How To Identify Aesthetic Attraction

Aesthetic attraction is being attracted to the aesthetics of one's appearence by finding it pleasant to look at, appreciating one's beauty.

I frequently see people questioning their sexuality on here, which is to be expected on here, and I notice a lot of people having trouble distinguishing between aesthetic attraction and actual physical attraction to an individual. I will try to help explain how to make it easier to identify aesthetic attraction and what separates it from typical physical attraction. Experiencing everything listed below could mean you are experiencing aesthetic attraction.

Here's the start of a short and simple guide to help you identify aesthetic attraction vs other types of attraction.

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Objectively Attractive

If you are only attracted to a certain gender when they are objectively attractive, you may be experiencing aesthetic attraction. Objectively attractive people being models, actors/actresses, etc. whom everyone can agree looks beautiful. It's similar to looking at a painting or a sculpture, you can acknowledge it's lovely, but you don't necessarily want to touch it.

Look At How You Experience Attraction Towards Others

I say this meaning if you are a questioning bisexual, look at how you view the gender you know you're attracted to and compare it with how you're attracted to the gender you're questioning your attraction towards. Do you want to be sensual or sexual with one gender, but not the other? Or maybe you don't want either with the other gender? You might simply think "They look gorgeous" about one gender, where as with the other you think "They look gorgeous AND I want to touch them/them to touch me".

Look At The Depth Of Your Attraction

The "depth" of your attraction meaning how many different types of attraction you're experiencing. The basic types of attraction being sexual, romantic, and aesthetic. To apply a previous example, the types of attraction are like this:

Sexual: I want to touch/be touched by this person

Romantic: I want to love/care for them and be in a relationship with this person

Aesthetic: I think this person looks nice

Try to think of whether or not you would like a relationship with a person you're aesthetically attracted to or whether or not you would want to be sexual with that person. If the answer is no to both of these, you could just be experiencing aesthetic attraction. It can also be helpful to think more about what you would want to do with the person and for how long.

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I may add on to this in the future, but I hope it was helpful as it currently is. Feel free to ask for advice/opinions of myself or others in the comments if you're still having trouble figuring out what type of attraction you're experiencing.