Attraction
Hear this word Attraction
Also known as: A crush; being attracted to someone
Image description: Experiencing attraction
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What Is It?
Attraction means we notice someone in a way that makes us want to connect, admire, spend time with, or learn more about that person. Being attracted to someone doesn’t mean they are definitely attracted to us in the same way. This may be disappointing, but we have to accept it.
Sometimes attraction includes sexual or romantic feelings, and other times attraction does not. For example, we might notice another person and feel attracted to them, but it is not romantic or sexual. Maybe we just want to be friends with them. Or maybe they will be someone to share hobbies, ideas, or other experiences with. Or maybe they are simply someone we admire or appreciate without any other contact or connection with them.
Romantic attraction is the experience of wanting to be emotionally or physically close to someone in ways that feel more special and loving than a regular friendship.
Sexual attraction is when people experience sexual arousal, a desire for sexual activity, or both after noticing someone they are sexually attracted to. Being sexually attracted to someone does not mean we must have or will ever have sex with that person.
An Example
Tom and Ari just met. Tom feels attracted to Ari, but Ari does not feel any sexual or romantic attraction for Tom. Ari just wants to be friends with Tom. Tom accepts that Ari does not feel romantically or sexually attracted to him.
What to Know
Every glossary word connects to different parts of the Sexuality Wheel. Explore the information below to learn more.
- Feeling attracted to another person does not mean that the other person feels the same way.
- Being attracted to another person does not require that person to be in any kind of relationship with you (including friendship, dating, or a sexual relationship).
- Sometimes people feel the same sense of attraction when they meet each other, but sometimes they do not feel the same way about each other. This is natural and okay. There are other people to meet and to get to know!
Think about
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What might attract someone to another person?
There isn’t one answer to this question. Everyone is attracted to different things in people. Sometimes these things are emotional, social, physical, or intellectual.
What non-physical things might attract someone to another person?
Sometimes people are attracted to a person’s personality, the fun they have together, or the way they feel when they are with that person. There are many non-physical things that can make a person feel attracted to another person.