{{short description|Classification of a person's romantic attraction towards others}} {{use mdy dates|date=April 2020}} {{use American English|date=April 2020}} {{Sexual orientation}}
{{Distinguish|Romantic friendship}} '''Romantic orientation''', also called '''affectional orientation''', is the classification of the sex or gender which a person experiences romantic attraction towards or is likely to have a romantic relationship with. The term is used alongside the term "sexual orientation", as well as being used alternatively to it, based upon the perspective that sexual attraction is only a single component of a larger concept.<ref>Crethar, H. C. & Vargas, L. A. (2007). ''Multicultural intricacies in professional counseling.'' In J. Gregoire & C. Jungers (Eds.), The counselor’s companion: What every beginning counselor needs to know. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum. {{ISBN|0-8058-5684-6}}. p.61.</ref>
For example, a pansexual person—who may feel sexually attracted to people regardless of gender—might experience romantic attraction toward only women and feel romantic intimacy only with women.
For asexual people, romantic orientation is often considered a more useful measure of attraction than sexual orientation.<ref name="Richards and Barker">{{cite book|first1=Christina|last1=Richards|first2=Meg|last2=Barker|title=Sexuality and Gender for Mental Health Professionals: A Practical Guide|isbn=978-1-4462-9313-3|publisher=SAGE|year=2013|pages=124–127|access-date=July 3, 2014|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uSiXAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT124|archive-date=July 6, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230706223115/https://books.google.com/books?id=uSiXAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT124|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Cerankowski and Milks">{{cite book|first1=Karli June|last1=Cerankowski|first2=Megan|last2=Milks|title=Asexualities: Feminist and Queer Perspectives|isbn=978-1-134-69253-8|publisher=Routledge|year=2014|pages=89–93|access-date=July 3, 2014|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zLgTAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA89|archive-date=July 6, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230706223122/https://books.google.com/books?id=zLgTAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA89|url-status=live}}</ref>
The relationship between sexual attraction and romantic attraction is still under debate.<ref name=":0"/><ref name=":1">{{cite journal |last1=Van Houdenhove |first1=Ellen |last2=Gijs |first2=Luk |last3=T'Sjoen |first3=Guy |last4=Enzlin |first4=Paul |title=Asexuality: A Multidimensional Approach |journal=The Journal of Sex Research |date=24 July 2015 |volume=52 |issue=6 |pages=669–678 |doi=10.1080/00224499.2014.898015 |pmid=24750031 |s2cid=35875780 }}</ref>
Sexual and romantic attractions are often studied in conjunction. Even though studies of sexual and romantic spectrums are shedding light onto this under-researched subject, much is still not fully understood.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hammack |first1=Phillip L. |last2=Frost |first2=David M. |last3=Hughes |first3=Sam D. |title=Queer Intimacies: A New Paradigm for the Study of Relationship Diversity |journal=The Journal of Sex Research |date=13 June 2019 |volume=56 |issue=4–5 |pages=556–592 |doi=10.1080/00224499.2018.1531281 |pmid=30362833 |s2cid=53102365 |url=https://escholarship.org/uc/item/285899t4 |archive-date=May 16, 2022 |access-date=March 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220516112631/https://escholarship.org/uc/item/285899t4 |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Theoretical background == The origin of the concept of romantic attraction comes from a theory in psychology explaining the motivations behind human attraction. Scholars have proposed that the concepts of sexual attraction and romantic attraction are different due to evolutionary reasons. The purpose of sexual attraction is for breeding and reproduction, whereas the purpose of romantic attraction is for long-term bonding between partners. This concept helps explain why a person could feel romantic feelings for someone they do not find sexually attractive or sexual feelings towards someone they are not romantically attracted to.
