Source: Madamenoire.com
UK – BRIGHTON – If you’re into kink in all of its spicy forms, consider taking this new free online test called the Kink Orientation Scale, conducted by researchers at the University of Brighton in the UK.
According to the Journal of Sex Research (JSR), a new test is being developed to assess kink engagement comprehensively. Researchers are working on the Kink Orientation Scale (KOS), a novel tool designed to evaluate various facets of kink sexuality.
They have already started testing their theory with a development process broken into several phases. According to JSR, phase one began with an initial scale based on literature reviews and discussions with both kinky and non-kinky individuals. In phase two, the KOS was tested on 200 university students. Exploratory Factor Analyses (EFA) revealed five key factors and led to the retention of 18 items, a five-factor scale ranging from a possible 18–90 points, where 18 would be the “least kinky” and 90 would be the “most kinky” with 54 being the possible median score.
It was validated using a sample of 1,025 participants involved in kink activities. Confirmatory Factor Analyses corroborated the five factors identified in the EFA: kink identity, kink community, kink paraphernalia, kink practices, and sexual communication. Notably, the kink sample scored higher on the KOS compared to the non-kink sample, highlighting the test’s potential as a holistic measure of kink engagement.
Previous research on kink has predominantly focused on individuals who self-identify as “kinky,” often overlooking those who experience arousal from kink but do not actively engage in it. Researchers at the University of Brighton aim to address this gap with their KOS test, which they hope will promote more inclusive sex studies and provide a broader understanding of kink in future research.
What is kink?
Kink encompasses a broad spectrum of interests and practices that deviate from traditional sexual norms, offering various ways to explore and express sexuality. This includes BDSM, which involves bondage, discipline, sadism, and masochism, often characterized by power dynamics and physical stimulation.
Role-playing allows individuals to act out fantasies through different personas or scenarios while impact play focuses on pleasure from physical sensations like spanking or flogging. Sensory play engages the senses with tools such as blindfolds or temperature play. Edge play pushes boundaries with more intense activities, requiring a high level of trust and safety.
There are also less conventional forms of freaky sex activities, such as pet play, where participants take on animal personas in a sexual context. Medical play involves fantasies centered around medical scenarios and instruments, while public play explores kink in semi-public or public environments
Fetishes focus on particular objects or body parts that provoke intense arousal such as cuckolding. Hotwifing, another form of kink, typically features a married woman engaging in sexual relationships outside her marriage with the full knowledge and consent of her husband, who does not have affairs himself. Additionally, voyeurism and exhibitionism center on deriving pleasure from watching others or being watched during sexual activities. Each form of kink is unique, reflecting a wide range of personal desires and expressions.
How many people are kinky?
Estimates of kink prevalence in the general population indicate that a significant proportion have either engaged in or fantasized about these practices. Data suggests that between 20% and 30% of people have participated in kink, with figures reaching as high as 46.8% in a representative sample from Belgium, according to JSR.
Additionally, engagement in kink varies by sexual orientation. For example, a 2022 Finnish study involving 8,137 participants found that non-heterosexual individuals were 83% more likely to participate in kink compared to heterosexual individuals. The prevalence of kink-related fantasies is even higher, with a systematic review showing that such fantasies, including BDSM, are common among 40% to 70% of adults.
Would you participate in this unique sex study?
