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How can I tell the difference between aesthetic, romantic, and sexual attraction?

13 Answers
Last Updated: 11/10/2020 at 7:11pm
1 Tip to Feel Better
United States
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Polly Letsch, LCSW

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I provide non-judgmental, person-centered, objective therapeutic treatment for individuals of all ages to improve social, emotional, mental and other areas of functioning.

Top Rated Answers
Anonymous
March 15th, 2015 2:56pm
Do you admire someone but couldn't imagine going out with them? thats aesthetic Do you want to go out with someone but not have sex or do sexual things with them? thats romantic Do you want to have sex with them? - Hey thats sexual hope I helped :)
Bossuet
May 28th, 2015 7:47am
Aesthetic attraction is like looking at a painting. Pretty but you don't exactly want to necessarily touch it. Romantic is wanting to do on candlelight dinners and stare into each others eyes and be cheesy. Sexual attraction is wanting to act towards someone in a sexual manner. Emotional, intellectual, and sensual (wanting to touch or be touched in a non-sexual way) attraction also exist.
Rachel5672
July 27th, 2015 12:21am
I think that aesthetic attraction feels like "Wow they are pretty" Sexual attraction is more of a "wow I want to touch them or I want them to touch me" and Romantic is a "I want this person to love me and care for me as I want to do for them"
Anonymous
March 28th, 2016 2:13am
Sometimes they can be difficult to tell apart. Aesthetic attraction is the pull or allure to a specific person for their looks or their style. For example, you could think, "Man, I really like how that person looks. I want to know them." Romantic attraction is the pull or allure to a specific person who you want to partake in romantic activities with. Everyone's ideas of what is romantic are different, so it's all up to the individual person or couple. Romantic activities for some people could include going on dates, dinners, holding hands, cuddling, and/or kissing. When you feel a romantic attraction towards somebody, you might think, "I like this person. I want to go on a date with them." Sexual attraction is the pull or allure to a specific person who you would like to partake in sexual activities with. For example, you might think, "I want to have sex with that person."
starrySong95
October 26th, 2015 3:57pm
Aesthetic attraction is admiring someone eithe way you would a beautiful landscape or artwork; it is purely platonic. Romantic attraction is wanting to be in a loving (but not necessarily sexual) relationship. Sexual attraction is wanting to have sex with someone. These different types of attraction can go together, but don't have to.
Philane
January 25th, 2015 10:46am
Aesthetic is "I like how you look", romantic "Want to go for a dinner tonight angel of my life?", sexual "I want to have sex with you." That sums it up.
Anonymous
October 22nd, 2015 1:59am
Aesthetic- They look nice Romantic- I want to date them Sexual- I want to have sex with them
Aayla
- Expert in LGBTQ+ Issues
August 26th, 2019 11:58pm
Aesthetic attraction consists in enjoying a person's aesthetic appearance. Sexual attraction is the desire of engaging in sexual activities with a person, or at least with a positive physical/mental response to sexual fantasies about them. Romantic attraction consists in emotional/mental connection and positive response to the perspective of engaging in romantic activities/relationship with a person. These three attractions are independent, they could appear together or only one or two at a time. The types of attractions that you feel towards the different genders may be the differ, there's not necessarily a perfect correspondence between aesthetic tastes, sexual orientation and romantic orientation.
SupportiveSliceOfPie
February 1st, 2016 11:01pm
Aesthetic attraction is when you love the way the person looks - whether it's their hair, their face, or how they dress. Romantic attraction is when you are in love with the person. You just want to be with them and love their looks and personality. Sexual attraction is when you have sexual fantasies about a particular person.
AngelicHelper8
April 16th, 2015 2:07am
Aesthetic attraction is when someone is attracted to only the looks of a person. Romantic attraction is when someone loves another person for who they are. Sexual attraction is when a person is only attracted for sex or other related things.
Anonymous
July 20th, 2015 1:33am
Ask yourself what you want to do with the person, and for how long. The answer should make the difference pretty clear.
Anonymous
October 24th, 2016 7:23pm
Everyone has to answer it for themselves. My personal opinion is the following. Aesthetic describes what you consider as beautiful, some kind beauty that makes you happy and feel fulfilled. Romantic feelings describes a strong attraction to a person, combined with an increasing heartbeat. Sexual attraction is the desire to have any kind of sexual contact with another person.
brilliantPeace1762
November 10th, 2020 7:11pm
romantic is something we feel and act upon for instance if we love someone we show them how we feel by treating them to something they like ie meal. sexual attraction is different as we may not show sometimes how we feel but it is our inner emotions that makes us respond to the attraction we are sensing like if we are attracted to the same sex then we will smile or flit to gain their attention or with someone of the opposite sex we will respond the same. Our inner feelings may also respond deep within us showing no signs other than thoughts. When we are sexually attracted to someone we can physically show them through bodily contact gestures or even through dreams. aesthetic means something we are attracted to what we consider as beautiful or stylish this can be anything that we desire