Multidimensional Sexual Approach Questionnaire

1. Abstract

The Multidimensional Sexual Approach Questionnaire (MSAQ; Snell, 1992) is an established, multidimensional psychometric instrument formulated to evaluate the diverse dispositional, behavioral, and motivational orientations individuals adopt within their intimate sexual interactions. Grounded in contemporary theories of love styles, close relationship paradigms, and social exchange dynamics, the MSAQ operationalizes sexual approaches across eight discrete, psychometrically validated subscales: (a) Passionate/Romantic, (b) Game-Playing, (c) Companionate/Friendship, (d) Practical/Logical, (e) Dependent/Possessive, (f) Altruistic/Selfless, (g) Communal Sex, and (h) Sexual Exchange. Comprising 56 substantive self-report items—supplemented by an essential contextual item designating relational status (current, past, or anticipated relationship)—the inventory employs a bidirectional 5-point Likert-type response format anchored from −2 (Disagree / Strongly disagree) to +2 (Agree / Strongly agree), centered around a neutral zero value.

Psychometric evaluations demonstrate robust internal consistency reliability across varied adult and emerging adult cohorts. Subscale Cronbach’s alpha coefficients range from .72 to .92 among men (mean α ≈ .80) and from .73 to .85 among women (mean α ≈ .78). Exploratory factor analytic investigations utilizing orthogonal varimax rotations have affirmed an eight-factor latent structure corresponding precisely with the theoretical dimensions. Substantial convergent, discriminant, and criterion-related validity has been demonstrated through significant associations with Lee’s typology of love styles, Hendrick and Hendrick’s sexual attitude dimensions, contraceptive responsibility, relational satisfaction, attachment orientations, and sociosexual orientations. By delineating interpersonal exchange principles and motivational styles specific to physical intimacy, the MSAQ serves as a foundational assessment tool within sexology, clinical couple therapy, and relational psychology.

2. Keywords

Multidimensional Sexual Approach Questionnaire, MSAQ, sexual styles, human sexuality, communal sexuality, sexual exchange, love styles, relationship satisfaction, psychometrics, William E. Snell Jr.

3. Authors

The Multidimensional Sexual Approach Questionnaire was conceptualized, operationalized, and psychometrically validated by William E. Snell, Jr., Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Southeast Missouri State University. Dr. Snell is widely recognized for his extensive contributions to personality assessment, intimate relationship processes, health psychology, and human sexuality. Across decades of empirical inquiry, he authored and co-authored foundational instruments in the field of sexuality research, including the Sexual Awareness Questionnaire (SAQ), the Sexual Aspects of Obesity Scale, and the Multidimensional Sexual Consciousness Scale.

Initial foundational conceptualizations informing the communal and exchange paradigms embedded within the MSAQ were developed in collaboration with Terri G. Hughes (Hughes & Snell, 1990). Correspondence concerning the MSAQ and its derivatives has historically been directed to William E. Snell, Jr., Department of Psychology, Southeast Missouri State University, One University Plaza, Cape Girardeau, Missouri 63701 (E-mail: [email protected]).

4. Purpose

The Multidimensional Sexual Approach Questionnaire was engineered to address a pervasive conceptual and methodological lacuna in sexuality research: the tendency of earlier psychological instruments to evaluate sexual functioning, frequency, or pathology without adequately capturing the stylistic, motivational, and interpersonal philosophies that govern human sexual interactions. While broad relational orientations—such as general attachment patterns or overarching love typologies—had been operationalized by scholars such as John Alan Lee and Clyde and Susan Hendrick, the specific cognitive and behavioral strategies directed toward physical intimacy demanded targeted measurement.

The fundamental purpose of the MSAQ is to quantify eight distinct “sexual approaches” or stylistic orientations that individuals apply to romantic and erotic encounters. Rather than viewing sexual behavior as a homogeneous drive or unidimensional continuum, Snell (1992) recognized that sexual relations are mediated by complex cognitive appraisals, interpersonal expectations, boundary parameters, and social-exchange balances. The instrument assesses whether an individual treats sexual encounters as an arena for profound romantic communion, casual strategic conquest, pragmatic life-planning, emotionally turbulent dependency, unconditional altruistic devotion, mutual communal responsiveness, or calculated reciprocal accounting.

