Founding

The individuals credited with forming SSSS—Albert Ellis, Hans Lehfeldt, Henry Guze, Robert Sherwin, Hugo Beigel, and Harry Benjamin—shared a commitment to building a credible, interdisciplinary home for sexuality research. Their vision quickly gained momentum, with supportive colleagues forming an inaugural group of 47 Charter Members, signaling both the demand for and the legitimacy of a dedicated professional society in this field.

Inspired in part by the groundbreaking work of researchers such as Alfred Kinsey and his contemporaries, the founders of SSSS envisioned a space where rigorous research could flourish and where scholars from diverse disciplines could collaborate, challenge assumptions, and build a robust evidence base for understanding human sexuality.

Community

From its earliest days, SSSS has been intentionally interdisciplinary. Our membership reflects the breadth and complexity of sexuality as a subject of study, bringing together anthropologists, biologists, educators, historians, nurses, physicians, psychologists, sociologists, theologians, therapists, criminologists, and many other professionals. This diversity of perspectives is not incidental; it is essential to advancing nuanced, comprehensive, and impactful scholarship.

Over the decades, SSSS has evolved alongside the discipline it helped shape. Through its flagship publication, The Journal of Sex Research, and its conferences, webinars, and member initiatives, the Society has supported generations of scholars and practitioners in producing and disseminating high-quality research. Just as importantly, it has fostered a global community grounded in intellectual curiosity, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to scientific integrity.

Our Shared Future

Today, SSSS stands at the intersection of tradition and transformation. As conversations about sexuality become increasingly visible and increasingly complex the need for credible, inclusive, and accessible science has never been greater. The Society continues to expand its reach, embracing emerging topics, new methodologies, and diverse perspectives that reflect the full spectrum of human experience.

Our story is not only about where we have been, but about where we are going. SSSS remains dedicated to cultivating a dynamic and inclusive community, supporting the next generation of sexuality scholars, and ensuring that science continues to inform public understanding, policy, and practice.

Together, we are shaping the future of sexuality science.