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In recent years, many new things have been discovered about human sexual identity, but a recent study revealed a new sexual attraction that has been named symbiosexual.
According to this research, a person can have a special type of attraction for two or more people, which is called ‘symbiosexual attraction’.
In this phenomenon, you are influenced by the love and harmony of a couple rather than a person, but it is different from homosexuality.
According to the dictionary, ‘symbiosis’ means growing together or flourishing together. In this way, the symbiosexual person is affected by this whole environment of love.
This research paper by Sally Johnston of the Department of Human Sexuality at the Institute of Integral Studies in California, USA, was recently published by the Springer Journal.
After the publication of this research paper, discussion about symbiotic attraction has started on the internet and the meaning of the term symbiotic attraction is currently being searched a lot on the internet.
Research has shown that many people experience this type of attraction, and the findings in ongoing research on gender identity have been of extraordinary importance.
But what exactly is this attraction? Through this research, an attempt has been made to find answers to some questions such as what changes are experienced at emotional or other levels.
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What is symbiotic attraction?
Symbiosexual attraction is the attraction to a couple rather than the attraction or attraction of one person to another person.
Dr. Sagar Mandada is a psychologist and sexologist. BBC Marathi tried to find out if symbiotic attraction is finally there.
‘It’s the attraction one feels for a couple,’ explains Dr Mandada. That is, this attraction is about the relationship between the couple, the energy in their relationship, the love relationship between them.’
“Those with this type of attraction feel excited to see the connection between these couples, the energy between them, the love relationship, and they want to be involved in that relationship,” he said.
“Also, they don’t want to be attached to either person in the couple,” he said. Because they are attracted to the couple or the relationship, not to either of them.’
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‘Intensity level depends on attraction’
Mandada added: ‘Although this concept is now being debated, it has probably existed in society for years. But now it has got a recognition.’
In very simple words, it is the attraction that people easily say ‘how good so-and-so is. I find this couple very cute.’
But if the feeling starts to intensify and you yourself want to be involved as a third person in the relationship, then this is ‘symbiosexual attraction’.
People who have this type of attraction want to experience the energy that they see in the couple or that they feel about their relationship.
At what level this relationship should be, it depends on the people involved. But Mandada also said that ‘if there is an attraction to a relationship with this couple, there is some physical attraction involved.’
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How did this concept come about?
The term or concept of symbiotic attraction was first introduced at a conference organized by the Society for the Scientific Studies of Sexuality, where it was defined as romantic or sexual attraction to the people involved in a relationship.
However, it has since been further clarified that this attraction arises from the warmth and energy of a couple’s relationship and is different from attraction to both sexes, ie ‘bisexuality’ or the broad sexuality of ‘pansexuality’. is
Sally Johnston during her research found some evidence regarding symbiotic attraction from people’s articles, dating apps, discussions.
Although the concept has now emerged, Johnston says in his research that it has not been sufficiently researched.
While researching, he had to consider society’s views on sexual desire and such emotions.
He also said in his article that ‘research on such topics is very important.’ For this research they used the information collected for the research ‘The Pleasure Study’ and based the research on the answers to the questions asked to the research participants.
The Pleasure Study discusses the relationship between gender identity and sexual pleasure.
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What did the research find?
After studying the data, Sally Johnston found solid evidence that people experience this type of ‘symbiosexual attraction’.
In The Pleasure Study, 145 of 373 participants reported feeling attracted to other people in relationships. This ratio was 38.9 percent. These people especially expressed their attraction towards couples. The individuals who also confirmed this in the interviews belonged to different age groups (21-40) and different geographies around the world.
In interviews, they all talked about how they became attracted to couples and what they experienced during the attraction. The participants in this study also explained the main difference between attraction to a person and attraction to a couple.
The interactions between the couples, their behavior towards each other, their care for each other and their energy were the main points of their attraction.
Analyzing this, Dr Mandada said: ‘So it turns out that a person with symbiosexual attraction is only attracted to a relationship, whether it’s on a physical level or an emotional level, and that’s very important.’
‘But the most important thing for someone who is attracted to a couple and wants to be with them and have a three-way relationship is a sense of harmony.’
