Kinsey's research on human sexuality , foundational to the field of sexology , provoked controversy in the s and s, and has continued to provoke controversy decades after his death. His mother received little formal education; his father was a professor at Stevens Institute of Technology. Kinsey's parents were devout Christians. His father was known as one of the most devout members of the local Methodist church. Most of Kinsey's social interactions were with other members of the church, often as a silent observer, while his parents discussed religion.
Kinsey's parents were poor for most of his childhood, often unable to afford proper medical care. This may have led to a young Kinsey receiving inadequate treatment for a variety of diseases including rickets , rheumatic fever , and typhoid fever. His health records indicate that Kinsey received suboptimal exposure to sunlight often the cause of rickets, before milk and other foods were fortified with vitamin D and lived in unsanitary conditions for at least part of his childhood.
Rickets led to a curvature of the spine, which resulted in a slight stoop that prevented Kinsey from being drafted in for World War I. He worked and camped with the local YMCA throughout his early years, and enjoyed these activities to such an extent that he intended to work for the YMCA after completing his education.
Kinsey's senior undergraduate thesis for psychology, a dissertation on the group dynamics of young boys, echoed this interest. He joined the Boy Scouts when a troop was formed in his community. His parents strongly supported this and joined as well because the Boy Scouts was an organization that was based on the principles of Christianity.
Kinsey worked his way up through the Scouting ranks to earn Eagle Scout in , making him one of the earliest Eagle Scouts. In high school, Kinsey was a quiet but hard-working student. While attending Columbia High School , he devoted his energy to academic work and playing the piano. At one time, Kinsey had hoped to become a concert pianist, but decided to concentrate on his scientific pursuits instead.
