What Is the Kink Orientation Scale?
If you’ve ever wondered whether kink is a preference, a personality trait, or a full-on identity, there’s finally a scientific way to explore that. The Kink Orientation Scale (KOS) is a brand new, peer-reviewed psychological tool developed to measure kink as a spectrum rather than a yes or no checkbox.
Created by Dr Liam Wignall and colleagues in 2024, the KOS is the first of its kind. It uses an 18-item scale to assess how people relate to kink across four key areas:
- Fantasies and desires
- Behaviours and experience
- Self-identification with kink
- Importance of kink in relationships
Why It Matters
For years, kink has been misunderstood or medicalised. Even within sex research, questions like “Are you kinky?” offered little nuance. The KOS changes the conversation. Instead of forcing a binary, it offers a spectrum-based, validated measure of kink orientation. It recognises that for some, kink is a rare curiosity, and for others, it’s central to their erotic identity.
What the Research Shows
The KOS was tested on over 1,000 participants and showed strong reliability and internal consistency. High KOS scores were positively associated with:
- Sexual adventurousness
- Openness to experience
- Sexual self-esteem
Crucially, a higher score on the KOS was not linked to poor mental health. In fact, many high scorers reported stronger self-understanding and more fulfilling sexual relationships. This research supports the idea that kink can be an integrated and healthy part of someone’s identity.
How You Can Use It
Therapists, educators, and researchers are now using the KOS to:
- Support kink-aware clinical practices
- Normalise alternative sexualities in academic research
- Help individuals better understand their own erotic wiring
At The Kink Den, we think this is a powerful shift. Finally, science is catching up to what many of us already know. Kink is not just about play. It’s about authentic connection, identity, and self-expression.
Want to Explore Your Own Kink Orientation?
You can take the full Kink Orientation Scale now at thekinkscale.com.
And if you’re just starting to explore, we’ve got you covered. Download our Free BDSM Beginner Guide when you sign up to the newsletter. You’ll get practical consent tips, scene starters, and gear recs to explore safely and confidently.
Because your sexuality doesn’t need to fit a box. It just needs to fit you.