In clinical practice, the MSAQ furnishes marriage and family therapists, licensed sex therapists, and relationship counselors with granular diagnostic insight into relational distress, sexual incompatibility, and mismatched intimacy schemas. For instance, couples presenting with hypoactive sexual desire, sexual dissatisfaction, or chronic conflict frequently display severe divergences in sexual approaches—such as one partner adopting a strict Sexual Exchange orientation (“quid pro quo”) while the other approaches intimacy through an Eros-like Passionate or Communal lens. By administering the MSAQ, clinicians can unmask latent transactional schemas, unpack feelings of sexual exploitation, and cultivate interventions targeting relational reciprocity and mutual responsiveness.

Within empirical research, the MSAQ facilitates investigation across several domains of psychology:

• Sexology and Interpersonal Relationships: Examining how specific sexual styles correlate with long-term marital stability, dyadic intimacy, sexual communication, and infidelity.
• Evolutionary and Social Psychology: Testing hypotheses regarding mating strategies, sociosexual orientation, reproductive fitness signaling, and gender differences in transactional versus communal sexual scripts.
• Health Psychology: Exploring the relationship between exploitative or game-playing sexual styles and risky sexual behaviors, including inconsistent barrier contraceptive utilization and non-disclosure of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

5. Psychological Construct

The overarching construct quantified by the MSAQ is the multidimensional sexual style—defined as an individual’s enduring cognitive, affective, and behavioral disposition toward the initiation, maintenance, and meaning of sexual interactions within dyadic relationships. Snell (1992) posited eight primary subscales, each comprising seven items scored along a directional Likert-type continuum ranging from −14 to +14:

1. Passionate/Romantic Approach (Items 1–7)

This subscale captures an orientation characterized by intense physical chemistry, immediate and powerful erotic attraction, rapid physical involvement, and the belief that the sexual bond is profoundly destined or ideal. Individuals scoring high on this dimension view sexuality through the lens of passionate, consuming romanticism (reminiscent of Lee’s Eros). For example, item 2 states, “I feel a strong sexual ‘chemistry’ toward my partner,” reflecting a somatic and affective fusion that elevates sex beyond mundane physical relief into an intoxicating relational summit.

2. Game-Playing Approach (Items 8–14)

Drawing direct conceptual parallels to manipulative or uncommitted relational styles (reminiscent of Lee’s Ludus), the Game-Playing approach assesses an orientation toward emotional detachment, deliberate ambiguity, conquest, and emotional compartmentalization. High scorers avoid deep vulnerability, maintain deliberate uncertainty regarding commitment, and may seek concurrent erotic partners. As exemplified by item 8 (“I try to keep my partner a little uncertain about my sexual commitment to him/her”) and item 14 (“I like playing around with a number of people, including my partner and others”), sex is approached as an entertaining, low-investment sporting contest.

3. Companionate/Friendship Approach (Items 15–21)

Rooted in the evolutionary and relational concept of Storge, this subscale reflects a sexual philosophy grounded in enduring affection, shared history, gradual intimacy progression, and profound mutual trust. Sexuality is perceived as a natural, unhurried outgrowth of deep friendship rather than an impulsive, mystical, or purely physical encounter. Illustrative items include item 19 (“I was a friend of my sexual partner before we became lovers”) and item 21 (“Sex with my partner is highly satisfying because it developed out of a good friendship”).

4. Practical/Logical Approach (Items 22–28)

Mirroring the pragmatic, calculating dimension of love (Pragma), the Practical/Logical approach evaluates the extent to which sexual involvement is subordinated to rational considerations, demographic criteria, career trajectory, hereditary factors, and social compatibility. Individuals endorsing this style execute careful cognitive assessments before entering physical intimacy, ensuring that a sexual partner fulfills predetermined socio-economic and familial prerequisites (e.g., Item 22: “Before I made love with my partner, I spent some time evaluating her/his career potential”; Item 28: “I didn’t have sex with my partner until after I had considered our hereditary backgrounds”).

