Symbiosexuals: A new form of sexual attraction is gaining attention, and it’s called symbiosexuality. According to recent research from Seattle University, being symbiosexual means feeling attracted not to individual people, but to the energy and connection shared between a couple. This discovery, led by Dr. Sally Johnston, was published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior and is changing how we think about human attraction.
What Does It Mean to Be Symbiosexual?
Symbiosexuals are people who find themselves drawn to the dynamic between two people in a relationship. This attraction isn’t about physical appearance or personality traits; it’s about the “synergy” or powerful connection that exists between the couple. Dr. Johnston describes this as an “attraction to the energy, multidimensionality, and power shared between people in relationships.”
For some, this might sound familiar. We’ve seen similar dynamics in popular media, like the love triangles in Gossip Girl or Zendaya’s recent movie Challengers. In these stories, the characters aren’t just drawn to each other individually but are also attracted to the overall relationship dynamic.
The Research Behind Symbiosexuality
Dr. Johnston’s study is based on data from “The Pleasure Study,” which surveyed 373 participants about their sexual and gender identities. The majority of participants were middle-class, white, university graduates who identified as queer and polyamorous.
Among these participants, 145 reported feeling an attraction to couples rather than to individual people within those couples. This discovery led Dr. Johnston to believe that symbiosexuality is a real and significant form of attraction that needs more attention and understanding.
One participant, named Hayden, shared her experience of being symbiosexual. She said, “You feed off their energy, their attraction to each other… there’s an interplay between the couple.” Another participant, Sage, expressed a strong desire to be part of a couple’s relationship, saying, “I also just want to be smack in the middle of that relationship… I really think my ideal dynamic might be myself and a couple.”
The Challenges of Being Symbiosexual
While symbiosexuality can bring unique experiences, it also comes with challenges. In polyamorous communities, individuals who join an existing couple are often called “unicorns.” These unicorns may engage in sexual activity with the couple but are often excluded from other aspects of the relationship. Dr. Johnston’s research found that unicorns are sometimes objectified and poorly treated, leading to feelings of isolation and rejection.
Eden, another participant in the study, shared that being a symbiosexual comes with a strong desire for validation. She said, “I have this desire to be desired, and I seek a lot of validation… when there are multiple people like that, I feel like, oh, yes, yes, I’m doing things right.”
What’s Next for Symbiosexuality?
As symbiosexuality becomes more recognized, Dr. Johnston hopes that her research will help reduce the stigma surrounding this form of attraction. She believes that understanding symbiosexuality can expand our views on human desire and help people feel more accepted, whether they are in monogamous or non-monogamous relationships.
Dr. Johnston plans to continue her research on symbiosexuality, with a focus on understanding how this attraction affects mental health and relationship satisfaction. She hopes that by shedding light on this emerging sexual identity, more people will be able to understand and embrace their own unique attractions.
Conclusion
Symbiosexuality is a new and fascinating concept that challenges traditional ideas of attraction. For symbiosexuals, the connection between a couple is what sparks desire, making this form of attraction unique and powerful. As more research is conducted, we’ll likely see a broader understanding and acceptance of symbiosexuality in both monogamous and polyamorous communities.
If you’ve ever found yourself captivated by the energy between two people, you might just be a symbiosexual. And with ongoing studies, we’re only beginning to understand what this means for human attraction and relationships.
