Are you a symbiosexual? The new sexual identity that everyone's talking about

People’s romantic and sexual interests are constantly changing along with society.

These days, a lot of people are attracted to couples as opposed to simply one person.

Known as “symbiosexuality,” researchers believe this new phenomenon is becoming increasingly common.

This new concept re-evaluates the idea that human attraction and desire are limited to just one-to-one encounters.

Here’s what it means.

What is symbiosexuality?

According to a new study conducted at Seattle University in the United States, people may get attracted romantically and sexually to a pre-existing couple more rather than an individual.

Published in the Archives of Sexual Behaviour, the study explains this new form of sexuality is an “attraction to the energy, multidimensionality and power shared between people in relationships.”

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They are in “love” with the love between the two people in the relationship and want to immerse themselves in that love, the research said, as per NDTV. Dr Sally Johnston, an adjunct professor of anthropology and sociology who conducted the study, explained that it is a genuine desire towards the “whole” of the relationship.

The concept of symbiosexuality originated from recognising in academic and cultural discussions that certain persons are more attracted to the relationships between others than to other people.

That being said, the phenomena has not received much attention, with most talks about human attraction concentrating on one-to-one dynamics.

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According to The Post, the study found that out of 373 participants, 145 of them expressed they’ve had a feeling of attraction to couples rather than the individuals in the relationship.

The study author also found that people who identify themselves as symbiosexuals consider themselves extroverted, desire intimacy, care and attention. They are also less likely to experience jealousy.

Symbiosexuality is found in diverse age groups, racial groups, socio-economic classes, and gender identities.

Some participants, who consider themselves queer and sexually open, reported being mainly attracted to queer and non-heterosexual couples, the study said.

Eden, a symbiosexual participant in the study, shared their thoughts on the emerging sexuality.

“I have this desire to be desired, and I seek a lot of validation, a lot of validation, and when there are multiple people like that, I feel like, oh, yes, yes, I’m doing things right,” Eden confessed, as per New York Post.

In contrast to polyamory, which allows an individual to be in numerous romantic and/or sexual relationships at the same time, symbiosexuality values each relationship’s unique dynamics over the dynamic of another.

Symbiosexual relationships are portrayed in Zendaya’s April release Challengers, Gossip Girl and Tiger King.

Is it a ‘unicorn’?

Johnston’s initial experience with symbiosexuals came from the research she conducted on the treatment of “unicorns” in polyamorous relationships.

Symbiosexuality is given the label of “unicorn” in literature.

In non-monogamous cultures, on the other hand, this same term is used negatively to refer to those who are willing to have sex with a couple but do not participate in other areas of their relationship.

“While the term only implies a willingness or interest to engage in dynamics with couples and not (necessarily) an attraction to their pre-existing relationship, the existence of the term both evidences symbiosexual attraction and discredits it.”

“Evoking notions of myth and fetish, the term unicorn perpetuates invalidation of and discrimination against people who seek these dynamics whether they are motivated by symbiosexual attraction or not,” the paper continues.

According to Johnston’s study, although there are sexual benefits in these relationships, the third party experiences mistreatment, objectification, and exclusion.

Is there more to sexuality?

Yes, there is.

According to the New York Post, Johnston believes there’s more to sexuality than we know.

“We need to rethink the nature of human attraction and desire as only one-to-one experiences,” she said.

Now, as research continues into a bigger initiative, The Pleasure Study, Johnston plans to study the relationship dynamic more for the general public to get a better understanding of this evolving sexual identity regarding mental health and relationship satisfaction.

“I hope that this work will reduce stigma in both monogamous and non-monogamous communities and expand conceptualisations of desire in sexuality studies,” she said.

With inputs from agencies