Separating these two concepts has helped researchers better understand attraction in aromantic individuals.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Antonsen |first=Amy N. |last2=Zdaniuk |first2=Bozena |last3=Yule |first3=Morag |last4=Brotto |first4=Lori A. |date=2020-07-01 |title=Ace and Aro: Understanding Differences in Romantic Attractions Among Persons Identifying as Asexual |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-019-01600-1 |journal=Archives of Sexual Behavior |language=en |volume=49 |issue=5 |pages=1615–1630 |doi=10.1007/s10508-019-01600-1 |issn=1573-2800}}</ref> ==Romantic identities== {{Redirect-several|dab=off|heterosexuality|homosexuality|bisexuality|pansexuality|polysexuality|plurisexuality|allosexuality|monosexuality}}{{LGBTQ sidebar}}
People may or may not engage in purely emotional romantic relationships. The main identities relating to this are:<ref name="Richards and Barker" /><ref name="Cerankowski and Milks" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lgbtqia.ucdavis.edu/educated/glossary|title=LGBTQIA Resource Center Glossary {{!}} LGBTQIA Resource Center|website=lgbtqia.ucdavis.edu|date=May 5, 2015|access-date=2019-08-04|archive-date=August 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803144259/https://lgbtqia.ucdavis.edu/educated/glossary|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":10">{{Cite web |date=2021-07-01 |title=Asexuality, Attraction, and Romantic Orientation |url=https://lgbtq.unc.edu/resources/exploring-identities/asexuality-attraction-and-romantic-orientation/ |access-date=2022-03-11 |website=LGBTQ Center |language=en-US |archive-date=December 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203043814/https://lgbtq.unc.edu/resources/exploring-identities/asexuality-attraction-and-romantic-orientation/ |url-status=live }}</ref> * '''Aromantic''', meaning someone who experiences little to no romantic attraction (aromanticism).<ref>{{cite thesis |last1=Bougie |first1=C. |title=Composing aromanticism |date=May 2021 |doi=10.32469/10355/85832}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-18 |title=5 things you should know about aromantic people |url=https://www.stonewall.org.uk/about-us/news/5-things-you-should-know-about-aromantic-people |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220226060725/https://www.stonewall.org.uk/about-us/news/5-things-you-should-know-about-aromantic-people |archive-date=February 26, 2022 |access-date=2022-02-26 |website=Stonewall |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-10-29 |title=Never Been Interested in Romance? You Could Be Aromantic |url=https://psychcentral.com/health/what-is-aromantic |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325222124/https://psychcentral.com/health/what-is-aromantic |archive-date=March 25, 2023 |access-date=2022-02-26 |website=Psych Central |language=en}}</ref><ref name="theguardian">{{cite news |author=Josh Salisbury |title=Meet the aromantics: 'I'm not cold – I just don't have any romantic feelings' | Life and style |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/oct/11/meet-the-aromantics-not-cold-dont-have-romantic-feelings-sex |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210407054453/https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/oct/11/meet-the-aromantics-not-cold-dont-have-romantic-feelings-sex |archive-date=April 7, 2021 |access-date=2018-04-15 |newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Przybylo |first1=Ela |last2=Gupta |first2=Kristina |date=2020 |title=Editorial Introduction: The Erotics of Asexualities and Nonsexualities: Intersectional Approaches |journal=Feminist Formations |volume=32 |issue=3 |pages=vii–xxi |doi=10.1353/ff.2020.0034 |s2cid=235009367 |id={{Project MUSE|777127}}}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=11 February 2015 |title=GLAAD - A is for Asexual, Agender, Aromantic |url=https://www.glaad.org/blog/asexual-agender-aromantic |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326211810/https://www.glaad.org/blog/asexual-agender-aromantic |archive-date=March 26, 2023 |access-date=26 March 2023}}</ref> ** ''For identities within the aromantic spectrum, see Aromantic spectrum''. * '''Alloromantic''' or '''zedromantic''':<ref>{{Cite journal |url=https://read.dukeupress.edu/american-speech/article/98/1/104/360022/Among-the-New-Words |access-date=2024-04-17 |journal=American Speech |doi=10.1215/00031283-10579494 |title=Among the New Words |date=2023 |last1=Zimmer |first1=Benjamin |last2=Wright |first2=Kelly E. |last3=Hughes |first3=Brianne |last4=Zhang |first4=Lynn |last5=McLean |first5=Jaidan |last6=Carson |first6=Charles E. |volume=98 |pages=104–119 |archive-date=April 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240420224256/https://read.dukeupress.edu/american-speech/article/98/1/104/360022/Among-the-New-Words |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":6" /> Not aromantic (alloromanticism or zedromanticism).