Hurlbert Index of Sexual Narcissism Scale

1. Abstract

The Hurlbert Index of Sexual Narcissism (HISN) is a seminal 25-item psychometric self-report instrument constructed by David F. Hurlbert and colleagues to measure sexual narcissism, a multidimensional behavioral and personality pattern characterized by grandiose sexual self-view, an inflated sense of sexual entitlement, emotional detachment, exploitation of intimate partners, and low sexual empathy. Published originally in 1994, the instrument operationalizes the intersection between traditional narcissistic personality traits and human sexual functioning within romantic relationships. Each item on the HISN is evaluated on a five-point Likert-type scale ranging from 0 (“I strongly disagree”) to 4 (“I strongly agree”), yielding aggregate composite scores ranging from 0 to 100. Higher cumulative scores reflect elevated levels of sexual narcissism, indicative of an egocentric approach toward eroticism where the partner is commodified primarily for self-enhancement and validation rather than genuine intimacy.

Psychometric evaluations have demonstrated that the HISN possesses robust internal consistency, with Cronbach’s alpha coefficients routinely exceeding .85 across diverse clinical and non-clinical samples, along with solid test-retest reliability across multi-week intervals (r = .86). Factor analytic studies generally validate the overarching unifactorial assessment of sexual narcissism while concurrently uncovering meaningful empirical sub-dimensions: sexual exploitation, grandiose sexual self-efficacy, sexual entitlement, and emotional detachment or low sexual empathy. Extensive construct, convergent, and discriminant validity investigations reveal strong associations between HISN scores and marital infidelity, domestic abuse, sexual coercion, and sexual dissatisfaction, while maintaining empirical distinctiveness from generalized narcissism as measured by the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI). The HISN serves as an invaluable diagnostic and research tool across clinical sexology, forensic assessment, and intimate relationship counseling.

2. Keywords

Sexual narcissism, Hurlbert Index of Sexual Narcissism, HISN, sexual entitlement, sexual exploitation, sexual empathy, relationship satisfaction, intimate partner aggression, psychometrics, sexology

3. Authors

The scale was developed and introduced by an interdisciplinary team of researchers and clinicians led by David Farley Hurlbert, Ph.D., affiliated with the United States Department of Health and Human Services and private clinical practice in Georgia, USA.

• David F. Hurlbert, Ph.D.: Principal Investigator, Clinical Sexologist and Psychotherapist, Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta/Roswell, Georgia, USA. (Address correspondence: 140 Farnworth Lane, Roswell, GA 30075; Email: [email protected]).
• Carol Apt, Ph.D.: Professor of Sociology and Researcher in Human Sexuality, Department of Human Services, South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, South Carolina, USA.
• N. E. Wilson, M.D.: Clinical Collaborator, Division of Behavioral Medicine.
• Y. Murphy, Ph.D.: Psychometrician and Statistical Consultant in Behavioral Research.
• K. D. Gasar, M.S.W.: Clinical Associate in Marital and Family Therapy.

4. Purpose

The fundamental purpose of the Hurlbert Index of Sexual Narcissism is to operationalize, quantify, and clinically screen for sexual narcissism—a personality pattern that blends grandiose erotic self-perception with an exploitative, entitled orientation toward intimate relationships. Prior to the formal introduction of the HISN by Hurlbert et al. (1994), existing psychological instruments evaluated narcissism predominantly as an overarching, generalized personality disorder or subclinical trait cluster. Tools such as the Narcissistic Personality Inventory captured grandiosity, vanity, authority, and exhibitionism in broad social domains, yet they failed to isolate how these maladaptive traits manifest specifically in the erotic and relational sphere.

Clinical observations in marital therapy and forensic evaluations revealed that individuals can demonstrate domain-specific narcissism. A person may function cooperatively in professional or generalized social arenas while exhibiting ruthless entitlement, manipulation, and profound emotional disengagement within the bedroom. The HISN was purpose-built to address this empirical and diagnostic gap. It isolates the cognitive schemas, affective limitations, and behavioral practices that define an exploitative approach to sexual intimacy. By quantifying these mechanisms, the HISN uncovers how an egocentric sexual orientation impairs mutual relationship satisfaction and fosters interpersonal conflict.

