 Simplified diagram of the aromantic and asexual spectra | |
| Definition | Discordance ofromantic attraction andsexual attraction to others |
|---|---|
| Abbreviations | SAM |
| Sexual orientation |
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Non-human animals |
Thesplit attraction model (SAM) is a model inpsychology that distinguishes between a person'sromantic andsexual attraction, allowing the two to be different from each other.[1][2][3]
The first recorded conceptualization of orientation that took into account split attraction was in 1879 byKarl Heinrich Ulrichs, a German writer who published 12 books onnon-heterosexual attraction. In these books, Ulrichs has presented several classifications that are quite similar to modernLGBTQIA+ identities. Among his works, he described people who are "konjunktiverUranodioning" and "disjunktiver Uranodioning" or conjunctive bisexuality and disjunctive bisexuality. The former is described as having tender andpassionate feelings for both men and women, which would be a biromantic bisexual in modern times. The second is one who has tender feelings for people of the same gender/sex, but 'in love' feelings for people of a different gender/sex, which would now be a heteroromantic homosexual. However, the Ulrichs model never became popular due to its complexity.[4][5]
A newer example of the separation of sexual and romantic attractions was in 1979 bypsychologistDorothy Tennov, with the publication of her bookLove and Limerence – the Experience of Being in Love. In the book, Tennov describedlimerence as a form of attraction that could be described as acrush on someone. Although Tennov saw sex as part of limerence, she recognized that it was not its main focus.[6] The term "non-limerent" is sometimes considered the precursor of aromantic.[7][8]
The modern concept of thesplit attraction model was coined by theasexual andaromantic communities to better describe their identities within the community and to others. The term likely emerged around 2015, though the concept of split attractions had been in use since the origination of the term aromantic in 2005.[9][10] The model helps people explain how they can still experience certain aspects of one attraction without the need for the other to be a match. A recent research study looked deeper into the relationships of asexuals to help explain how people still form meaningful connections, despite deviance of societal norms.[11][12]
Relationships formed by people that identify under the split attraction model are often considered outside the norm and may include forms of committedfriendships or intimate non-romantic relationships such asqueerplatonic relationships.
In a practical application of the model, people of the community commonly refer to themselves by two terms to indicate the differing romantic and sexual attraction; examples includearomantic asexual, colloquially shortenedaro-ace,panromantic demisexual oraromantic bisexual.[1][13] Specific terms exist, such asvarioriented andperioriented, describing those with different or similar orientations, respectively. For example, a homoromantic bisexual would be varioriented, while a heteroromantic heterosexual would be labeled as perioriented.[14][15][16]
The concept and term are most commonly used within theLGBTQIA+ community, but more recent research found that it may also apply to people outside of the community that are just not yet familiar with the concept.[17]
The concept that there is a distinction betweenromantic orientation andsexual orientation has not been studied extensively.[19] American psychologistLisa M. Diamond, who focuses her studies on sexual orientation and identity, has stated that a person's romantic orientation can differ from whom the person is sexually attracted to.[20] While there is limited research on the discordance between sexual attraction and romantic attraction in individuals, the possibility offluidity and diversity in attractions have been progressively recognized.[21][17][12]
In a 2022 book edited by psychologists Angela M. Schubert andMark Pope, authors Stacey Litam and Megan Speciale refer to an article byMichael Paramo published inAze that identifies other forms of attraction beyond sexual and romantic attraction, including aesthetic, emotional, intellectual, and sensual attraction, to argue that these forms of attraction should also be considered in interpersonal relationships.[18] Paramo argued in a 2024 book that splitting attraction can influence people to re-imagine their relationships differently when forms of attraction are not placed in a hierarchy.[22]
A 2022 study found that while there is some concordance between romantic orientation and sexual orientation, the two were not a complete match, suggesting that the experience of split attraction between romantic and sexual orientation exists in both asexual and non-asexual people.[17] A 2023 study noted that there is a general misunderstanding that different forms of attraction can exist concurrently both within and external to the LGBTQ community.[23]
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