Symbiosexuality: A New Dimension in Attraction
As society continues to evolve, so do the ways in which people experience love and sexual attraction. A growing number of individuals are finding themselves drawn not to just one person, but to an established couple—a phenomenon now identified as symbiosexuality.
Attraction beyond individuals
A recent study conducted at Seattle University has brought to light this emerging trend, where people are romantically and sexually attracted to the dynamic between two people rather than to each individual separately. The study, published in the Archives of Sexual Behaviour under the title “Attraction to the Energy, Multidimensionality, and Power Shared Between People in Relationships,” suggests that human desire might be more complex than previously thought.
The essence of symbiosexuality
Symbiosexuals are those who are attracted to the energy and connection within a relationship, rather than just to one person. The study’s author, Dr. Sally W. Johnston, describes this as a genuine desire toward the “whole” of the relationship. She argues that this attraction challenges traditional notions of one-to-one dynamics and opens up new perspectives on human desire.
The concept of symbiosexuality has been observed in cultural and academic discussions, where some people express an interest in the relationships between others rather than in individuals. Despite this, the phenomenon has largely been unexplored, with most studies focusing on individual attraction.
Dr. Johnston, whose work initially focused on the treatment of “unicorns”—a term used for a third person in a polyamorous relationship who enjoys intimacy with a couple but does not engage in other aspects of the relationship—believes that it is time to reconsider the idea that attraction and desire are limited to one-on-one interactions.
Insights from “The Pleasure Study”
The findings on symbiosexuality are part of a broader initiative known as The Pleasure Study, which explores various dimensions of gender, sexual orientation, relationship patterns, and cultural backgrounds. Johnston’s research focused on participants who reported being attracted to couples as a unit rather than to the individuals separately. Of the 373 participants in The Pleasure Study, 145 reported experiencing this type of attraction.
The study revealed that the majority of those who identified as symbiosexual were queer, polyamorous, and largely white, middle-class university graduates. However, Johnston noted that symbiosexual attraction spans a diverse population, characterized by a draw to the “energy, multidimensionality, and power shared between people in relationships.”
The characteristics of symbiosexuals
Symbiosexuals tend to identify as extroverted, valuing closeness, affection, and consideration in their relationships. They are also less prone to jealousy, suggesting a unique approach to love and connection that could redefine how we understand romantic and sexual attraction in modern society.