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Barron |first=Victoria |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BDSdEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22omniromantic%22&pg=PT4 |title=Perfectly Queer: An Illustrated Introduction |date=2023-02-21 |publisher=Jessica Kingsley Publishers |isbn=978-1-83997-409-0 |language=en |archive-date=December 2, 2024 |access-date=April 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241202180637/https://books.google.com/books?id=BDSdEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22omniromantic%22&pg=PT4 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Tessler |first1=Hannah |title=Aromanticism, asexuality, and relationship (non-)formation: How a-spec singles challenge romantic norms and reimagine family life |journal=Sexualities |date=23 August 2023 |volume=28 |issue=1–2 |pages=514–535 |doi=10.1177/13634607231197061 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Niemira |first1=Jan C. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DcqPDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22alloromantic%22&pg=PA133 |title=Sex, Sexuality, and Trans Identities: Clinical Guidance for Psychotherapists and Counselors |last2=Jacobson |first2=Gary J. |last3=Violeta |first3=Karalyn J. |date=2019-09-19 |publisher=Jessica Kingsley Publishers |isbn=978-1-78592-618-1 |language=en}}</ref> ** '''Monoromantic''': Romantic attraction towards person(s) of only one gender (monoromanticism).<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Sharmat |first=Madeline |date=2023-06-08 |title=All Bi Myself: The Relationship Between Bisexuality and Self-Essentialism |url=https://via.library.depaul.edu/csh_etd/474 |journal=College of Science and Health Theses and Dissertations}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Matheson |first1=Lauren P. |last2=Blair |first2=Karen L. |title=From continua to kaleidoscopes: How plurisexuality challenges traditional conceptualizations of sexual orientation |journal=The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality |date=September 2023 |volume=32 |issue=2 |pages=151–163 |doi=10.3138/cjhs.2023-0022 }}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite book |last=Dyer |first=Harriet |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uVmuEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22skolioromantic%22&pg=PT6 |title=From Ace to Ze: The Little Book of LGBT Terms |date=2018-05-10 |publisher=Summersdale |isbn=978-1-78685-696-8 |language=en}}</ref> *** '''Androromantic''': Romantic attraction towards men or masculinity (androromanticism).<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Steelman |first1=Sarah M. |last2=Hertlein |first2=Katherine M. |title=Underexplored Identities: Attending to Asexuality in Therapeutic Contexts |journal=Journal of Family Psychotherapy |date=2 April 2016 |volume=27 |issue=2 |pages=85–98 |doi=10.1080/08975353.2016.1169014 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Thurer |first=Shari |date=2023 |title=Beyond the Binary : Essays on Gender |url=https://www.torrossa.com/en/resources/an/5624597 |journal=Phoenix Publishing House |language=en |pages=1–124}}</ref> *** '''Gyneromantic''' or '''gynoromantic''': Romantic attraction towards women or femininity (gyneromanticism or gynoromanticism).<ref>{{cite thesis |last1=Woodruff |first1=Elisa |title=Wellness in asexual-Identified individuals: The Impact of Social Support and Microaggressions |date=2019 |url=https://huskiecommons.lib.niu.edu/allgraduate-thesesdissertations/7789/ }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Zamani-Gallaher |first1=Eboni M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L9CwDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22gynoromantic%22&pg=PT123 |title=Rethinking LGBTQIA Students and Collegiate Contexts: Identity, Policies, and Campus Climate |last2=Choudhuri |first2=Devika Dibya |last3=Taylor |first3=Jason L. |date=2019-09-20 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-429-82426-5 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Zosky |first1=Diane L. |last2=Alberts |first2=Robert |title=What's in a name? Exploring use of the word queer as a term of identification within the college-aged LGBT community |journal=Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment |date=16 November 2016 |volume=26 |issue=7–8 |pages=597–607 |doi=10.1080/10911359.2016.1238803 }}</ref> *** {{Visible anchor|Heteroromantic|Heteroromanticism|Heteromantic|Heteromanticism|text='''Heteroromantic'''}}: Romantic attraction towards person(s) of the opposite gender (heteroromanticism).