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Asexuality

Discussion in 'Sexual Orientation' started by staries, Jun 24, 2015.

  1. staries

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    Can someone be ace and still get aroused?
     
  2. Im Hazel

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    Asexuality - no sexual attraction. That is different to no sex drive. You can get aroused (sex drive) while still not being attracted to a person (sexuality or lack thereof.) So yeah.
     
  3. Chip

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    It depends on how you're defining arousal, and whose definition of "asexual" you're using.

    According to the widely accepted definition, the one based on research, science, and used by just about everyone credible, then "asexuality" refers to someone with no sexual attraction whatsoever. This person may have, essentially, involuntary sexual arousal, but won't really feel sexual attraction. If we're using this widely used and accepted definition of the word, asexuality is very rarely found in the population, and it is permanent and hardwired. An asexual person (according to this definition) would feel zero attraction to anyone, and other than arousal from, say, manual stimulation which is mechanical rather than emotional/psychological, would not feel arousal, and would definitely not feel arousal toward another person.

    There's a tiny group that's made up their own definition of the word which has various other definitions (depending on whom you ask), none of which are based in research or science, nor are they recognized or widely accepted by researchers, therapists or other clinicians, or much of anyone else outside of these small groups. Since there's no consensus, science, or wide acceptance of these alternate definitions, you might well be able to have both arousal and asexuality according to the alternate definition.

    All of the above said, perhaps it would make more sense to explore the underlying question of what you're asking. If you're not feeling sexual attraction, it is very, very rare for that to be hardwired, so if that's what's going on for you, it likely has an underlying cause (depression, anxiety, family of origin issues) that could be addressed and, once addressed, would resolve the "asexuality." Of course, if you're happy exactly as you are, and have no interest in exploring... then there's no reason to do anything.

    I hope that's helpful.
     
  4. Kodo

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    Arousal is a biological reaction to stimuli. Asexuality denotes a lack of sexual attraction. The two are different.

    Anyone can be aroused if their "machinery" works. For ace people, though, that natural occurrence is not associated with other human beings. Period.

    The website AVEN is a fantastic resource of explaining the asexual spectrum (yes, there's one of those too).
     
  5. Fallingdown7

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    I would say technically yes, as long as attraction to human beings (sexually) is not present.
     
  6. Chip

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    Please keep in mind all of the above represents the beliefs and opinions of AVEN, which is a community of people that have essentially made up their own rules and established their own set of beliefs, values, and definitions, none of which are based on widely accepted science, research, or anything grounded to anything measurable except their consensus beliefs. These are fringe beliefs not supported by much of anyone credible in the mainstream psychology, sexology, or mental health fields.

    While anyone is welcome to hold those thoughts, beliefs, and viewpoints, many people may find it more useful to reference more mainstream thinking, research, and thought in the field.