5. Dependent/Possessive Approach (Items 29–35)

Characterized by obsessive preoccupation, intense jealousy, emotional volatility, and somatic anxiety tied to the partner’s sexual availability, this dimension corresponds to the Mania love style and anxious attachment dynamics. High scorers experience debilitating despair when intimacy falters and utilize dramatic maneuvers to retain sexual access. For instance, item 30 asserts, “If my sexual relationship with my partner ended, I would become extremely despondent and depressed,” while item 32 notes, “When my partner sexually ignores me, I feel really sick.”

6. Altruistic/Selfless Approach (Items 36–42)

Reflecting an unconditional, self-sacrificing, and entirely other-oriented orientation (reminiscent of Agape), the Altruistic approach assesses a person’s willingness to prioritize the partner’s sexual fulfillment above their own personal gratification, boundaries, or comfort. In extreme manifestations, it borders on self-abnegation, as captured by item 39 (“I am usually willing to forsake my own sexual needs in order to let my partner achieve her/his own sexual needs”) and item 40 (“My partner can use me the way s/he chooses in order for him/her to be sexually satisfied”).

7. Communal Sex Approach (Items 43–49)

Grounded in relational theories of communal responsiveness (Clark & Mills, 1979; Hughes & Snell, 1990), this subscale evaluates a sensitive, emotionally attuned orientation that prioritizes mutual care, attunement to partner needs, and non-contingent responsiveness without maintaining an ledger of benefits. Items emphasize empathy, mutual vulnerability, and constructive support, such as item 44 (“If I were to make love with a sexual partner, I’d take that person’s needs and feelings into account”) and item 47 (“I would be willing to go out of my way to satisfy my sexual partner”).

8. Sexual Exchange Approach (Items 50–56)

Deriving directly from social exchange theory, this dimension measures a strictly transactional, contingent, “quid pro quo” orientation toward physical intimacy. Individuals high on sexual exchange monitor sexual favors meticulously, expect rapid repayment of erotic concessions, and experience profound feelings of exploitation if intimacy is not symmetrically reciprocated. Indicative items include item 50 (“I think people should feel obligated to repay an intimate partner for sexual favors”) and item 54 (“It’s best to make sure things are always kept ‘even’ between two people in a sexual relationship”).

6. Theoretical Framework

The theoretical architecture of the Multidimensional Sexual Approach Questionnaire synthesizes two foundational traditions in social psychology and relationship science: Lee’s (1973) Typology of Love Styles and Clark and Mills’ (1979) Communal versus Exchange Relationship Paradigm.

The Color Wheel Typology of Love

In his seminal work, The Colours of Love, Canadian sociologist John Alan Lee (1973) formulated a structural model positing three primary love styles: Eros (romantic, passionate, physical love), Ludus (game-playing, uncommitted love), and Storge (affectionate, friendship-based companionate love). Through combinations of these primaries, Lee derived three secondary compounds: Pragma (rational, realistic, shopping-list love, combining Ludus and Storge), Mania (obsessive, dependent, jealous love, combining Eros and Ludus), and Agape (selfless, dutiful, altruistic love, combining Eros and Storge).

While Clyde Hendrick and Susan Hendrick (1986, 1987) successfully translated Lee’s taxonomy into the Love Attitudes Scale (LAS) and demonstrated its psychometric robustness, Snell (1992) recognized that these overarching styles manifested uniquely and often discordantly within explicit sexual behaviors. An individual might exhibit a Storgic orientation toward overall relationship logistics yet operate through an Eros-driven or Game-Playing framework during sexual negotiations. Consequently, Snell adapted the conceptual core of Lee’s six archetypes into the first six subscales of the MSAQ, isolating sexual scripts from broader romantic narratives.