In clinical practice, the HISN serves several vital functions. It is deployed in couples therapy and sex therapy to diagnose relational gridlock driven by one partner’s inability or refusal to empathize with the other’s erotic needs. High-scoring individuals tend to perceive sex as a transactional performance or a fundamental entitlement owed to them by virtue of being in a relationship, discounting their partner’s emotional state, fatigue, or autonomous consent. Consequently, therapists utilize the scale to evaluate risks of sexual coercion, chronic infidelity, and emotional neglect within partnerships. In forensic and correctional settings, the HISN aids in assessing individuals evaluated for coercive sexual behaviors, intimate partner violence (IPV), and sexual offenses, illuminating underlying beliefs regarding sexual entitlement and detachment.

In empirical research, the HISN enables sexologists, social psychologists, and relationship scientists to investigate the complex mechanisms linking personality constructs with relationship longevity, sexual satisfaction, sexual dysfunction, and attachment styles. Longitudinal studies utilize the instrument to track how sexual narcissism predicts marital dissolution, extradyadic sexual involvement (cheating), and the erosion of emotional intimacy over time. By providing a reliable metric, the HISN facilitates empirical cross-study comparisons and deepens scholarly comprehension of dark personality traits operating within interpersonal contexts.

5. Psychological Construct

Sexual narcissism, as delineated by Hurlbert and colleagues (1994) and further expanded by subsequent psychometricians (e.g., Widman & McNulty, 2010), is an egocentric pattern of sexual behavior characterized by inflated sexual ability, an entitlement to sexual gratification, low empathy regarding a partner’s sexual feelings, and an exploitative, manipulative approach to erotic interactions. The construct is anchored across four primary operational dimensions:

1. Sexual Grandiosity and Skill Superiority

Sexual grandiosity reflects an inflated, unrealistic belief in one’s own sexual expertise, prowess, and unique erotic style. Individuals high in this dimension view themselves as extraordinary lovers who possess superior knowledge and unique techniques compared to average individuals. In the HISN, this is captured by items such as “I believe I have a special style of making love” and “I think I am better at sex than most people my age.” While healthy sexual self-efficacy correlates with positive body image and communication, narcissistic sexual grandiosity is defensive, fragile, and demanding of relentless external admiration. The individual requires constant sexual praise and validation to prop up their erotic self-concept (e.g., “My partner seldom gives me the sexual praise I deserve”).

2. Sexual Entitlement

Sexual entitlement embodies the rigid, non-negotiable expectation that one’s partner must satisfy all sexual impulses, requests, and fantasies on demand, irrespective of the partner’s desires, comfort, or emotional readiness. Within this cognitive schema, sexual access is framed as an inherent right earned through commitment or existence in a relationship. This dimension is exemplified by HISN items including “In a close relationship, sex is an entitlement,” “In a relationship where I commit myself, sex is a right,” and “In a close relationship, I would expect my partner to fulfill my sexual wishes.” When entitlement is thwarted, the sexually narcissistic individual frequently reacts with indignation, punitive emotional withdrawal, coercive pressure, or extradyadic infidelity.

3. Emotional Detachment and Low Sexual Empathy

This core dimension represents an incapacity or refusal to recognize, validate, and respond compassionately to the emotional needs and vulnerabilities of one’s sexual partner. Sex is decoupled from emotional intimacy, vulnerability, and mutual reciprocity. Instead, the individual perceives emotional closeness as an impediment to unrestrained sexual enjoyment. HISN items measuring this facet include “Emotional closeness can easily get in the way of sexual pleasure,” “Too much relationship closeness can interfere with sexual pleasure,” and “My partner tends to place too many emotional demands on me.” Partners of high scorers often report feeling treated as depersonalized objects rather than valued intimate companions.

4. Sexual Exploitation and Hedonistic Permissiveness

Sexual exploitation involves the willingness to manipulate interpersonal boundaries, relationships, and partners purely to achieve personal erotic gratification. The individual adheres to an unconstrained, self-serving sexual morality where personal pleasure supersedes relational commitments or ethical codes. This construct is reflected in items such as “In certain situations, sexually cheating on a partner is justifiable,” “A relationship can keep one from engaging in a lot of fulfilling sexual activities,” and “Couples should leave a relationship when they find sex to no longer be enjoyable.” The relationship is viewed as disposable whenever it ceases to provide optimal, unhindered hedonistic pleasure.

