Mating Orientation Test (MSOI)

Psychologists Jenée James Jackson and Lee A. Kirkpatrick introduced the Mating Orientation Scales (MSOI) to address limitations in earlier measures of human sociosexuality. Traditional models often viewed casual encounters and committed partnership as two ends of a single continuum, implying that an interest in one automatically excluded an interest in the other. In contrast, the Jackson–Kirkpatrick multidimensional model of sociosexuality demonstrates that short-term and long-term mating orientations operate as distinct, separate motivational systems that can coexist within the same individual.

The Short-Term Mating orientation dimension captures an individual's comfort with and openness to brief, noncommitted sexual encounters, casual dating, and spontaneous connections. A higher score reflects a willingness to engage in sexual intimacy without requiring deep emotional attachment or long-term promises. In everyday life, people with strong short-term orientations may enjoy casual dating, feel comfortable with physical intimacy early in a relationship, and place less immediate emphasis on future commitment or marital exclusivity when meeting new partners.

The Long-Term Mating orientation dimension reflects an individual's desire for enduring romantic partnership, emotional security, and pair-bonding. People scoring high in this area place significant value on mutual loyalty, building a shared life, and finding a partner with whom they can settle down. In daily life, this orientation often translates into prioritizing emotional compatibility over immediate physical attraction, investing time into getting to know someone deeply, and actively seeking partners who share long-term relationship goals and life plans.

Because these two orientations are structurally distinct, people can express any combination of preferences across different life stages. Someone might score high on both scales, actively pursuing enduring love while remaining open to casual experiences along the way. Others may score high on long-term mating and low on short-term mating, seeking exclusivity from the outset, or vice versa. Still others may score low on both dimensions, reflecting a general disinterest in dating or romantic pursuits at their current stage of life.

Evolutionary and social psychology research reveals that mating orientations are shaped by a dynamic mix of personal values, social context, life history, and individual goals. Studies indicate that mating preferences are flexible rather than fixed, frequently shifting as individuals move through different environments, ages, and relationship milestones. Importantly, research demonstrates that neither orientation is inherently healthier, more moral, or more mature; both represent natural variations in human relationship strategies tailored to different circumstances and personal priorities.

Population comparison markers shown on your results chart are estimated benchmarks drawn from published research samples rather than clinically validated percentiles or normative standards. These markers are included solely to provide general context on how individual responses compare with broader empirical trends. Your personal scores describe self-reported attitudes and orientations at a specific point in time, not a permanent identity, moral evaluation, sexual orientation, or prediction of relationship success.

This assessment is designed exclusively for educational, self-reflective, and informational purposes. It does not provide psychological counseling, diagnostic conclusions, or relationship guidance. This online test is based on the published Mating Orientation Scales (MSOI) developed by Jackson and Kirkpatrick, but it is entirely independent and not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the original authors or their academic institutions.

References

• Jackson, J. J., & Kirkpatrick, L. A. (2007). The structure and measurement of human mating strategies: Toward a multidimensional model of sociosexuality. Evolution and Human Behavior, 28(6), 382–391.