<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Steelman |first1=Sarah M. |last2=Hertlein |first2=Katherine M. |title=Underexplored Identities: Attending to Asexuality in Therapeutic Contexts |journal=Journal of Family Psychotherapy |date=2 April 2016 |volume=27 |issue=2 |pages=85–98 |doi=10.1080/08975353.2016.1169014 }}</ref> *** {{Visible anchor|Homoromantic|Homoromanticism|text='''Homoromantic'''}}: Romantic attraction towards person(s) of the same gender (homoromanticism). ** {{Anchor|Multiromantic|Pluriromantic}}'''Multiromantic''' or '''pluriromantic''': Romantic attraction towards person(s) of multiple genders (multiromanticism or pluriromanticism).<ref>{{cite thesis |last1=Gatewood |first1=Hunter |date=2023 |title=Differentiating Sexual Orientation and Romantic Orientation: Exploring Two Inventories of Sexual and Romantic Attraction |url=https://www.proquest.com/openview/f4e961c22ffc82729b76400866486ce1/1 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Rucco |first1=Daniele |last2=Toffoli |first2=Greta |last3=Anzani |first3=Annalisa |last4=Prunas |first4=Antonio |title=A Networked Model of Ecological Systems Theory to Discuss Concerns in Italian Bisexual+ and Transgender People After the Block of the 'Zan Bill' by Senate |journal=Sexuality Research and Social Policy |date=March 2024 |volume=21 |issue=1 |pages=313–338 |doi=10.1007/s13178-023-00906-z }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Zhang |first1=Yang Bo |last2=Mishra |first2=Shraddha |last3=Liang |first3=Emily |last4=Wekerle |first4=Christine |title=Adverse Childhood Experiences, Mental Health, and Resilience in 2SLGBTQIA + Persons: a Scoping Review |journal=Adversity and Resilience Science |date=September 2023 |volume=4 |issue=3 |pages=211–233 |doi=10.1007/s42844-023-00095-z }}</ref> *** {{Visible anchor|Biromantic|Biromanticism|text='''Biromantic'''}} or '''ambiromantic''': Romantic attraction towards two genders, or person(s) of the same and other genders (biromanticism or ambiromanticism).<ref name=":3">{{cite book |last1=Decker |first1=Julie Sondra |title=The Invisible Orientation: An Introduction to Asexuality |date=2015 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=978-1-5107-0064-2 }}{{pn|date=April 2024}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{cite thesis |last1=Ghosh Lisbin |first1=Maya Katyajini |title=A-Spec: Conceptualizing Asexual Identity, Experience, and Phenomenological Form |date=2023 |doi=10.48617/etd.1077 }}</ref> Sometimes used the same way as panromantic or multiromantic.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What Does Biromantic Mean? |url=https://www.webmd.com/sex/what-does-biromantic-mean |access-date=2021-12-03 |website=WebMD |language=en |archive-date=December 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203193041/https://www.webmd.com/sex/what-does-biromantic-mean |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":10" /><ref name=":03">{{cite journal |last1=Hayfield |first1=Nikki |last2=Křížová |first2=Karolína |title=It's Like Bisexuality, but It Isn't: Pansexual and Panromantic People's Understandings of Their Identities and Experiences of Becoming Educated about Gender and Sexuality |journal=Journal of Bisexuality |date=3 April 2021 |volume=21 |issue=2 |pages=167–193 |doi=10.1080/15299716.2021.1911015 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name=":5"/> *** {{Visible anchor|Panromantic|Panromanticism|text='''Panromantic'''}} or '''omniromantic''':<ref name=":03"/> Romantic attraction towards person(s) regardless of gender or of any, every, and all genders (panromanticism or omniromanticism).<ref name=":03" /><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hille |first1=Jessica J. |last2=Simmons |first2=Megan K. |last3=Sanders |first3=Stephanie A. |title='Sex' and the Ace Spectrum: Definitions of Sex, Behavioral Histories, and Future Interest for Individuals Who Identify as Asexual, Graysexual, or Demisexual |journal=The Journal of Sex Research |date=September 2020 |volume=57 |issue=7 |pages=813–823 |doi=10.1080/00224499.2019.1689378 |pmid=31799860 |s2cid=208623207 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Panromantic Asexuality: What Is It? |url=https://www.webmd.com/sex/what-is-panromantic-asexuality |access-date=2021-12-01 |website=WebMD |language=en |archive-date=December 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201235737/https://www.webmd.com/sex/what-is-panromantic-asexuality |url-status=live }}</ref> *** {{Vanchor|Polyromantic|text='''Polyromantic'''|Polyromanticism}}: Romantic attraction towards person(s) of various, but not all, genders (polyromanticism).<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Carrigan |first1=Mark |last2=Gupta |first2=Kristina |last3=Morrison |first3=Todd G. |title=Asexuality special theme issue editorial |journal=Psychology and Sexuality |date=May 2013 |volume=4 |issue=2 |pages=111–120 |doi=10.1080/19419899.2013.774160 }}</ref> **{{Anchor|Ceteroromantic|Skolioromantic}} '''Skolioromantic''' or '''ceteroromantic''': Romantic attraction towards genderqueer or non-binary person(s) (skolioromanticism or ceteroromanticism).