Physical attraction

The physical attraction flag.

**Physical attraction** is an umbrella term for forms of attraction which focus on physical aspects of a person, or the physical ways in which one wants to engage with that person. These forms of attraction may or may not accompany ecstatic attraction, relationships, and/or activities. There are multiple types of physical attraction, which generally includes sexual attraction, sensual attraction, and aesthetic attraction, though there could potentially be other forms of physical attraction.

Some people experience all forms of physical attraction, while others experience only a few, only one, or none at all. It is common for asexual and ace-spec people to experience tertiary forms of physical attraction, without experiencing sexual attraction in particular. Some people experience different forms of attraction in different ways; 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. The physical attraction (or lack thereof) that a person experiences is typically the primary factor in one's physical orientation.

## Under the umbrella

As mentioned previously, there are multiple types of physical attraction. This is not a concrete list, and terms may be added when necessary.

* Sexual attraction
* Some forms of tertiary attraction
	+ Aesthetic attraction
	+ Sensual attraction

## Distinction

### Sexual attraction

***Main article:*** *Sexual attraction*

Sexual attraction is a term which describes the feeling of being sexually drawn towards someone in particular, having sexual feelings sparked by a specific person, finding someone sexually appealing, or wanting to have sex with someone in particular. While sexual attraction is included under the physical attraction umbrella, not all forms of physical attraction are sexual. For example, one may experience sensual attraction, aesthetic attraction, or other potential forms of physical attraction, without it being necessarily sexual in nature.

### Nonromantic attraction

***Main article:*** *Nonromantic attraction*

Nonromantic attraction is an umbrella term for any form of attraction which is not romantic. Physical attraction excludes romantic attraction, in addition to all ecstatic forms of tertiary attraction, whereas nonromantic attraction only excludes romantic attraction specifically. Ecstatic forms of tertiary attraction are included under the nonromantic attraction umbrella. All forms of physical attraction are nonromantic, but not all forms of nonromantic attraction are physical.

### Sensual attraction

***Main article:*** *Sensual attraction*

Sensual attraction is a form of physical attraction in which one desires to touch another person in a nonsexual way, such as through hugging, kissing, cuddling, or similar means. While sensual attraction is a form of physical attraction, and is sometimes referred to as "physical attraction" as an alternate term, not all forms of physical attraction are sensual.

### Physical intimacy stance

***Main article:*** *Physical intimacy stance*

Physical intimacy stance, also known as physical intimacy activity stance, is the personal stance a person takes on physically intimacy and physical 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 physical intimacy stance. People may have an activity stance often associated with attraction despite not experiencing that form of attraction. For example, one may be interested in sexual relationships, or have a general desire for sex, without experiencing sexual attraction to anyone in particular. The opposite can also be true; one may experience sexual attraction without wanting to be in a sexual relationship.

### Libido

***Main article:*** *Libido*

Libido refers to a person's sex drive, or sexual desire. This can be affected by medical conditions, medications, hormone levels, or other biological, psychological, and environmental factors. A person can experience varying libido levels regardless of their physical orientation and attraction they experience.

## Flag

The physical attraction flag was designed on by an individual who wishes to remain anonymous. It was first posted in a Discord server on September 18, 2022, then publicized on the MOGAI/LGBTQIA+ Wiki the following day. Dark purple represents complex and blurred experiences of physical attraction. Grape represents aesthetics, beauty, and aesthetic attraction. Light red represents love, lust, libido, and the ways in which they can interact with physical attraction. White represents community, inclusivity, and physical attraction as a whole. Plum represents sensual (but not necessarily sexual) intimacy and attraction. Wine represents sexual intimacy and attraction.

## Notes

1. ↑ Physical attraction is also sometimes an alternate term for sensual attraction; context clues may need to be applied to determine which definition is being used.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 What Are the Different Types of Attraction?. Healthline. Archived from the original on September 17, 2022.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 momma-mogai-sphinx (2019-01-30). Attraction Terminology. Archived from the original on January 27, 2022.
3. ↑ Split Attraction Model (SAM) (English). The Trans Language Primer. Archived from the original on December 8, 2021.
4. ↑ Sarran Webster, Emma. This New Color Scale Can Show You Where You Sexually Identify (English). Teen Vogue. Archived from the original on September 19, 2022.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 perioriented and varioriented (17-02-2014).
6. ↑ Ferguson, Sian (01-07-2016). Here’s What It Means When Your Romantic and Sexual Orientations Are Different (English). everydayfeminism.
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 momma-mogai-sphinx (2019-01-30). Attraction Terminology. Archived from the original on January 27, 2022.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Glossary of Terms. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer Plus (LGBTQ+) Resource Center. Archived from the original on September 17, 2022.
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 LGBTQIA+ Glossary. Resource Center for Sexual & Gender Diversity. Archived from the original on September 17, 2022.
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Magni (2019-03-25). Tertiary Types of Attraction & Related Terminology. Arocalypse. Archived from the original on September 17, 2022.
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 lgbtqiarchive (2019-12-03). Tertiary attraction. Archived from the original on September 17, 2022.
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Glossary. LGBTQIA Resource Center (2020-01-14). Archived from the original on September 17, 2022.
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Magni (2018-05-05). Types of Tertiary Attraction. Archived from the original on September 17, 2022.
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 So What Does it Mean to be Graysexual?. Greatist (2021-04-20). Archived from the original on September 19, 2022.
15. ↑ LGBTQIA+ Glossary. Resource Center for Sexual & Gender Diversity. Archived from the original on September 17, 2022.
16. ↑ Ghosturtle (2022-09-19). Physical attraction (Revision as of 2022-09-19T00:18:48). Archived from the original on September 19, 2022.