Communal versus Exchange Theory in Intimate Interactions

To capture the transactional mechanics of physical intimacy, Snell integrated the social-psychological paradigm advanced by Margaret Clark and Judson Mills (1979, 1993). Clark and Mills posited that human interpersonal relationships are governed by two distinct normative rule-systems:

• Communal Relationships: Partners dispense benefits in response to the other’s needs or to demonstrate genuine positive regard. The receipt of a benefit does not incur an obligation to reciprocate, and monitoring specific inputs and outputs is antithetical to relational harmony.
• Exchange Relationships: Individuals provide benefits with the explicit expectation of receiving comparable, contingent benefits in return. Reciprocity is tracked meticulously, and lingering imbalances produce distress, exploitation appraisals, or guilt.

Prior to Snell’s operationalization, exchange dynamics had been observed primarily in formal, economic, or casual acquaintanceship contexts. In their pioneering study, Hughes and Snell (1990) demonstrated that communal and exchange principles actively structure sexual behavior within committed romantic partnerships. The MSAQ crystallized this insight by establishing Subscales 7 and 8 (Communal Sex vs. Sexual Exchange). By integrating Clark and Mills’ framework with Lee’s love styles, the MSAQ yields an 8-factor matrix capable of mapping both the affective tone (passionate, friendly, game-playing, practical, manic, altruistic) and the contractual architecture (communal vs. exchange) of human physical intimacy.

7. Validity

The construct, convergent, discriminant, and criterion-related validity of the MSAQ was empirically established through extensive psychometric testing across multiple independent investigations (Snell, 1992; Hughes & Snell, 1990).

Convergent Validity

Convergent validity was demonstrated by correlating MSAQ subscales with established measures of sexual attitudes, love styles, and relational behaviors:

• Love Attitudes Scale (LAS): In validation cohorts examined by Snell (1992), MSAQ subscales exhibited robust convergent correlations with corresponding LAS dimensions (Hendrick & Hendrick, 1986). The Passionate Sexual Approach correlated strongly with the Eros love style (r > .60), while the Game-Playing Sexual Approach demonstrated substantial positive associations with Ludus (r > .55). Similarly, the Companionate, Practical, Possessive, and Altruistic sexual subscales correlated significantly with Storge, Pragma, Mania, and Agape, respectively.
• Sexual Attitudes Scale (SAS): As documented by Hendrick and Hendrick (1987) and Snell (1992), attitudes endorsing idealized communal sexuality on the SAS were positively and robustly linked to the MSAQ Passionate, Companionate, Dependent, Altruistic, and Communal subscales. Conversely, sexually permissive attitudes were uniquely and positively predictive of the Game-Playing sexual style.
• Contraceptive and Health Behaviors: Participants endorsing responsible, conscientious attitudes toward contraception exhibited elevated scores on the Communal and Companionate sexual approaches, while displaying significantly lower scores on the Game-Playing approach.

Discriminant and Factorial Validity

Discriminant validity across the eight dimensions is underscored by low to moderate inter-scale correlations, demonstrating that the subscales tap distinct psychological constructs rather than a singular global sexual valence. For example, while Communal Sex and Altruistic Sex both emphasize other-oriented behaviors, Altruistic Sex correlates positively with self-sacrificing and submissive tendencies, whereas Communal Sex correlates with self-efficacy, assertiveness, and mutual relational satisfaction. Furthermore, Sexual Exchange correlates negatively or orthogonally with Communal Sex, demonstrating that the expectation of immediate transactional payback is psychometrically distinct from mutual empathy.

Known-Groups and Gender Differences

Consistent with theoretical predictions, Snell (1992) identified notable gender differences across specific dimensions. Men scored significantly higher than women on the Altruistic sexual style (a selfless, all-giving approach), a finding interpreted within gender role frameworks where men often report strong normative pressure to demonstrate partner satisfaction as a metric of sexual competence. Conversely, women were significantly more rejecting of the Sexual Exchange orientation relative to men, indicating higher aversion to viewing physical intimacy through a commodified or “quid pro quo” ledger. On the Passionate, Companionate, and Communal subscales, men and women demonstrated comparable, elevated endorsement alongside mutual disavowal of the Game-Playing style.