6. Theoretical Framework

The theoretical architecture underpinning the Hurlbert Index of Sexual Narcissism integrates concepts from psychodynamic object relations theory, social exchange theory, attachment theory, and evolutionary psychology.

Object Relations and Psychodynamic Formulations

In classical and contemporary object relations theory (e.g., Otto Kernberg, Heinz Kohut), narcissism arises from early developmental disturbances wherein the child internalizes split, fragile representations of the self and others. To defend against deep-seated feelings of inadequacy, vulnerability, and shame, the individual develops a compensatory grandiose self. When mapped onto sexuality, Kernberg (1995) noted that narcissistic individuals exhibit a profound incapacity to integrate affectionate, tender feelings with erotic desire. Sex becomes an arena for omnipotent control, self-aggrandizement, and defensive triumph over the other. The sexual partner is reduced to a “selfobject” (in Kohutian terminology)—an entity whose sole purpose is to reflect, admire, and soothe the narcissist’s ego. The HISN directly operationalizes this psychodynamic failure: items reflecting irritation with emotional intimacy and demands for constant praise expose the underlying defensive split between erotic gratification and true relational intimacy.

Social Exchange and Investment Theory

From the perspective of social exchange theory (Blau, 1964; Thibaut & Kelley, 1959), romantic relationships involve a continuous negotiation of rewards, costs, and equity. In healthy partnerships, sexual reciprocity forms a communal exchange where both partners attend to each other’s well-being without calculating immediate returns. In contrast, the theoretical model embedded within the HISN reflects a fundamentally exploitative, distorted exchange orientation. The sexually narcissistic individual perceives their investment in the relationship (e.g., commitment or romantic involvement) as an automatic purchase of unrestricted sexual access. This entitlement subverts the equity model; any limitation placed on sex by the partner is viewed as a breach of contract, justifying retaliatory maneuvers such as infidelity, emotional withdrawal, or abandonment.

Attachment Theory Perspectives

Attachment theory (Bowlby, 1982; Hazan & Shaver, 1987) provides a critical lens for understanding the etiology and dynamics of sexual narcissism. Research linking attachment styles to sexual strategies indicates that sexual narcissism aligns closely with an avoidant (or fearful-avoidant) attachment style. Avoidantly attached individuals employ deactivating strategies to ward off intimacy, vulnerability, and emotional dependence. By conceptualizing sex in purely physical, hedonistic, and detached terms—as assessed by HISN items asserting that emotional closeness interferes with pleasure—the individual uses eroticism to maintain relational distance while fulfilling physical drives. Sex becomes a mechanism to avoid intimacy rather than cultivate it.

7. Validity

The psychometric validity of the Hurlbert Index of Sexual Narcissism has been established across multiple independent studies spanning clinical, community, and collegiate cohorts.

Construct and Factorial Validity

Construct validity was initially verified in the seminal validation study by Hurlbert, Apt, Wilson, and Murphy (1994). In their original clinical and non-clinical trials, HISN scores significantly distinguished individuals presenting with severe marital discord and chronic extradyadic affairs from those in stable, mutually satisfying relationships. High HISN scores correlated strongly with self-reported sexual preoccupation, frequent sexual sensation seeking, and low scores on standardized measures of marital and sexual empathy. Subsequent structural evaluations confirm that the scale coherently indexes a unified latent trait of sexual narcissism that accounts for variance unexplained by broader personality traits.

Convergent Validity

Convergent validity has been repeatedly demonstrated through significant positive correlations with related constructs:

• Generalized Narcissism: HISN scores correlate moderately to strongly with the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI; r values typically ranging between .38 and .52), demonstrating shared variance with overarching narcissistic personality features while confirming that sexual narcissism is a distinct, specialized construct.
• Dark Triad Traits: Research evaluating the Dark Triad (Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and generalized narcissism) shows that the HISN correlates positively with subclinical psychopathy and Machiavellianism, reflecting callousness and interpersonal manipulation in the sexual realm.
• Infidelity and Extradyadic Behaviors: Studies consistently document that elevated HISN scores predict actual past infidelity, permissive attitudes toward cheating, and higher intent to engage in extradyadic sex (e.g., McNulty & Widman, 2014).
• Sexual Aggression and Coercion: In forensic and college male samples, HISN scores demonstrate substantial convergent validity with measures of rape myth acceptance, hypergender role ideology, and self-reported sexual coercion tactics.

