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"My First Threesome with Them Was a Religious Experience": A Mixed-Methods Study of Symbiosexual Experiences.

Archives of sexual behavior·2025
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Symbiosexual Attraction: An Integrated Mixed-Methods Study.

Sally W Johnston1

  • 1Human Sexuality Department, California Institute of Integral Studies, 1453 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA, 94103, USA. sallywjohnston@gmail.com.

Archives of Sexual Behavior
|April 8, 2024
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Symbiosexuality, attraction to multiple people in existing relationships, is understudied. Research confirms this attraction exists, often described as a draw to the dynamic between partners, impacting diverse individuals.

Keywords:
NonmonogamyPolyamoryQueerSexual attractionSexual orientationSymbiosexual

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Area of Science:

  • Sexuality Studies
  • Social Psychology
  • Relationship Science

Background:

  • Symbiosexuality, attraction to multiple individuals in a pre-existing relationship, is a recognized phenomenon in cultural discourse.
  • This form of attraction remains understudied within the field of sexuality.
  • Lack of validation for symbiosexual attraction may negatively impact individuals experiencing it, even within polyamorous communities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the phenomenon of symbiosexual attraction using empirical data.
  • To understand the characteristics and experiences of individuals who identify with symbiosexual attraction.
  • To challenge the invisibility and stigma surrounding symbiosexual attraction.

Main Methods:

  • Integrated mixed-methods analysis of secondary data.
  • Utilized data from the 2023 The Pleasure Study.
  • Qualitative and quantitative data analysis to explore symbiosexual attraction.

Main Results:

  • Findings support the existence of symbiosexual attraction.
  • Individuals describe this attraction as a draw to the energy, multidimensionality, and power shared between people in relationships.
  • A diverse population experiences symbiosexual attraction, which can be a strong, frequent, or pervasive experience.

Conclusions:

  • Symbiosexual attraction is a valid experience supported by empirical evidence.
  • This attraction expands conceptualizations of desire and sexual orientation.
  • Findings challenge mononormative perspectives and advocate for greater recognition and validation within sexuality studies and polyamorous communities.