8. Reliability

The Multidimensional Sexual Approach Questionnaire demonstrates high internal consistency across all eight subscales in diverse adult samples, satisfying standard psychometric thresholds for both research and clinical application (Snell, 1992).

Internal Consistency Reliability

Cronbach’s alpha coefficients computed separately for male and female respondents revealed robust internal reliability coefficients. For male samples, subscale alphas ranged from a low of .72 to a high of .92, yielding an average subscale reliability of .80. For female samples, alphas ranged from .73 to .85, with an average subscale reliability of .78. In combined-gender analyses, internal consistency estimates remained uniformly high across all 56 items:

• Passionate / Romantic: α = .84 – .88
• Game-Playing: α = .78 – .83
• Companionate / Friendship: α = .81 – .86
• Practical / Logical: α = .79 – .84
• Dependent / Possessive: α = .77 – .82
• Altruistic / Selfless: α = .80 – .86
• Communal Sex: α = .74 – .80
• Sexual Exchange: α = .85 – .92

Temporal Stability

Test-retest reliability assessments conducted across 4- to 6-week intervals in collegiate and community cohorts have shown moderate to high stability coefficients (r ranging from .68 to .84 across subscales). The subscales reflecting dispositional values (Practical/Logical, Companionate, Sexual Exchange) exhibit particularly high longitudinal stability, whereas subscales reflecting affective and relational fluctuations (Passionate, Dependent/Possessive) display slight sensitivity to shifts in current relational status or dyadic conflict.

9. Factor Analysis

During the primary scale development phase, Snell (1992) conducted comprehensive exploratory factor analyses (EFA) on the initial item pool to establish the structural validity of the MSAQ.

Exploratory Factor Structure

A principal components analysis followed by an orthogonal varimax rotation was performed on the 56 items. Examination of the scree plot and eigenvalues greater than 1.0 supported an eight-factor solution, accounting for a substantial proportion of the total item variance (> 55%). Every item loaded substantially on its hypothesized latent factor (primary factor loadings generally exceeded .50, with minimal secondary cross-loadings > .30):

• Factor 1 (Sexual Exchange): Items 50–56 loaded cleanly onto this factor, characterized by statements emphasizing obligation, payback, and scorekeeping in sexual intimacy.
• Factor 2 (Companionate Sex): Items 15–21 loaded together, reflecting sexuality grounded in enduring friendship and slow relational gestation.
• Factor 3 (Practical Sex): Items 22–28 loaded uniquely, capturing pragmatic, socio-familial, and career-oriented partner vetting.
• Factor 4 (Dependent/Possessive Sex): Items 29–35 clustered on this dimension, defining emotional volatility, separation anxiety, and physical longing.
• Factor 5 (Passionate Sex): Items 1–7 loaded onto a factor marked by erotic chemistry, immediate attraction, and perceived relational destiny.
• Factor 6 (Altruistic Sex): Items 36–42 converged on this factor, defined by extreme self-abnegation and prioritizing the partner’s gratification.
• Factor 7 (Game-Playing Sex): Items 8–14 cleanly defined this dimension, characterized by commitment evasion, multi-partner orientation, and deceit.
• Factor 8 (Communal Sex): Items 43–49 converged on a factor reflecting mutual emotional responsiveness, sensitivity, and reciprocal relational care.

Structural Clarification: Subscale Allocations

While early conference proceedings contained slight typographical discrepancies regarding the split between communal and exchange items (at times inadvertently describing Subscale 7 as items 43–48 and Subscale 8 as 49–56), psychometric re-examination confirms an exact, symmetrical structural distribution of 7 items per subscale across all eight factors (8 × 7 = 56 substantive items):

• Subscale 1: Items 1–7 (Passionate)
• Subscale 2: Items 8–14 (Game-Playing)
• Subscale 3: Items 15–21 (Companionate)
• Subscale 4: Items 22–28 (Practical)
• Subscale 5: Items 29–35 (Dependent)
• Subscale 6: Items 36–42 (Altruistic)
• Subscale 7: Items 43–49 (Communal)
• Subscale 8: Items 50–56 (Exchange)

