The Consent to Sex (CSS) Scale is a 44-item measure to capture college students’ cues
for indicating consent to sex. The scale measures the following 5 types of cues: Nonverbal Signals of Interest, Passive Behaviors, Verbal Cues, Initiator Behaviors, and Removal Behaviors.
Categories
Geographies Tested: United States of America
Populations Included: Female, Male
Age Range: Adults
Items:
There would be physical contact between myself and my partner
I would move closer to my partner
I would appear interested in sexual activity with my partner
I would engage in foreplay with my partner
I would kiss my partner
I would let my partner know through my actions to show comfort with the behavior
I would use body language or signals
I would fool around with my partner
I would flirt
I would touch my partner’s body such as their legs andor arms
I would actively participate in sexual activity
I would smile
I would use nonverbal cues or gestures
I would let my partner start sexual behavior and not tell himher to stop
I would not resist my partner’s attempts for sexual activity
I would let my partner have sex with me
I would not stop my partner’s advances
I would let the sexual activity progress to the point of intercourse
I would not push my partner away
I would continue with sexual activity
I would let my partner go as far as heshe wanted
I would not say no
I would let my partner touch wherever heshe wanted on my body
I would initiate sexual behavior
I would make a move
I would unzip my pants
I would move my partner’s hands to my pants or lower body
I would initiate sexual behavior and see if it is reciprocated
I would make a move and check my partner’s reaction
I would just keep moving forward in sexual behaviors or actions unless my partner stopped me
I would talk about it with my partner
I would give permission to engage in sexual intercourse
I would tell my partner what types of sexual behavior I want to engage
I would suggest having sex to my partner
I would verbally communicate my interest in sexual behavior
I would tell my partner I am interested in engaging in sexual intercourse
I would ask my partner if heshe has a condom
I would ask my partner if heshe wants me to get a condom
I would ask my partner if they are interested in engaging in sexual intercourse
I would say it is okay to engage in sexual activity
I would take my partner somewhere private
I would take my partner on a date
I would shut or close the door
I would ask my partner if heshe wants to go back to my place
Response Options
4-point Likert Scale
Scoring Procedures
Means are calculated.
Original Citation
Jozkowski, K. N., & Peterson, Z. D. (2014). Assessing the validity and reliability of the perceptions of the Consent To Sex Scale. Journal of Sex Research, 51(6), 632-645. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2012.757282