Growing numbers of people now identify as “symbios**ual,” and this development is not surprising.
A multifarious component of human identity, s**uality is shaped by many biological, psychological, social, and cultural elements. It spans basic s**ual orientation or conduct to include aspirations, attractions, emotional relationships, and personal experience—all of which evolve with time.
People’s views of their own s**uality can be fluid and influenced by things including their surroundings, upbringing, social influences, and individual experiences. Often leading to inner conflict or ambiguity, expectations linked with culture, religious beliefs, and social influences can complicate how one exhibits their s**uality.
Now arrive symbios**ualism. Love triangles have been a common motif throughout the history of narrative, and experts now speculate that this idea might have evolved into a separate kind of s**uality.
Researchers at Seattle University have found that people classified as “symbios**ual” are drawn to the dynamic energy prevalent among established couples rather than only between themselves and a single partner. This notion gives the idea that more can in fact be merrier a new angle.
A definition of this kind of s**uality from the Archives of S**ual Behavior defines it as “the attraction to the energy, multidimensionality, and power shared among people in relationships.” This was underlined with respect to a past 2023 research project titled “The Pleasure Study.”
Surveying 373 people about their s**ual and gender identities, the study found that many of them felt romantic and s**ually attracted toward the dynamic produced by including a third person. Given the scene of open partnerships and s**ual emancipation of today, this conclusion is not too shocking.
Dr. Sally Johnston, an adjunct professor of anthropology and sociology who oversaw the study, underlined in comments on the findings: “It’s time to reconsider how we understand human attraction and desire, as it’s not solely about one-to–one interactions.”
More investigation on the subject revealed that, even in the polyamorous society, there was a “lack of recognition and validation for this attraction,” which frequently resulted in the mistreatment of the third person in the relationship.
According to Dr. Johnson, the results of the above cited research supposedly “push the boundaries of the concepts of desire and s**ual orientation in s**uality studies and challenge the ongoing invisibility and invalidation and stigma and discrimination against such attractions.”
After “[hearing] people talk openly about experiencing attraction to established couples,” the researcher claimed in an interview with the PsyPost that she first became intrigued in exploring the unusual s**uality.
“I wanted more information about this understudied attraction,” she said.
Participants were questioned following the survey in order to learn more about why this kind of s**uality spoke most to their inclinations. Known as “Hayden,” one participant said she finds couples appealing because of “their cohesiveness.” She said further, “You benefit from their energy and their mutual attraction… there’s a dynamic between the couple.”
Another participant, called “Sage,” said, “I want to be right in the core of that relationship. I would like to participate in their bond. I really think my perfect dynamic would include me plus a couple.”
Though studies on this particular desire are still few, as knowledge of s**uality develops, it is expected that in the next decade there will be an increasing corpus of work.