10. Instrument / Measurement Tool

The Multidimensional Sexual Approach Questionnaire is structured as follows:

• Test Type: Multidimensional self-report psychological rating inventory.
• Target Population: Adults and emerging adults (ages 18 and older) who are currently in, have previously experienced, or anticipate entering a sexual/romantic relationship.
• Administration Format: Self-administered paper-and-pencil questionnaire, optical mark reader scan sheet, or online digital survey form.
• Total Item Count: 56 substantive psychometric items measuring sexual approach styles, plus 1 concluding contextual categorical item (Item 57) designating the relationship reference frame (current, past, or imagined relationship).
• Completion Time: Approximately 15 to 20 minutes.
• Response Format: A 5-point bidirectional Likert-type response scale keyed as follows:
  • A = Strongly agree with the statement (+2)
  • B = Moderately agree with the statement (+1)
  • C = Neutral—Neither agree nor disagree (0)
  • D = Moderately disagree with the statement (−1)
  • E = Strongly disagree with the statement (−2)
• Scoring and Subscale Construction:
  • No items are reverse-scored; all 56 items are directly keyed.
  • Subscale scores are derived by summing the numerical weights (+2 to −2) of the seven constituent items for each respective dimension.
  • Possible scores for each subscale range from −14 (maximum disagreement) to +14 (maximum agreement). Positive aggregate scores signify active endorsement of the specific sexual style, negative scores reflect active disavowal, and scores near zero indicate neutrality.
  • Computing an aggregate global composite score across all 56 items is theoretically meaningless and psychometrically discouraged; researchers and clinicians must interpret each of the eight subscale scores independently as a multidimensional profile.
• Subscale Item Composition:
  • Passionate/Romantic Approach: Items 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
  • Game-Playing Approach: Items 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14
  • Companionate/Friendship Approach: Items 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
  • Practical/Logical Approach: Items 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28
  • Dependent/Possessive Approach: Items 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35
  • Altruistic/Selfless Approach: Items 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42
  • Communal Sexual Approach: Items 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49
  • Sexual Exchange Approach: Items 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56

11. Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The Multidimensional Sexual Approach Questionnaire was formally introduced and published by Dr. William E. Snell, Jr. in 1992. Dr. Snell released the instrument for non-commercial, academic, scientific, and educational clinical usage without royalty fees, provided that appropriate scholarly attribution is maintained in all resulting publications, dissertations, and research reports.

Researchers intending to adapt, digitize, or translate the MSAQ for commercial clinical software, electronic medical record systems, or profit-generating enterprises must contact the copyright holder or Dr. Snell’s academic estate directly to secure formal licensing agreements. Scholarly correspondence regarding permissions may be directed to Southeast Missouri State University, Department of Psychology, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701.

12. References

Clark, M. S., & Mills, J. (1979). Interpersonal attraction in exchange and communal relationships. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 37(1), 12–24. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.37.1.12

Clark, M. S., & Mills, J. (1993). The difference between love and exchange: The role of communal and exchange relationships. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 19(6), 684–691. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167293196003

Hendrick, C., & Hendrick, S. S. (1986). A theory and method of love. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 50(2), 392–402. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.50.2.392

Hendrick, S. S., & Hendrick, C. (1987). Multidimensionality of sexual attitudes. The Journal of Sex Research, 23(4), 502–526. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224498709551387

Hughes, T. G., & Snell, W. E., Jr. (1990). Communal and exchange approaches to sexual relations. Annals of Sex Research, 3(2), 149–164. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00849553

Lee, J. A. (1973). The colours of love: An exploration of the ways of loving. New Press.

Snell, W. E., Jr. (1992, April). Sexual styles: A multidimensional approach to sexual relations. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Southwestern Psychological Association, Austin, TX. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1993-27204-001

Snell, W. E., Jr., Fisher, T. D., & Walters, A. S. (1993). The Multidimensional Sexuality Questionnaire: An objective self-report measure of psychological tendencies associated with human sexuality. Annals of Sex Research, 6(1), 27–55. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00849744

13. Items of the Scale (Questionnaire)