A Guide to Aromanticism

Attractions

There are many types of attraction that people may or may not experience. However, people tend to only recognize sexual attraction and romantic attraction when in reality there are many more forms and ways to feel attraction.

Popular and Well-Known Types of Attraction:

-Sexual Attraction: an attraction to someone(s) where you desire sexual contact/sexual relationship and/or you may show sexual interest in another person(s).

-Romantic Attraction: this is an attraction where people desire romantic contact or a romantic relationship with another person(s).

-Aesthetic Attraction: this attraction is when someone appreciates and recognizes the beauty and/or appearance of another person(s), but it is disconnected from sexual and romantic attraction. (Yes, ace people, aro people, aroace people, and anyone else can feel this attraction).

-Sensual Attraction(Physical attraction): this attraction is when you have the desire to touch/make contact with others in a tactile and non-sexual way. This is often done in hugging, hand-holding, and even cuddling.

-Emotional Attraction: this attraction is when you have the desire to get to know someone(s). This is most commonly a result of the person(s) personality and not physicality or "looks". This is often present in any form of relationship whether that be romantic, sexual, or platonic.

-Intellectual Attraction(Mental Attraction and Psychological Attraction): this attraction is when you get the desire to engage with the person(s) in an intellectual manner and engage with them in conversation. This often results in "picking their brain". This type of attraction is more based on how a person thinks than the person themselves.

Less-Known Types of Attraction:

-Alterous Attraction: this is when you have the desire for a type of relationship with emotional-closeness that can't be accurately described using "platonic" or "romantic". Sometimes, the person or people involved in this attraction may have revulsion or discomfort with romance or romantic labels/terms.

-Platonic Attraction: this is when you have the desire to form a close platonic relationship with someone(s) (friendship) or to form a closer friendship with someone you already know/ are already friends with.

-Queerplatonic Attraction: This term is mostly used by a-spec people but may be used by anyone. It is used to define when someone has a desire to be in a queerplatonic relationship/queerplatonic partnership (QPR/QPP) with someone(s).

-Amical Attraction: This is when you desire a close relationship with someone that is a relationship like a best friend or maybe even a sibling-like relations ship (does not need to be a sibling).

-Cedural Attraction: this is the attraction when you want to be surrounded by someone(s) who understands you supports you, protects you, covers you, and tutors you. One experiencing this type of attraction way often feel weak and vulnerable.

-Familial Attraction: the desire for a strong familial attachment or closeness with another by virtue of them being family.

-Presential Attraction: This is the desire to get to know someone and close to someone but not through touch, just by their presence.

-Social Attraction: The desire to be close with someone and get to know of them because of their perceived talent and/or wisdom.

-Tutelary Attraction: This is the desire to protect, take care of, and support a certain person. This is the opposite/counter-part of Cedural attraction.

-Wechselnd Attraction: This is when someone's attraction ay fluctuates from Tutelary to Cedural based on the state of the subject (emotional, intellectual, etc.) and the individual they're attracted to.

-Tertiary Attraction: this is an umbrella term for attractions that aren't romantic, sexual, physical, or emotional. So examples of tertiary attraction are Platonic Attraction and Alterous Attraction.

Those are all the types of attractions that I know of. I hope that helps and makes sense. If you need help or have any questions, please feel free to reach out!

Make sure to come back for: Aromantic Lingo!

I love y'all! (No romo)