.
82. they are quite strong.

Petting …

83. is not a good practice until marriage.
84. is justified with love.

After a childhood fight‚ I felt …

85. as if I had done wrong.
86. like I was a hero.

Sex relations before marriage …

87. help people adjust.
88. should not be recommended.

If I robbed a bank …

89. I should get caught.
90. I would live like a king.

After an argument …

91. I am sorry and see no reason to stay mad.
92. I feel proud in victory and understanding in defeat.

Masturbation …

93. is wrong and a sin.
94. is a normal outlet for sexual cleanse.

After an argument …

95. I am sorry for my actions.
96. if I have won‚ I feel great.

When anger builds inside me …

97. I always express it.
98. I usually take it out on myself.

After a fight …

99. I feel relieved.
100. I feel it should have been avoided for nothing was accomplished.

Masturbation …

101. is all right.
102. is a form of self-destructions.

Unusual sex practices …

103. are awful and unthinkable.
104. are all right if both partners agree.

I detest myself for …

105. thoughts I sometimes have.
106. nothing‚ and only rarely dislike myself.

If I had sexual relations I would feel …

107. alright I think.
108. I was being used not loved.

Arguments leave me feeling …

109. exhausted.
110. satisfied usually.

Masturbation …

111. is all right.
112. should not be practiced.

After an argument …

113. it is best to apologize to clear the act.
114. I usually feel good if I won.

Revised Mosher Guilt Inventory (RMGI) – Sex-Guilt Subscale (66 Items)

If there are situations you have not experienced then try to answer the questions thinking about how you would feel if they did happen.

“Dirty jokes” in mixed company…

1. do not bother me.
2. are something that make me very uncomfortable.

Masturbation…

3. is wrong and will ruin you.
4. helps one feel eased and relaxed.

Sex relations before marriage…

5. should be permitted.
6. are wrong and immoral.

Sex relations before marriage…

7. ruin many a happy couple.
8. are good in my opinion.

Unusual sexual practices (sexual practices which are uncommon)…

9. might be interesting.
10. don’t interest me.

When I have sexual dreams (dreams with sexual content)…

11. I sometimes wake up feeling excited.
12. I try to forget them.

“Dirty jokes” in mixed company…

13. are in bad taste.
14. can be funny depending on the company.

Petting (a sexually stimulating caress of any or all parts of the body)…

15. I am sorry to say is an accepted practice.
16. is an expression of affection which is satisfying.

Unusual sexual practices (sexual practices which are uncommon)…

17. are not so unusual.
18. don’t interest me.

Sex…

19. is good and enjoyable.
20. should be saved for wedlock and childbearing.

“Dirty jokes” in mixed company…

21. are coarse to say the least.
22. are lots of fun.

When I have sexual desires…

23. I enjoy it like all healthy human beings.
24. I fight them for I must have complete control of my body.

Unusual sexual practices (sexual practices which are uncommon)…

25. are unwise and lead to trouble.
26. are all in how you look at it.

Unusual sexual practices (sexual practices which are uncommon)…

27. are ok as long as they are heterosexual.
28. usually aren’t pleasurable because you have preconceived feelings about their being wrong.

Sex relations before marriage…

29. in my opinion‚ should not be practiced.
30. are practiced too much to be wrong.

As a child‚ sex play (a child’s exploration of their own or friend’s private body parts – e.g.‚ “playing doctor”‚ sexual kissing‚ etc.)…

31. is immature and ridiculous.
32. was indulged in.

Unusual sexual practices (sexual practices which are uncommon)…

33. are dangerous to one’s health and mental condition.
34. are the business of those who carry them out and no one else’s

When I have sexual desires…

35. I attempt to repress them
36. they are quite strong.

Petting (a sexually stimulating caress of any or all parts of the body)…

37. is not a good practice until after marriage.
38. is justified with love.

Sex relations before marriage…

39. help people adjust.
40. should not be recommended.

Masturbation…

41. is wrong and a sin.
42. is a normal outlet for sexual desire.

Masturbation…

43. is alright.
44. is a form of self destruction.

Unusual sexual practices (sexual practices which are uncommon)…

45. are awful and unthinkable.
46. are alright if both partners agree.

If I had sexual relations‚ I would feel….

47. alright‚ I think.
48. I was being used not loved.

Masturbation…

49. is alright.
50. should not be practiced.

Talking about sex with friends of the same gender…

51. is perfectly acceptable.
52. should be completely avoided.

Talking about sex with mixed company…

53. is perfectly acceptable.
54. should be completely avoided.

Looking at pornographic materials….

55. is fine depending on the content of the pornographic materials.
56. is wrong and unacceptable under all circumstances.

Men and women shaking hands….

57. is normal and acceptable behaviour.
58. can lead to sexual thoughts and so should not be engaged in.

Looking up information on sex on your own…

59. is healthy and empowering.
60. can elicit sexual desires and so should not be done.

“Dirty jokes” in same gender company…

61. do not bother me.
62. are something that make me very uncomfortable.

“Dirty jokes” in same gender company…

63. are in bad taste.
64. can be funny depending on the company.

“Dirty jokes” in same gender company…

65. are coarse to say the least.
66. are lots of fun.