Romantic attraction

**Romantic attraction**, also sometimes referred to as **affectional attraction** or **emotional attraction**, is a term which describes the feeling of being romantically drawn towards someone in particular, having romantic feelings sparked by a specific person, finding someone romantically appealing, or wanting to be in a romantic relationship with someone in particular. People who experience romantic attraction may identify as alloromantic, while people who experience little to no romantic attraction may identify as aromantic, aro-spec, or with similar labels.

Some people experience romantic attraction and nonromantic attraction differently; these people may identify as varioriented. Other people experience all forms of attraction, or their primary forms of attraction, in the same way; these people may identify as perioriented. Romantic attraction may or may not be experienced alongside sexual attraction and/or nonromantic attraction. The romantic attraction (or lack thereof) that a person experiences is typically the primary factor in one's romantic orientation.

## Distinction

### Ecstatic attraction

**Ecstatic attraction** is an umbrella term for forms of attraction which do not focus on physical aspects of a person, and instead center more heavily around a desire for emotional closeness with someone, mental and spiritual bonding, relationship building, and similar experiences. While romantic attraction is included under the ecstatic attraction umbrella, not all forms of ecstatic attraction are romantic. For example, one may experience platonic attraction, alterous attraction, or other potential forms of ecstatic attraction, without it being necessarily romantic in nature.

### Nonsexual attraction

**Nonsexual attraction** is an umbrella term for any form of attraction which is not sexual. While romantic attraction is included under the nonsexual attraction umbrella, not all forms of nonsexual attraction are romantic. For example, one may experience any form of tertiary attraction, without it being necessarily romantic in nature.

### Romantic activity stance

**Romantic activity stance** is the personal stance a person takes on romantic activity and romantic relationships. This is also sometimes referred to as desire, though the term "desire" can also be interchangeable with "libido", which is not necessarily related to romantic activity stance. People may have a romantic activity stance often associated with romantic attraction, despite not experiencing that form of attraction. For example, one may be interested in romantic relationships, or have a general desire for romance, without experiencing romantic attraction to anyone in particular. The opposite can also be true; one may experience romantic attraction without wanting to be in a romantic relationship.

## Notes

1. ↑ Emotional attraction also sometimes refers to ecstatic and/or nonsexual attraction.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 perioriented and varioriented (17-02-2014).
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ferguson, Sian (01-07-2016). Here’s What It Means When Your Romantic and Sexual Orientations Are Different (English). everydayfeminism.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Romantic Orientations (English). The Asexual Visibility and Education Network. Archived from the original on December 4, 2021.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Split Attraction Model (SAM) (English). The Trans Language Primer. Archived from the original on December 8, 2021.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Asexual Spectrum. Asexual India.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Sarran Webster, Emma. This New Color Scale Can Show You Where You Sexually Identify (English). Teen Vogue.
7. ↑ PFLAG National Glossary of Terms (English). PFLAG. Archived from the original on January 25, 2022.