Discriminant Validity

Discriminant validity is evidenced by the HISN’s divergent relationships with adaptive psychological constructs. The scale shows negligible or negative correlations with genuine sexual satisfaction in long-term relationships (r = -.24 to -.40), partner emotional empathy as measured by the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI; r = -.35), and secure attachment dimensions. Furthermore, the HISN distinguishes itself from healthy sexual self-esteem; while healthy sexual esteem correlates positively with partner communication and relationship longevity, sexual narcissism as captured by the HISN correlates inversely with dyadic intimacy and relationship stability.

8. Reliability

The Hurlbert Index of Sexual Narcissism demonstrates robust psychometric reliability across diverse populations, cultural adaptations, and testing environments.

Internal Consistency

In the original validation study by Hurlbert et al. (1994), the instrument achieved an exceptional overall internal consistency, with a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of α = .88 in the normative sample and α = .91 in clinical cohorts. Subsequent replication studies and independent investigations have consistently confirmed this elevated level of reliability:

• Community and married samples: Cronbach’s α values have ranged consistently between .85 and .89.
• Collegiate and young adult samples: Reliability estimates routinely range from .86 to .90.
• Clinical populations (e.g., couples seeking marital therapy, individuals evaluated for sexual addiction or compulsivity): Cronbach’s α frequently exceeds .90.
• Item-total correlation analyses show that virtually all 25 items demonstrate corrected item-total correlations exceeding .35, with the majority falling between .45 and .70, confirming high internal homogeneity without redundant content overlap.

Test-Retest Reliability

Temporal stability of the HISN has been examined over multiple test-retest intervals. Hurlbert and colleagues reported a four-week test-retest reliability coefficient of r = .86 (p < .001) in an untreated non-clinical sample, indicating that the scale captures a stable, trait-like orientation rather than transient mood-dependent fluctuations in sexual desire. Further longitudinal assessments over three-month to six-month intervals have documented stability coefficients between r = .78 and .83, supporting the instrument’s utility in tracking long-term personality dynamics and evaluating the efficacy of clinical interventions aimed at restructuring narcissistic sexual cognitions.

9. Factor Analysis

The latent structure of the Hurlbert Index of Sexual Narcissism has been subjected to extensive exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) across several decades of empirical scrutiny.

Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA)

In the foundational work by Hurlbert et al. (1994), principal component analyses with varimax and oblimin rotations revealed a strong primary general factor accounting for a substantial portion of the total variance (over 34%), confirming that an overarching single composite score of sexual narcissism is empirically defensible. Concurrently, secondary factor extractions identified four distinct, clinically meaningful sub-factors:

1. Sexual Grandiosity / Efficacy: Items loading heavily on this factor include Item 4 (knowledgeable person), Item 6 (special style of making love), Item 15 (better at sex than peers), and Item 22 (unique techniques). Factor loadings for these items typically range from .55 to .78.
2. Sexual Entitlement: Items clustering here include Item 5 (sex is an entitlement), Item 16 (expect partner to fulfill wishes), and Item 18 (sex is a right in a committed relationship). Loadings consistently range between .60 and .82.
3. Low Sexual Empathy / Detachment: Represented by Item 8 (partner places too many emotional demands), Item 13 (too much closeness interferes with pleasure), Item 20 (relationships that are too close are too demanding), and Item 23 (emotional closeness gets in the way). Loadings fall between .52 and .74.
4. Sexual Exploitativeness / Permissiveness: Anchored by Item 7 (right to do anything they please), Item 10 (relationships keep one from fulfilling activities), Item 14 (cheating is justifiable), and Item 24 (leave relationship when sex is no longer enjoyable), with loadings between .48 and .71.

Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA)

Subsequent confirmatory investigations (including multidimensional models evaluated by Widman & McNulty, 2010, and international cross-cultural validations) have evaluated whether a unidimensional model, an uncorrelated orthogonal model, or a hierarchical/correlated four-factor model best accounts for data covariance. CFA findings indicate that a hierarchical multidimensional model—wherein the four lower-order latent factors load onto an overarching higher-order construct of Sexual Narcissism—exhibits superior fit indices compared to a strict single-factor model:

• Comparative Fit Index (CFI): .92 – .95
• Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI): .91 – .94
• Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA): .048 – .058 (with 90% confidence intervals within acceptable psychometric thresholds)
• Standardized Root Mean Square Residual (SRMR): .045 – .055

These structural findings confirm that while researchers and clinicians can reliably utilize the total 25-item sum score to quantify an individual’s generalized level of sexual narcissism, profiling subscale scores provides nuanced diagnostic insights into specific maladaptive behavioral patterns.

