Stereotypes About Male Sexuality Scale

Abstract

The Stereotypes About Male Sexuality Scale (SAMSS) is a 60-item Psychological Scale developed to quantitatively assess the degree to which an individual endorses traditional, often restrictive, cognitive beliefs regarding male sexual behavior and emotional expression. It serves as a crucial research instrument, providing clinicians and researchers with detailed insight into how rigid societal expectations of Masculinity influence men’s perceptions of sexual performance, readiness, emotional vulnerability, and role expectations.

The scale measures adherence to ten distinct dimensions of Stereotypes, with higher scores indicating a stronger agreement with these traditional and potentially limiting beliefs about male sexual roles and scripts.

Keywords

Stereotypes About Male Sexuality Scale, SAMSS, male sexuality, gender roles, sexual performance, psychological measurement, Masculinity, sexual beliefs, sex role strain, emotional expressiveness, performance anxiety, sexual scripts, gender psychology.

Authors

William E. Snell, Jr., S. Belk, R. Hawkins, II.

Purpose

The primary objective of the SAMSS is to provide a standardized, quantitative measure of the endorsement of culturally prevalent Stereotypes concerning male sexual behavior. By breaking down these pervasive beliefs into ten specific subscales, the SAMSS facilitates a nuanced understanding of how strict adherence to traditional gender roles affects key psychological outcomes, including sexual satisfaction, relationship quality, and overall psychological adjustment.

Furthermore, the scale is an essential tool in research dedicated to exploring the antecedents, correlates, and consequences of stereotyped sexual thinking. Clinically, the detailed results help identify specific cognitive distortions—such as the belief in the necessity of an erection or the requirement for sex to be spontaneous—which can then inform targeted intervention strategies within counseling and sex therapy settings.

Construct

The SAMSS is designed to measure the multi-dimensional construct of stereotypical beliefs about male sexuality. These beliefs are conceptualized as cognitive components reflecting deeply ingrained societal pressures and expectations associated with traditional norms of Masculinity as they apply specifically to a man’s sexual and emotional life. The 60 items load onto ten distinct dimensions:

• Inexpressiveness: The expectation that men must suppress or restrict emotional vulnerability and deep concerns, maintaining a stoic facade. (Items 1, 11, 21, 31, 41, 51).
• Sex Equals Performance: The belief that sexual activity is a goal-oriented, high-pressure endeavor focused primarily on achievement and measurable success. (Items 2, 12, 22, 32, 42, 52).
• Males Orchestrate Sex: The stereotypical role assignment requiring men to take the dominant or guiding role in initiating, directing, and controlling sexual behavior. (Items 3, 13, 23, 33, 43, 53).
• Always Ready for Sex: The notion that men possess an unrelenting, constant, and imperative sexual desire, meaning they should be sexually available at any moment. (Items 4, 14, 24, 34, 44, 54).
• Touching Leads to Sex: The belief that non-sexual physical intimacy, such as hugging or kissing, is merely a prerequisite or a veiled demand for subsequent sexual activity. (Items 5, 15, 25, 35, 45, 55).
• Sex Equals Intercourse: The conviction that penile-vaginal intercourse is the ultimate and only truly satisfying sexual goal or behavior. (Items 6, 16, 26, 36, 46, 56).
• Sex Requires Erection: The powerful conviction that a firm erection is absolutely vital and necessary for any gratifying sexual activity, defining its absence as a sexual failure. (Items 7, 17, 27, 37, 47, 57).
• Sex Requires Orgasm: The expectation that sexual activity must invariably culminate in a powerful climax or orgasm for the experience to be deemed successful or satisfying for the man. (Items 8, 18, 28, 38, 48, 58).
• Spontaneous Sex: The strong preference for sexual experiences to be unplanned, instinctive, and natural, minimizing the need for conscious effort, planning, or explicit communication. (Items 9, 19, 29, 39, 49, 59).
• Sexually Aware Men: This is a reverse-scored dimension that assesses the perception of whether men possess healthy, progressive, and realistic insights into their own sexual preferences and behaviors, serving as a measure of non-stereotypical beliefs. (Items 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60).

Validity

The construct validity of the SAMSS is strongly supported by its clear, empirically derived factor structure, which aligns precisely with established theoretical frameworks regarding gender role strain and rigid societal expectations of male behavior. The development process included rigorous procedures to ensure that the 60 items accurately represent the commonly held Stereotypes prevalent in cultural and clinical discourse.

Furthermore, the scale has demonstrated robust predictive validity in subsequent research. Studies consistently show that higher scores on key subscales, such as “Sex Equals Performance” and “Sex Requires Erection,” correlate significantly with adverse psychological and sexual outcomes, including indicators of sexual dysfunction, anxiety, and profound relationship dissatisfaction. This empirical evidence affirms the scale’s ability to measure cognitive beliefs that directly impact real-world adjustment.

Reliability

The reliability of the SAMSS is primarily established through measures of internal consistency, typically reported using Cronbach’s alpha coefficients. The overall scale and its ten component subscales are generally reported to possess internal consistency within the acceptable to good range, as detailed in the primary publications (Snell et al., 1986; Snell, 1998). This consistent reliability ensures that the items within each dimension are cohesively measuring their intended psychological construct.

Factor Analysis

The multi-dimensional structure of the SAMSS is a direct outcome of the Factor Analysis performed during its initial psychometric development. This rigorous statistical procedure confirmed the existence of ten distinct, yet theoretically related, factors, each representing a specific facet of stereotypical male sexual beliefs. The clear loading of all 60 items onto one of these ten factors establishes the scale’s robust factorial structure, providing strong psychometric justification for its use in diagnosing specific areas of stereotypical thinking rather than relying solely on a single, global score.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report Psychological Scale

Format: 60 statements rated on a 5-point Likert scale.

