Psychology Facts

▲ Asexual ▲

》Asexuality (ace for short) refers to the absence of sexual attraction to others,

》Some asexual people may have romantic feelings, or be attracted to other people for nonsexual reasons, and may form intimate partnerships (emotional connection through deep conversations, for example) that simply do not have sex as a culmination of their feelings (just as some sexual people do not develop romantic feelings for their sexual partners).

Others, while not enjoying or desiring sexual activity, may have some types of intimate partner contact.

Because it's not black and white and can shift over time, asexuality is recognized by researchers as an orientation that's often misunderstood—despite being classified in the DSM-5 as a disorder.

While being asexual in and of itself is not a disorder when it causes someone distress, mental health experts view it in the context of a disorder.

In a study many asexuals were sexually active during puberty or at some other time period but at the time they identify as asexual they do not experience sexual attraction.

Some estimates put the prevalence of asexuality at only about 1 in 100, notes Liz Afton, LMSW, psychotherapist at The Gender & Sexuality Therapy Center

Other common identities which fall into the asexual or aromantic spectrum include:

Aromantic

Aromantic is a romantic orientation, which is different from a sexual orientation. Although the two are interwined for most people, they are different.

Aromantic people experience little or no romantic attraction. They prefer close friendships and other nonromantic relationships.

Many aromantic people will form queer platonic partnerships, or QPPs. QPPs are platonic yet have the same level of commitment as romantic relationships.

Some people in QPPs choose to live together or have children together.

Demisexual

People who are demisexual experience sexual or romantic attraction, but only after they have formed a close, emotional connection with someone.

Graysexual or grayromantic

Graysexual or grayromantic people identify somewhere between sexual and asexual.

This can include but is not limited to:

people who only experience romantic attraction sometimes

people who only experience sexual attraction sometimes

people who experience sexual attraction but have a very low sex drive

people who desire and enjoy sexual or romantic relationships but only in very specific circumstances

Some do however, want to form a long-term bond with a partner and may even desire to have children.

Bogaert (2004, 2006) identified some of the characteristics of asexuals as follows:

1. More women than men

2. Slightly older than sexuals

3. Low self-esteem

4. Low socioeconomic status

5. Weighed less

6. Poorer health

7. More religious and attended religious services more often

8. Asocial

9. Social anxiety

10. Anxiety

11. Depression

Variation

Not all asexuals are necessarily alike.

1. Many asexuals can see people as attractive but do not have any sexual need for them.

2. Some asexuals masturbate, but in most cases this is purely a physical experience void of fantasy. If they do fantasize about a person, they wouldn't have the actual drive to be with that person.

3. Asexuals can get crushes on people but it is not sexual in nature. Asexuals are generally not turned on by others

4. Some asexuals like hugging and kissing.

5. Some asexuals engage in sexual activity simply to please a romantic partner.

6. Some asexuals are romantic but not sexual.

7. Some asexuals are aromantic (i.e., not interested in romance).

8. Some asexuals are romantic toward a specific gender (i.e., the romantic aspect of heterosexuality).

9. Demiromantic (i.e., romantic after developing an emotional connection beforehand but not towards a specific gender).

10. Grey or Gray-romantic (i.e., vacillate between aromantic and romantic).

11. Asexuals can identify themselves as Gay, Straight, or Bisexual.

12. Some asexuals have no sexual feelings at all. These individuals are often referred to as non-libidoists.

While both generalized HSDD and asexuality imply a general lack of attraction to anyone, asexuality is not considered a disorder or sexual dysfunction, or the consequence of a medical or social problem.

No matter where you stand on the issue of asexuality, asexuals do exist and therefore deserve respect, love, and support, just like every other human.