Reciprosexual, also sometimes spelled recipsexual, is a sexual orientation on the asexual spectrum where a person only experiences sexual attraction to someone if they know that the other person is already sexually attracted to them.
Understanding Reciprosexuality
Here's a breakdown of the key aspects of reciprosexuality:
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Asexual Spectrum: Reciprosexuality falls under the asexual spectrum, meaning it's related to asexuality. People on the asexual spectrum experience varying degrees of sexual attraction, or a lack thereof.
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Conditional Attraction: The core of reciprosexuality is that sexual attraction is conditional. It's not generally felt towards others, but arises only when the individual knows they are the object of someone else's sexual attraction.
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Not a Choice: Reciprosexuality, like other sexual orientations, is not a choice. It's how a person naturally experiences attraction.
Key Characteristics
Here's what defines someone as reciprosexual:
- Lack of Initial Attraction: They generally don't experience sexual attraction towards people they meet initially.
- Attraction Triggered by Reciprocity: The knowledge of someone else's sexual attraction towards them acts as a trigger for them to potentially experience sexual attraction in return.
- Can Combine with Other Orientations: Reciprosexuality can coexist with other sexual orientations. For example, someone might identify as reciprosexual and biromantic, meaning they only experience sexual attraction when it's reciprocated, but are romantically attracted to people of two or more genders regardless of reciprocation.
Examples
To better understand reciprosexuality, consider these examples:
- Someone meets a new person and feels no sexual attraction initially. Later, they learn that the new person is sexually attracted to them. As a result, they begin to experience sexual attraction towards the new person.
- An individual is generally sex-repulsed, but finds themselves sexually attracted to a partner who expresses strong sexual desire for them.
Reciprosexual vs. Other Orientations
| Orientation | Description |
|---|---|
| Reciprosexual | Experiences sexual attraction only when knowing the other person is already sexually attracted to them. |
| Demisexual | Experiences sexual attraction only after forming a strong emotional bond. |
| Asexual | Generally does not experience sexual attraction. |