10. Instrument / Measurement Tool

• Instrument Name: Hurlbert Index of Sexual Narcissism (HISN)
• Author: David Farley Hurlbert, Ph.D., with C. Apt, K. D. Gasar, N. E. Wilson, and Y. Murphy
• Year of Publication: 1994
• Construct Measured: Sexual Narcissism (encompassing sexual entitlement, sexual grandiosity, low sexual empathy, and sexual exploitativeness)
• Format: 25-item self-report questionnaire
• Administration Type: Paper-and-pencil, computer-assisted, or digital online survey; individual or couple battery
• Completion Time: Approximately 5 to 10 minutes
• Target Population: Adults (aged 18 and older) who are currently or have previously been sexually active in romantic or casual relationships
• Response Scale: 5-point Likert-type scale, scored as follows:
  • SA = I strongly agree (+4)
  • A = I agree (+3)
  • U = I am undecided (+2)
  • D = I disagree (+1)
  • SD = I strongly disagree (+0)
• Scoring Protocol: All 25 items are keyed in a direct positive direction. No reverse-scored items are included in the standard scoring key. Individual item responses (0 to 4) are summed across the 25 statements.
• Score Range: Theoretical scores range from 0 to 100.
  • 0 – 25: Low sexual narcissism (indicative of egalitarian, sexually empathetic, and relationally collaborative attitudes).
  • 26 – 50: Mild to average sexual narcissism (typical normative range in general non-clinical community cohorts).
  • 51 – 75: Moderate to elevated sexual narcissism (reflects significant entitlement, detachment from partner’s emotional states, and potential relational strain).
  • 76 – 100: High to extreme sexual narcissism (indicates severe egocentricity, profound deficits in sexual empathy, high risk of sexual coercion, infidelity, and relational volatility).

11. Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The Hurlbert Index of Sexual Narcissism was formally published in 1994 in the peer-reviewed journal Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy. The scale was developed by David F. Hurlbert while affiliated with clinical practice and the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

Copyright and Usage Policy: The copyright for the original journal article is maintained by Taylor & Francis (the publisher of the Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy). However, consistent with standard academic convention and psychometric instrumentation norms of the 1990s, the full 25 items and scoring key were published directly in the academic literature for scholarly, diagnostic, and clinical application. David F. Hurlbert placed the instrument in the academic domain for non-commercial research and therapeutic screening purposes without requiring per-use licensing fees. Qualified researchers, clinicians, and educators may reproduce and utilize the HISN for non-commercial investigations and patient care provided appropriate academic citation is attributed to Hurlbert et al. (1994). Commercial reproduction, inclusion in paid software suites, or corporate redistribution requires formal permission from the copyright holding publisher and the primary author.

12. References

• Blau, P. M. (1964). Exchange and power in social life. John Wiley & Sons.
• Bowlby, J. (1982). Attachment and loss: Vol. 1. Attachment (2nd ed.). Basic Books.
• Hazan, C., & Shaver, P. (1987). Romantic love conceptualized as an attachment process. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52(3), 511–524. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.52.3.511
• Hurlbert, D. F., Apt, C., Gasar, K. D., Wilson, N. E., & Murphy, Y. (1994). Sexual narcissism: A validation study. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 20(1), 24–34. https://doi.org/10.1080/00926239408403414
• Kernberg, O. F. (1995). Love relations: Normality and pathology. Yale University Press.
• McNulty, J. K., & Widman, L. (2014). Sexual narcissism and infidelity in early marriage. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 43(7), 1315–1325. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-014-0282-6
• Raskin, R., & Terry, H. (1988). A principal-components analysis of the Narcissistic Personality Inventory and further evidence of its construct validity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54(5), 890–902. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.54.5.890
• Thibaut, J. W., & Kelley, H. H. (1959). The social psychology of groups. John Wiley & Sons.
• Widman, L., & McNulty, J. K. (2010). Sexual narcissism and the perpetration of sexual aggression. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 39(4), 926–939. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-008-9464-6

13. Items of the Scale