From the very beginning, the DGSS has emphasized the importance of the social, behavioral, and cultural sciences for an adequate understanding of the human sexualities in their many forms, facets, and variations. In addition to traditional sexological fields like biology, physiology, and medicine, the DGSS focus has centered on the social sciences, psychology, and ethnology, embracing also educational, legal, and historical aspects.

In 1978, the DGSS added a pioneering counseling institute ("  DGSS-Institut") to its scientific and research activities. Since then, more than 31,000 clients received sexual counseling or therapy. Gay, lesbian and bisexual people form the largest group. AIDS counseling and HIV antibody testing has been provided since 1983.

Under difficult circumstances, with habitually low financial resources and extremely modest outside support, the DGSS has nevertheless managed to hold increasingly successful national and international sexological congresses, establishing a close cooperation with most German and many foreign sexological societies. An impressive number of scientific publications, including many books and a book series (Schriftenreihe Sozialwissenschaftliche Sexualforschung, Berlin/New York: W. de Gruyter, since 1986; Münster/Hamburg/ London: LIT Verlag, since 2003) give a fairly adequate impression of sexological research by the DGSS and its members.

Once the Berlin wall had fallen, the DGSS was able to move its congresses to the original birthplace of sexology, and to resume the tradition of the Berlin sexological conferences started in 1921 by Magnus Hirschfeld.