Autosexual: Meaning, Self-Attraction, and Sexual Identity

This does not mean that every person who masturbates is autosexual. Masturbation is a behavior, while autosexuality concerns attraction or a lasting pattern of sexual interest.

An autosexual person may:

• feel aroused by seeing their own body;
• enjoy imagining themselves in sexual fantasies;
• prefer self-directed sexual activity;
• feel sexual attraction toward themselves and other people;
• enjoy relationships while still valuing solo sexuality;
• use autosexual as a central or secondary identity label.

Experiences vary, and no single behavior is required.

• auto-, meaning “self”;
• sexual, referring to sexual attraction, desire, or identity.

Autosexual is most commonly used as an adjective:

• She identifies as autosexual.
• He described his attraction as autosexual.
• They are exploring an autosexual identity.

It may also function as a noun:

• She is autosexual.
• He is an autosexual.
• Several autosexuals discussed their experiences.

In educational writing, autosexual person is often clearer and more person-centered than an autosexual.

The noun autosexuality refers to the identity or broader experience:

• Autosexuality can coexist with attraction to other people.
• The article explained autosexuality as a form of self-directed attraction.

Possible experiences include:

• feeling sexually attracted to one’s reflection;
• becoming aroused by one’s own photographs;
• imagining oneself as the focus of a sexual fantasy;
• finding self-touch more satisfying than partnered touch;
• enjoying dressing or posing in ways that create self-directed attraction;
• feeling strongest sexual interest when alone;
• experiencing attraction to oneself alongside attraction to partners.

A person does not need to experience all these patterns to use the term.

The distinction is:

• Masturbation describes what a person does.
• Autosexuality describes whom or what the person experiences as sexually attractive, particularly themselves.

A non-autosexual person may masturbate while imagining a partner or another person. An autosexual person may experience attraction to their own body or identity during masturbation.

Similarly, an autosexual person does not have to masturbate frequently. Orientation and behavior are related but separate.

Autosexuality is more specifically connected to sexual attraction toward oneself as an identity or continuing pattern.

The terms may overlap, but they are not exact synonyms:

• Someone may engage in autoerotic activity without identifying as autosexual.
• An autosexual person may experience attraction to themselves even when not engaging in sexual activity.

Autoeroticism emphasizes activity or arousal, while autosexuality emphasizes attraction and identity.

Autoromantic refers to romantic attraction toward oneself or a desire to direct romantic affection, courtship, or partnership-like attention toward oneself.

A person may identify as:

• autosexual but not autoromantic;
• autoromantic but not autosexual;
• both autosexual and autoromantic;
• neither.

Someone who is autoromantic may enjoy taking themselves on dates, celebrating their relationship with themselves, or experiencing self-directed romantic feelings. These experiences do not automatically involve sexual attraction.

A person may describe themselves as:

• autosexual and bisexual;
• autosexual and gay;
• autosexual and heterosexual;
• autosexual and lesbian;
• autosexual and pansexual;
• primarily autosexual.

Another person may experience little interest in others and consider autosexual their main orientation.

The label explains an important direction of attraction, but it does not automatically describe the person’s complete sexuality.

An autosexual person may or may not identify on the asexual spectrum. For example, someone may experience no attraction toward others but strong attraction toward themselves.

However, self-stimulation or libido alone does not make an asexual person autosexual. The person would usually use the label only if attraction toward themselves feels meaningful to their identity.

In everyday speech, narcissism often refers to excessive self-importance or lack of concern for others. In psychology, narcissistic traits and narcissistic personality disorder involve broader patterns of self-image, entitlement, empathy, and relationships.

Autosexuality only describes sexual attraction toward oneself. An autosexual person may be modest, caring, emotionally generous, and capable of healthy relationships.

Finding oneself sexually attractive does not prove arrogance or a personality disorder.

An autosexual person may:

• enjoy sex with a partner;
• include self-focused fantasy during partnered activity;
• prefer masturbation to partnered sex;
• want emotional intimacy without frequent sex;
• remain single;
• practice monogamy or consensual non-monogamy.

Partners may benefit from discussing how self-directed attraction fits into the relationship. Autosexuality does not necessarily mean that a partner is unwanted, unattractive, or sexually inadequate.

A person may feel sexually attracted to themselves while still having insecurities. Another person may have strong confidence without experiencing autosexual attraction.

Some people find that autosexuality supports body appreciation and sexual independence. Others may experience it more privately or without connecting it to confidence.

The identity should not be treated as a requirement to love every aspect of one’s appearance.

Autosexual people are incapable of loving partners.
Incorrect. They may form loving romantic, sexual, or committed relationships.

Autosexuality means narcissism.
No. Sexual self-attraction is different from a psychological pattern of entitlement or lack of empathy.

An autosexual person is attracted only to themselves.
Not always. Some also experience attraction toward other people.

Autosexuality is the same as a high libido.
No. Libido is general sexual drive, while autosexuality concerns the direction of attraction.

Autosexuality is a disorder.
No. It is a descriptive sexuality label, not a diagnosis.

1. Maya identifies as autosexual because she experiences strong sexual attraction toward herself.
2. An autosexual person may also feel attracted to other people.
3. Does being autosexual always mean preferring solo sex?
4. His autosexual identity does not prevent him from having a loving partner.
5. The glossary distinguishes autosexual from autoromantic and autoerotic.
6. A person can masturbate without being autosexual.
7. She explained that being autosexual was unrelated to narcissism.
8. Understanding autosexual helped them separate self-directed attraction from ordinary sexual behavior.

The term also helps distinguish sexual attraction from libido, masturbation, self-esteem, and romantic orientation. These experiences may overlap, but they are not identical.

Understanding autosexuality broadens the vocabulary of sexual identity and pleasure. It shows that self-directed attraction can coexist with partnered intimacy, attraction to others, or a preference for solo sexual expression.