Language Available: English (Primary publication language).

Population Group: General population; individuals interested in or involved in sexual behavior and attitudes; couples; clinical samples.

Age Group: Adults (typically college-age students and older).

Population Details: Originally validated primarily on university student samples, though the instrument is applicable and utilized across diverse adult populations.

Test Methodology: Respondents rate their level of agreement with 60 statements using a 5-point rating scale. The anchors are: A = Agree (+2), B = Slightly Agree (+1), C = Neither agree nor disagree (0), D = Slightly Disagree (-1), and E = Disagree (-2). Scores are summed for each of the ten subscales, where a higher score signifies a stronger endorsement of the corresponding stereotype.

Keywords

sexual attitudes, sex role stereotypes, emotional expressiveness, performance anxiety, sexual scripts, psychological assessment, gender psychology, William E. Snell, Jr., cognitive distortion, sexual dysfunction.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not provided in source material.

Affiliation Email addresses: [email protected]

Correspondence Address: William E. Snell, Jr., Department of Psychology, Southeast Missouri State University, One University Plaza, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The SAMSS was initially developed in 1986 and formally published in a comprehensive handbook in 1998. The instrument is generally made available for non-commercial academic research purposes. Correspondence regarding its use should be directed to the primary author, William E. Snell, Jr., using the provided contact information. The primary instrument and related information are available online at: http://www4.semo.edu/snell/scales/SAMSS.htm.

Reference’s

• Snell, W. E., Jr. (1998). The stereotypes about male sexuality scale. In C. M. Davis, W. L. Yarber, R. Bauserman, G. Schreer & S. L. Davis (Eds.), Handbook of sexuality related measures. Thousand Oaks, London, New Delhi: Sage.
• Snell, W. E., Jr, Belk, S., & Hawkins, R., II. (1986). The stereotypes about male sexuality scale (SAMSS): Components, correlates, antecedents, consequences and counselor bias. Social and Behavioural Sciences Documents, 16(10).

Items of the Stereotypes About Male Sexuality Scale

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

1. Men should not be held.
2. Most men believe that sex is a performance.
3. Men generally want to be the guiding participant in sexual behavior.
4. Most men are ready for sex at any time.
5. Most men desire physical contact only as a prelude to sex.
6. The ultimate sexual goal in men’s mind is intercourse.
7. Lack of an erection will always spoil sex for a man.
8. From a man’s perspective‚ good sex usually has an “earthshaking” aspect to it.
9. Men don’t really like to plan their sexual experiences.
10. Most men are sexually well-adjusted.
11. Only a narrow range of emotions should be permitted to men.
12. Men are almost always concerned with their sexual performance.
13. Most men don’t want to assume a passive role in sex.
14. Men usually want sex‚ regardless of where they are.
15. Among men‚ touching is simply the first step towards sex.
16. Men are not sexually satisfied with any behavior other than intercourse.
17. With out an erection a men is sexually lost.
18. Quite‚ lazy sex is usually not all that satisfying for a man.
19. Men usually like good sex to “just happen.”
20. Most men have healthy attitudes toward sex.
21. A man who is vulnerable is a sissy.
22. In sex‚ It’s a man’s performance that counts.
23. Sexual activity is easier if the man assumes a leadership role.
24. Men are always ready to for sex.
25. A men never really wants “only” a hug or caress.
26. Men want their sexual experiences t end with intercourse.
27. A sexual situation cannot be gratifying for a man unless he “can get it up.”
28. Sexual climax is a necessary part of men’s sexual behavior.
29. Most men yearn for spontaneous sex that requires little conscious effort.
30. In these days of increased openness about sex‚ most men have become free of past inhibiting ideas about their sexual behavior.
31. A man should be careful to hide his feelings.
32. Men’s sexuality is often goal-orientated in its nature.
33. Sex is a man’s responsibility.
34. Most men come to a sexual situation in a state of constant desire.
35. Men use physical contact as a request for sex.
36. Men believe that every sexual act should include intercourse.
37. Any kind of sexual activity for a man requires an erection.
38. Satisfying sexual activity for a man always includes increasing excitement and passion.
39. A satisfying sexual experience for a man does not really require all that much forethought.
40. Most men have progressive ideas about sex.
41. It is unacceptable for men to reveal their deepest concerns.
42. Men usually think of sex as work.
43. A man is supposed to initiate sexual contact.
44. Men are perpetually ready for sex.
45. Many men are dissatisfied with any bodily contact which is not followed by sexual activity.
46. Many men are only interested in sexual intercourse as a form of sexual stimulation.
47. An erection is considered by almost all men as vital for sex.
48. Men’s sexual desire is often “imperative and driven” in nature.
49. Men consider sex artificial if it is preplanned.
50. In these days of wider availability of accurate information‚ most men are realistic about their sexual activities.
51. Intense emotional expressiveness should not be discussed by men.
52. Sex is a pressure-filled activity for most men.
53. Men are responsible for choosing sexual positions.
54. Men usually never get enough sex.
55. For men‚ kissing and touching are merely the preliminaries to sexual activity.
56. During sex‚ men are always thinking about getting t intercourse.
57. Without an erection‚ sexual activity for a man will end in misery.
58. Sexual activity must end with an orgasm for a man to feel satisfied.
59. For men‚ natural sex means “just doing it instinctively.”
60. Most men have realistic insight into their sexual preferences and desires.