<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{cite thesis |last1=Chessin |first1=Krista Ellise |title=The sexual and romantic orientation scale: a measure of sexual and romantic orientation as separate dimensions |date=2019 |hdl=10211.3/213654 }}</ref><ref name=":6" /> *'''Abroromantic''': Fluid between romantic identities or in romantic attraction (abroromanticism).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-22 |title=The experiences of UK LGBT+ communities during the COVID-19 pandemic |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/356109851 |access-date=2024-05-04 |website=National Centre for Social Research |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite thesis |title=Exploring the Experiences of South Asian Students in Undergraduate Programmes: A Case Study in a New Zealand University |url=https://hdl.handle.net/10292/13228 |publisher=Auckland University of Technology |date=2020 |language=en |first=Ali |last=Rasheed|hdl=10292/13228 }}</ref> Not to be confused with aroflux.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rendle |first=Samantha |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Yv6oEAAAQBAJ&dq=aroflux+aromantic&pg=PP1 |title=Hopeless Aromantic: An Affirmative Guide to Aromanticism |date=2023-07-21 |publisher=Jessica Kingsley Publishers |isbn=978-1-83997-368-0 |language=en |archive-date=December 2, 2024 |access-date=May 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241202214945/https://books.google.com/books?id=Yv6oEAAAQBAJ&dq=aroflux%20aromantic&pg=PP1 |url-status=live }}</ref> * '''Pomoromantic''': Rejecting preexisting romantic labels (pomoromanticism).<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":3" />
== Split attraction model == The split attraction model refers to the concept that sexual and romantic orientation are separate routes of attraction. It says that because they are separate from each other, they can be labeled separately and discussed as separate concepts. The split attraction model is often used by people in the asexual and aromantic communities. It can also be used by anyone who experiences sexual attraction and romantic attraction separately.
It is useful to help clarify different ways that people experience attraction.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bogaert |first=Anthony F. |date=2015-05-04 |title=Asexuality: What It Is and Why It Matters |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00224499.2015.1015713 |journal=The Journal of Sex Research |volume=52 |issue=4 |pages=362–379 |doi=10.1080/00224499.2015.1015713 |issn=0022-4499}}</ref>
==Relationship with sexual orientation and asexuality== {{Main|Split attraction model}}
{{see also|Romantic attraction|Sexual orientation|Sexual attraction}}
The implications of the distinction between romantic and sexual orientations have not been fully recognized, nor have they been studied extensively.<ref name=":2">{{cite book |last1=Bogaert |first1=Anthony F. |title=Understanding Asexuality |date=2012 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers |isbn=978-1-4422-0101-9 |page=14 }}</ref> It is common for sources to describe sexual orientation as including components of both sexual and romantic (or romantic equivalent) attractions.<ref name=":1"/><ref name=":2"/> Publications investigating the relationship between sexual orientation and romantic orientation are limited. Challenges in collecting information result from survey participants having difficulty identifying or distinguishing between sexual and romantic attractions.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Savin-Williams|first1=Ritch C.|last2=Vrangalova|first2=Zhana|date=2013|title=Mostly heterosexual as a distinct sexual orientation group: A systematic review of the empirical evidence|journal=Developmental Review|volume=33|issue=1|pages=58–88|doi=10.1016/j.dr.2013.01.001 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Priebe|first1=Gisela|last2=Svedin|first2=Carl Göran|date=2013|title=Operationalization of Three Dimensions of Sexual Orientation in a National Survey of Late Adolescents|journal=The Journal of Sex Research|volume=50|issue=8|pages=727–738|doi=10.1080/00224499.2012.713147 |pmid=23136981|s2cid=27288714}}</ref>
