Autoromantic

Autoromantic flag

Autoromantic flag without heart

Autoromanticism is when one experiences romantic attraction, exclusive or not, towards themself. It can occur in multiple forms as follows:

1. Attraction to oneself.

1. Feeling no attraction to others but feeling attraction to yourself.

It can be a form of aromanticism when exclusive or paired with other arospec identities. The sexual counterpart to autoromantic is autosexual.

History

The term autoromantic is first found in 1971, however back then it was simply used as a playful term for a car enthusiast. The term appears again on an internet Usenet group in 2003, that time as a bit of poetic wordplay. The definition it has now notably appears on a forum on the Asexuality Visibility and Education Network (AVEN) in 2007.

Being autoromantic vs narcissism

Many people confuse narcissism with autoromanticism, however, the differences, as Dr. McGowan explains with the sexual counterpart (autosexuality); "Autosexuals are more comfortable sexually when in their own company, while narcissists crave attention. Autosexuality is also not likely to be associated with a lack of empathy or desire to give others pleasure – sexually or otherwise – but rather a preference towards a private and personal sexual experience."

In summary, while narcissism is a self obsession that causes harm to others and oneself, autoromanticism is harmless in the sense that one does not put oneself above others, and it is not a mental abnormality.

Flag

The flags were coined by Pride-Flags on Deviantart on January 20, 2017.

Resources

1. https://www.deviantart.com/pride-flags/art/Autoromantic-668105598
2. https://www.dictionary.com/e/gender-sexuality/autoromantic/#:~:text=Autoromantic%20is%20a%20term%20for,Its%20sexual%20counterpart%20is%20autosexual.