Social scientists have traditionally spoken about sex personality in terms of dominance (taking the lead in the sexual dance) and submissiveness (following the lead in the sexual dance).

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The epitome of this dichotomy is perhaps the sadomasochism lifestyle, in which one person receives sexual satisfaction by dominating another, who in turn receives sexual pleasure from willingly succumbing to the dominant.

New research indicates that there is much more to our sexuality than can be expressed by simple labels of dominance and submissiveness.

TRUE's Sexploration test reflects this more complex understanding of sexuality.

We already noted that Sexploration test-takers are categorized as either low- or high-scorers across the three factors of general sexual attitudes, what a person likes to do, and what a person likes a partner to do.

In different combinations, these yield eight different sex types, each characterized by a distinctive, identifiable pattern of preferences.

There is some overlap in traits across the eight categories, but each sex type is also distinct in crucial ways.

It's important to understand that none of the eight types is better than any other.

• The Traditionalist. Don't let the name fool you! Traditionalists are full of heat that so far they've released in pretty standard ways. When it comes to sex, they're comfortable doing it, comfortable talking about it and good at listening to what their partner wants. Traditionalists do well with every sex type with a little work, but naturally partner best with other Traditionalists, Cuddlers and Stimulators.
  
  
• The Cuddler. Cuddlers like physical intimacy, but they are a little shy about starting sex. Cuddlers are most compatible sexually with Traditionalists, Initiators and Surprisers, although Introverts can work well with every other sex type.
  
  
• The Surpriser. Surprisers seem reserved and conservative, but inside, they're wildcats. They tend to be sexually dominant and prefer their partner to show a mutual interest. Surprisers can do well with every sex type with a little work, but they naturally partner best with other Surprisers, Pleasers and Mavericks.
  
  
• The Fantasizer. Fantasizers love to talk and dream about sex, but when they get behind closed doors, just watch them put those dreams into action. Fantasizers get busy best with other Fantasizers, but they generate some serious heat with Mavericks and Initiators.
  
  
• The Stimulator. Stimulators are comfortable talking, thinking and analyzing the idea of sex, but they generally don't move into the provocative side in practice. Stimulators find their best partner in other Stimulators, but they also work well with Traditionalists and Pleasers. Stimulators can also have steamy passion with the other five sex types, if they work at it.
  
  
• The Pleaser. Pleasers are submissive, but with an attitude: They know what it takes to get the job done, but they want their partner to do the heavy lifting. Pleasers are curious and willing to explore, and once things get going they'll work just as hard to make sure their partner is satisfied. Subservients are most compatible with Initiators, Surprisers and Mavericks.
  
  
• The Initiator. Initiators like to lead, rather than follow. They're up-front about telling their partner what they need, how to do it and for how long. Initiators push themselves to find new ways to take a walk on the wild side. Initiators find their best partner in Pleasers, but they also work well with Cuddlers and Fantasizers.
  
  
• The Maverick. Mavericks are provocative, adventurous and uninhibited. They're the Indiana Jones of the bedroom — or anyplace else they decide to have sex. If they hear about it, they'll probably try it. Mavericks like their partners to be mutually aggressive and experimental. Mavericks are most compatible with other Mavericks, Fantasizers and Pleasers.

While one sex type is not better than another, it is also true that the eight types are not equally distributed on the continuum of sexuality. Mathematically, there are four general comfort levels. The eight sex types break out like this in terms of how sexually liberal the sex type tends to be:

Least Liberal: Traditionalist
Somewhat Liberal: Surpriser, Cuddler, Stimulator (no special order)
Pretty Liberal: Fantasizer, Pleaser, Initiator (no special order)
Most Liberal: Maverick

Additionally, the eight types were not distributed evenly within our original research sample. As might be expected, most people in our validation sample fell within the Traditionalist category. However, sexual Mavericks also constituted a comparatively high percentage of our sample.

The full breakdown came out to be:

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