Asexual individuals experience little to no sexual attraction (see gray asexuality); however, they may still experience romantic attraction.<ref name="Helm">{{cite book|vauthors=Helm KM|title=Hooking Up: The Psychology of Sex and Dating|isbn=978-1610699518|publisher=ABC-CLIO|year=2015|page=32|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O3K9CgAAQBAJ&pg=PA32}}</ref><ref name="Fischer">{{cite book|vauthors=Fischer NL, Seidman S|title=Introducing the New Sexuality Studies|isbn=978-1317449188|publisher=Routledge|year=2016|page=183|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SEmTDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA183|access-date=November 27, 2019|archive-date=July 6, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230706223114/https://books.google.com/books?id=SEmTDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA183|url-status=live}}</ref> Lisa M. Diamond states that a person's romantic orientation can differ from whom the person is sexually attracted to.<ref name=":0">{{cite journal |last1=Diamond |first1=Lisa M. |title=What does sexual orientation orient? A biobehavioral model distinguishing romantic love and sexual desire |journal=Psychological Review |date=January 2003 |volume=110 |issue=1 |pages=173–192 |doi=10.1037/0033-295x.110.1.173 |pmid=12529061 }}</ref> While there is limited research on the discordance between sexual attraction and romantic attraction in individuals, the possibility of fluidity and diversity in attractions have been progressively recognized.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Lund |first1=Emily M. |last2=Thomas |first2=Katie B. |last3=Sias |first3=Christina M. |last4=Bradley |first4=April R. |title=Examining Concordant and Discordant Sexual and Romantic Attraction in American Adults: Implications for Counselors |journal=Journal of LGBT Issues in Counseling |date=October 2016 |volume=10 |issue=4 |pages=211–226 |doi=10.1080/15538605.2016.1233840 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Weinrich |first1=James D. |last2=Klein |first2=Fritz |last3=McCutchan |first3=J. Allen |last4=Grant |first4=Igor |title=Cluster Analysis of the Klein Sexual Orientation Grid in Clinical and Nonclinical Samples: When Bisexuality Is Not Bisexuality |journal=Journal of Bisexuality |date=3 July 2014 |volume=14 |issue=3–4 |pages=349–372 |doi=10.1080/15299716.2014.938398 |pmc=4267693 |pmid=25530727}}</ref> Researchers Bulmer and Izuma found that people who identify as aromantic often have more negative attitudes in relation to romance. While roughly 1% of the population identifies as asexual, 74% of those people reported having some form of romantic attraction.<ref name=":5">{{cite journal |last1=Antonsen |first1=Amy N. |last2=Zdaniuk |first2=Bozena |last3=Yule |first3=Morag |last4=Brotto |first4=Lori A. |title=Ace and Aro: Understanding Differences in Romantic Attractions Among Persons Identifying as Asexual |journal=Archives of Sexual Behavior |date=July 2020 |volume=49 |issue=5 |pages=1615–1630 |doi=10.1007/s10508-019-01600-1 |pmid=32095971 }}</ref>
A concept commonly used by people that experience discordant romantic and sexual attraction is the split attraction model, which tries to explain that romantic and sexual attractions are not exclusively tied together and is often used by people of the asexual and aromantic community to explain their differing romantic versus sexual orientations. The abbreviation aroace (or aro-ace) can be used for someone who is both aromantic ('aro') and asexual ('ace').<ref>{{cite web |title=aro-ace |url=https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/aro-ace |website=Collins Dictionary |access-date=11 September 2024}}</ref>
== Symbols and Flags == {{gallery|File:Aromantic Pride Flag.svg|Aromantic pride flag|File:Homoromantic Pride Flag.png|Homoromantic pride flag|Biromantic asexual pride flag.svg|Biromantic Asexual pride flag|File:Biromantic Pride Flag (By pride-flags).webp|A proposal for a Biromantic pride flag|File:Panromantic Pride Flag.webp|Panromantic pride flag|File:Ceteroromantic or Skolioromantic Pride flag.webp|Ceteroromantic pride flag|mode=nolines|whitebg=y|height=100}}
== See also == * Bromance * Cross-sex friendship * Emotional affair * Heterosociality * Homosociality * Queerplatonic relationship * Romantic friendship * Womance
==References== {{Reflist}}
==Further reading== * {{cite book |last1=King |first1=Laura |title=The Science of Psychology: An Appreciative View |date=2010 |publisher=McGraw Hill Professional |isbn=978-0-07-353206-6 }} *{{cite book|title=Sex and Society|volume=1|isbn=978-0-7614-7905-5|publisher=Marshall Cavendish Reference|year=2009|editor=Marshall Cavendish Corporation|contribution=Asexuality|pages=82–83|contribution-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aVDZchwkIMEC&pg=PA82|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aVDZchwkIMEC|access-date=2020-04-24}} *{{Cite journal | author = Wells, J. W. | year = 1989 | title = Teaching about Gay and Lesbian Sexual and Affectional Orientation Using Explicit Films to Reduce Homophobia | journal = Journal of Humanistic Education and Development | volume = 28 | issue = 1 | pages = 18–34 | doi = 10.1002/j.2164-4683.1989.tb00179.x }}
{{Sexual identities}}
Category:Sexual orientation Category:Romantic orientation Category:Aromanticism Category:Asexuality Category:LGBTQ