Attraction is a type of feeling that sparks interest in a particular person. Among some people, it is useful to think of attraction in terms of particular types or categories. Other people do not find this helpful, and some do not experience attraction at all. Using or applying one of these concepts does not necessarily imply using all of the others.
Subtypes
Physical Attraction
- Sexual Attraction
- Commonly a factor in sexual orientation
- Aesthetic Attraction
- Sensual Attraction
Emotional Attraction
- Romantic Attraction
- Commonly a factor in romantic orientation, sexual orientation, or orientation generally
- Queerplatonic Attraction
History
Naming and differentiating between specific subtypes of attraction has been popularized by the asexual community in the early 2000s.[1] This is partly due to definitions of asexuality that emphasized a lack of sexual attraction.[2] As early as 2003, the FAQ page of the Asexual Visibility and Education Network mentioned that some asexual people may experience emotional or romantic attraction.[3] Other subtypes, such as aesthetic and sensual, also developed around or before 2006.[4]