Aesthetic Attraction and Orientation
Aesthetic Attraction is a form of attraction where one is attracted to the physical appearance of another.[1]
A method of describing aesthetic attraction is the feeling when viewing a painting. Some may feel enlightened, excitement, or some other general positivity, whereas others may not, depending entirely on the target and perceiver's interests. Aesthetic attraction does not involve touching, bonding, or any tangible action other than the desire to visually perceive the object of desire. Due to the one-sided non interactive nature of aesthetic attraction, aesthetic relationships do not typically exist (or are not recorded).[1][2]
Aesthetic attraction is also known to transcend across species and objects, acceptable to feel aesthetic attraction towards an animal, or furniture. It is arguably one of the most common forms of attraction.
Aesthetic attraction may include actions such as:
- watching/staring, sometimes struggling to look away
- generally liking/admiring
- visually critiquing or reviewing
- lingering or returning to look again
- taking photos or videos
- feeling inspired[3]
One's pattern of aesthetic attraction towards certain genders typically (but not always) forms that individual's aesthetic orientation. Aesthetic orientations are often identified by the usage of the -aesthetic suffix, such as heteroaesthetic, or biaesthetic.
An individual who regularly experiences aesthetic attraction may be called alloaesthetic. Someone who does not regularly experience aesthetic attraction may be called aaesthetic, anaesthetic, non-aesthetic, ansthetic, or a-aesthetic.
An aesthetic desire towards another individual may be called a swish or a thete.[4][5]
History
The term aesthetic derives from the Greek word aisthetikos, relating to perception by the senses and mind. Throughout history it has been closely associated with art (and the criticism of such) and beauty.[6]
Resources
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Boom, Kesiena. "What Is Aesthetic Attraction? The Nuances Of Attraction, Explained". MBG Relationships, 18 Nov, 2022, https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/aesthetic-attraction.
- ↑ godlessace. "A comic about the different types of attraction". Tumblr, 9 Mar, 2019, https://web.archive.org/web/20220124020427/https://godlessace.tumblr.com/post/183350622283/a-comic-about-the-different-types-of-attraction. Archived on 24 Jan. 2022.
- ↑ Pegasus9000. "What does aesthetic attraction feel like?". The AVEN, AVEN Users, 28 Mar. 2019, https://www.asexuality.org/en/topic/183453-what-does-aesthetic-attraction-feel-like/.
- ↑ life-of-an-asexual. "Desires for relations based on types of attraction". Tumblr, 2015, https://life-of-an-asexual.tumblr.com/post/102762643654/desires-for-relations-based-on-types-of-attraction.
- ↑ bogkeep. "Thete : aesthetic attraction :: crush : romantic attraction". Tumblr, 18 May, https://web.archive.org/web/20220120163428/https://bogkeep.tumblr.com/post/86134520589/thete-aesthetic-attraction-crush-romantic. Archived on 20 Jan. 2022.
- ↑ "aesthetic (n.)". Online Etymology Dictionary, 15 Sep, 2022, https://www.etymonline.com/word/aesthetic.
