Description

The Revised Mosher Guilt Inventory (RMGI) is a psychometric instrument designed to assess feelings of guilt associated with sexuality, sexual attitudes, and sexual behavior. It focuses on the extent to which personal beliefs, social influences, cultural expectations, and moral standards shape feelings of guilt in relation to sexual thoughts and behaviors.

The instrument examines how individuals evaluate their own sexuality and the degree to which sexual thoughts, desires, or behaviors may be accompanied by internal conflict, discomfort, or negative self-evaluation.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the RMGI is to measure the level of guilt associated with sexual attitudes and behavior.

More specifically, the instrument may be used to:

  • assess the degree of sexual guilt,
  • examine the influence of social and cultural values,
  • investigate relationships between guilt, sexual attitudes, and behavior,
  • and support research or therapeutic approaches related to sexual well-being.

The scale may also contribute to a better understanding of how guilt is associated with mental health, sexual adjustment, and patterns of sexual expression.

Main Areas of Assessment

The RMGI may examine areas such as:

  • Personal Beliefs about Sexuality: the degree to which sexual thoughts or behaviors are perceived as acceptable or problematic.
  • Internalization of Social and Moral Norms: the extent to which social, cultural, or moral expectations influence self-evaluation.
  • Emotional Distress: feelings of guilt, shame, or internal conflict associated with sexuality.
  • Sexual Attitudes and Inhibition: the way guilt may influence attitudes toward sexual expression and sexual behavior.

Together, these areas may provide a broader understanding of the relationship between guilt, social values, and sexuality.

Scoring

According to the provided material, participants respond to a series of statements using a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from:

1 = Never
to
5 = Always

Responses are combined to provide an overall estimate of the level of guilt experienced in relation to sexuality.

In general, higher scores are expected to indicate greater sexual guilt, whereas lower scores indicate lower levels of such feelings.

The exact scoring procedure, number of items, and any reverse-scored items should follow the instructions of the specific version of the instrument being used.

Data Analysis and Use

RMGI results may be analyzed using descriptive statistics to summarize levels of sexual guilt within a study sample.

Researchers may also examine:

  • correlations with sexual attitudes and behaviors,
  • associations with psychological variables such as self-esteem and psychological well-being,
  • differences between demographic or social groups,
  • and the possible influence of cultural or religious factors.

The scale may also help researchers explore how sexual guilt is associated with inhibition of sexual expression or with different patterns of sexual behavior.

Psychometric Evaluation

When the RMGI is used, the reliability and validity of the specific version and population should be examined.

Internal consistency may be assessed using appropriate reliability coefficients, while structural validity may be investigated through factor-analytic methods. Convergent and discriminant validity may also be examined in relation to other measures of sexual attitudes, emotional distress, or psychological adjustment.

Particular attention should be given to cultural validity, because beliefs about sexuality, morality, and guilt may vary considerably across different social and cultural contexts.

Applications

The RMGI may be used in the psychology of sexuality, social psychology, clinical research, and studies of sexual attitudes.

It may contribute to:

  • examining the relationship between guilt and sexual behavior,
  • studying social and cultural influences on sexuality,
  • understanding inhibitory attitudes toward sexual expression,
  • and supporting broader psychological assessment.

The score should not be used as a stand-alone diagnostic criterion. Sexual guilt should be interpreted within the individual’s broader personal, social, cultural, and value-based context.

References

Mosher, D. L. (1968). Measurement of guilt in females by self-reports and behavioral responses. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 32(6), 690–695.

Janda, L. H., & Bazemore, S. D. (2011). The Revised Mosher Sex-Guilt Scale: Its validity as a projective test. Journal of Personality Assessment, 93(6), 580–586.

Mosher, D. L., & Cross, H. J. (1971). Sex guilt and inhibition of erotic arousal. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 36(1), 7–15.

Fisher, W. A. (1998). The Sexual Opinion Survey: An objective instrument for measuring sexual conservatism-liberalism. Journal of Sex Research, 34(4), 343–351.

Byers, E. S., & O’Sullivan, L. F. (1998). Examination of sexual guilt as a moderator of the relationship between sexual attitudes and sexual behavior. Journal of Sex Research, 35(3), 278–282.