The concept of attraction has been theorised within the Western asexual community to exist on multiple dimensions. The current research offers empirical evidence for such a model, proposing that attraction is a subjective concept that can be experienced in ways other than solely sexual. Using a graded structure approach to determine individual definitions of five types of attraction, the research hypothesises that differential definitions of attraction will exist between asexual and allosexual (non-asexual) populations. A total of 434 participants completed an online survey comprised of two sections. The Definitions of Attraction Survey asked participants to rate each of the five attraction types on how typical they would be to be experienced in a series of ten ambiguous situations. The Sexual Identity and Attitudes survey followed, determining participants’ sexual identity, personal attitudes and boundaries to sex, as well as their asexual identity. The predicted patterns of differential definitions emerged, in addition to evidence supporting the theorised models of attraction utilised within the Western Asexual community. Compared to the allosexual group, asexual participants decentralised sex from their definitions of attraction, exhibiting a focus on romance and emotional attraction instead. These effects are theorised to reflect the rejection of amatonormativity perpetuated within Western cultures. The implications of these findings concerning the existing literature are discussed. It is suggested that further research into asexuality and other non-amatonormative lifestyles be conducted, as well as studies looking into cross-cultural differential definitions of attraction.
PLEASE NOTE: You must be a member of the University of Lincoln to be able to view this dissertation. Please log in here.