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Dr. Harry Benjamin's Sexual Orientation Scale

Fri, 01/12/2007 - 00:41 — Nancy

Dr Benjamin's Scale references Dr. Alfred Kinsey's sexual orientation scale. A summary of that scale is below. It should be noted that the relationship between gender identity (Benjamin's scale) and sexual orientation (Kinsey's scale) is probably a result of the researchers' biases. At one time you couldn't transition if you weren't completely "homosexual" because obviously a "real" female is completely heterosexual. Many transsexuals discovered this bias, so they lied in order to get surgery. Today it is fortunate that most gender clinics accept that sexual orientation and gender identity are distinct.

The Harry Benjamin Institute for Gender Identity Disorders has not updated their Standards Of Care to keep up with the Diagnostic Standards Manual (DSM-IV). It is generally necessary to have letters from a psychiatrist and a psychologist to obtain gender reassignment surgery (in the USA). At least one of these letters must contain an appropriate diagnostic code from that Manual.

Please note that this is Dr. Harry Benjamin's scale. I do not agree with some of the elements of his assessments. I also find it very strange that he can specifically say that psychotherapy is useless then turn around and require it under the Standards of Care.

It is my personal observation that it is not uncommon for someone to move up or down the scale (up being more common), depending on their circumstances. There is even a "joke" in the TG community: "What's the difference between a crossdresser and a transsexual? -- About five years."

 

Type One: Transvestite (Pseudo)
Gender Feeling:
Masculine
Dressing Habits and Social Life:
Lives as a man. Could get occasional kick out of dressing. Normal male life.
Sex Object Choice and Sex Life:
Hetero, bi, or homosexual. Dressing and — more — exchange may occur in masturbation fantasies mainly. May enjoy TV literature only.
Kinsey Scale:
0-6
Conversion Operation:
Not considered in reality.
Estrogen Medication:
Not interested or indicated.
Psychotherapy:
Not wanted and unnecessary.
Remarks:
Interests in dressing is only sporadic.

Type Two: Transvestism (Fetishistic)
Gender Feeling:
Masculine
Dressing Habits and Social Life:
Lives as a man. Dressing periodically or part of the time. Dresses underneath male clothes.
Sex Object Choice and Sex Life:
Heterosexual. Rarely bisexual. Masturbation with fetish. Guilt feelings. Purges and relapses.
Kinsey Scale:
0-2
Conversion Operation:
Rejected
Estrogen Medication:
Rarely interested. Occasionally useful to reduce libido.
Psychotherapy:
May be successful (in a favorable environment.)
Remarks:
May imitate double (masculine and feminine) personality with male and female names

Type Three: Transvestism (True)
Gender Feeling:
Masculine (but with less conviction.)
Dressing Habits and Social Life:
Dresses constantly or as often as possible. May live and be accepted as woman. May dress underneath male clothes, if no other chance.
Sex Object Choice and Sex Life:
Heterosexual, except when dressed. Dressing gives sexual satisfaction with relief of gender discomfort. May purge and relapse.
Kinsey Scale:
0-2
Conversion Operation:
Actually rejected, but idea can be attractive.
Estrogen Medication:
Attractive as an experiment. Can be helpful emotionally.
Psychotherapy:
If attempted is usually not successful as to cure.
Remarks:
May assume double personality. Trend toward transsexualism.

Type Four: Transsexual (Nonsurgical)
Gender Feeling:
Undecided. Wavering between TV and TS.
Dressing Habits and Social Life:
Dresses as often as possible with insufficient relief of his gender discomfort. May live as a man or woman; sometimes alternating.
Sex Object Choice and Sex Life:
Libido often low. Asexual or auto-erotic. Could be bisexual. Could also be married and have children.
Kinsey Scale:
1-4
Conversion Operation:
Attractive but not requested or attraction not admitted.
Estrogen Medication:
Needed for comfort and emotional balance.
Psychotherapy:
Only as guidance; otherwise refused or unsuccessful.
Remarks:
Social life dependent upon circumstances.

Type Five: True Transsexual (moderate intensity)
Gender Feeling:
Feminine (trapped in male body)
Dressing Habits and Social Life:
Lives and works as woman if possible. Insufficient relief from dressing.
Sex Object Choice and Sex Life:
Libido low. Asexual auto-erotic, or passive homosexual activity. May have been married and have children.
Kinsey Scale:
4-6
Conversion Operation:
Requested and usually indicated.
Estrogen Medication:
Needed as substitute for or preliminary to operation.
Psychotherapy:
Rejected. Useless as to cure. Permissive psychological guidance.
Remarks:
Operation hoped for and worked for. Often attained.

Type Six: True Transsexual (high intensity)
Gender Feeling:
Feminine. Total psycho-sexual inversion.
Dressing Habits and Social Life:
May live and work as a woman. Dressing gives insufficient relief. Gender discomfort intense.
Sex Object Choice and Sex Life:
Intensely desires relations with normal male as female if young. May have been married and have children, by using fantasies in intercourse.
Kinsey Scale:
6
Conversion Operation:
Urgently requested and usually attained. Indicated.
Estrogen Medication:
Required for partial relief.
Psychotherapy:
Psychological guidance or psychotherapy for symptomatic relief only.
Remarks:
Despises his male sex organs. Danger of suicide or self-mutilation, if too long frustrated.

Kinsey's sexual orientation scale

  1. Exclusively heterosexual with no homosexual experience
  2. Predominantly heterosexual, only incidently homosexual
  3. Predominantly heterosexual, but more than incidentally homosexual
  4. Equally heterosexual and homosexual
  5. Predominantly homosexual, but more than incidentally heterosexual
  6. Predominantly homosexual, but incidentally heterosexual
  7. Exclusively homosexual, with no heterosexual experience