Sexuality has never been a one‑size‑fits‑all kind of thing. It’s fluid, deeply personal, and shaped by everything from biology to culture to lived experience. But just when we thought we’d mapped out the spectrum, a new term is entering the conversation — and it’s turning the whole idea of attraction on its head.
Meet symbiosexuality.
What Is Symbiosexuality?
According to a new study from researchers at Seattle University, symbiosexual people aren’t primarily attracted to individuals. Instead, they’re drawn to the energy, multidimensionality, and power shared between people who are already in established relationships.
In other words: it’s not about wanting to be with one person. It’s about wanting to be part of the synergy between two people — the chemistry, the interplay, the spark that already exists. Think of it as being attracted to the relationship itself, not just the people in it.
The study, published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior, surveyed 373 participants about their sexual and gender identities. A significant portion of those surveyed reported feeling romantic and sexual attraction to the “synergy” of joining an existing couple.
“We Need to Rethink Attraction”
Dr. Sally Johnston, an adjunct professor of anthropology and sociology who led the study, put it bluntly: “We need to rethink the nature of human attraction and desire as only one‑to‑one experiences.”
Her research suggests that for some people, attraction isn’t about finding one person — it’s about finding the right dynamic. And that’s a fundamentally different way of understanding desire.
Why This Matters — Even Within Polyamory
One of the most surprising findings? Even within the polyamorous community — a space already built around non‑traditional relationships — symbiosexual attraction often goes unrecognized and invalidated. That lack of recognition can lead to the mistreatment of the third person in a relationship, according to the study.
Dr. Johnston told PsyPost she first became interested in the topic after “hearing people talk openly about experiencing attraction to established couples.” She added: “I wanted to learn more about this understudied attraction.”
What Symbiosexual People Actually Say
The study included in‑depth interviews with participants who identified with this orientation. One participant, called “Hayden,” explained: “You feed off their energy, their attraction to each other… there’s an interplay between the couple.”
Another participant, “Sage,” added: “I also just want to be smack in the middle of that relationship. I would also like to be included in this relationship… I really think my ideal dynamic might be myself and a couple.”
Pushing the Boundaries of Desire
The findings, Dr. Johnston said, “push the boundaries of the concepts of desire and sexual orientation in sexuality studies and challenge the ongoing invisibility and invalidation of and stigma and discrimination against such attractions.”
In other words: symbiosexuality isn’t just a niche curiosity. It’s a real, valid orientation that deserves to be seen and understood — especially in a world where open relationships and sexual freedom are becoming more openly discussed than ever.
What’s Next?
There isn’t a ton of research on symbiosexuality yet. But as conversations around sexuality continue to evolve and broaden, experts expect more studies to emerge over the next decade.
For now, one thing is clear: attraction is far more complex than we once thought. And for some people, the most powerful connection isn’t with one person — it’s with the energy between two.
