Attraction - the action or power of evoking interest, pleasure or liking for someone or something.
The Main Types of Attraction
Romantic - Desiring to engage in traditionally romantic activities with another (ex: kissing, cuddling, going on dates, etc.).
Sexual - Desiring to engage in sexual activities with another.
Erotic - Appreciation for sexual arts or a desire to know someone using one’s senses through explicitly sexual acts (such as gouinage). Considered a mix of aesthetic, sensual, and sexual attraction.
Sensual - Desiring to know another by using one’s senses, especially through touch. This is NOT an explicitly sexual form of physical attraction, though it doesn’t have to be strictly romantic in nature either.
Presential - Like sensual attraction, but more the desire to be in someone’s presence than to touch or be intimate with them. A desire to know someone through their presence without an aspect of intimacy. Often coupled with aesthetic, platonic, social, etc.
Aesthetic - Usually desiring just to observe a person because one finds them aesthetically pleasing.
Doraric - A desire to be close to, serve, and even worship someone out of an adoration which derives itself from attractions that are neither explicitly romantic, nor explicitly platonic. Considered a mix of spiritual and alterous attractions.
Alterous - Desiring emotional closeness without necessarily being (entirely or at all) platonic and/or romantic. Alterous attraction is most often experienced as a sort of “transitional” phase by alloromantic individuals; it is felt when the person is no longer sure whether or not they have a “crush” on the object of this attraction. For some, however, it’s a form of attraction all its own that straddles the line between platonic and romantic.
Queerplatonic - (also referred to as qplatonic, quasiplatonic, and quirkyplatonic) Like alterous, it is neither romantic nor platonic, but can be functionally similar to both; a type of attraction that (while certainly aromantic) cannot be properly reduced to platonic without leaving some important aspects out. Also used as an umbrella term for any relationship that falls outside of the strict “romantic-or-platonic” binary.
Fluitic - Also known as “wavering” attraction. Being unsure of what one desires from the object of their attraction due to the nature of said attraction being “wavering” (frequently shifting from one type to another).
Platonic - The desire to form a close (or closer) platonic relationship/friendship with another.
Social - “Aspirational” or mentor-attraction; a desire to be closer to and/or more like someone because of their perceived talent and/or wisdom.
Amical - Interchangeable with platonicity (sometimes refers to “best friends”); on a higher level of affinity than in just social/interpersonal circles (that are more impersonal).
Emotional/Ecstatic - A broad term for a desire for commitment and mutual emotional nurturing, regardless of a relationship’s specific nature. To feel emotionally attracted to someone is to desire being consistently supportive of and supported by that person emotionally. Subtypes may include amorous, romantic, (q)platonic, mental, and amical attraction.
Familial - Desiring an emotional closeness with another by virtue of them being family, or desiring an emotional closeness with an unrelated other that mimics a traditionally/idealized familial bond.
Mental - An umbrella term for any form of intellectual/psychological and spiritual attractions.
Spiritual - A desire to be close to another (regardless of the nature of said closeness) based on the belief or feeling that such a relationship is “destiny,” or that the object of such attraction once had a relationship with the subject in a “past life” of sorts. In some cases, it can be used as a subset of social attraction — desiring a mentor-student-type relationship with someone based on their strong spirituality.
Intellectual/Psychological - The desire to “share a mindspace” with another by exchanging wisdom, knowledge, or interests. Related to social relationships, but generally where the object of such attraction is not considerered “socially superior.”
Tutelary - Also known as “protective attraction.” A desire to take care, protect and support another. It is the attraction one might feel towards a child, a pet, or a vulnerable person. It is often based in a desire to feel needed.
Cedural - Also known as “submissive attraction.” A desire to be protected, covered, understood, tutored, and supported by someone. Not to be confused as kink-related or sexual in nature.
If I’ve missed any major forms of attraction or gotten a definition wrong, please let me know and I’ll add it to the list/correct it right away. Thank you.
If you have any problems with any of these terms, please let me know. I may take the post down & will certainly do my best to correct the issue.🦋
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