Autosexual
Sexual attraction directed primarily at oneself.
Autosexual describes sexual attraction directed primarily at oneself. It is not a description of frequency of masturbation, which everyone of every orientation does; it is about where the attraction points.
People who use it describe finding themselves attractive in a way that is more present and more reliable than their attraction to others, and sometimes in the absence of any attraction to others at all.
It can combine with any other orientation or with none. Autosexual and allosexual, autosexual and asexual, autosexual alone are all ordinary.
The counterpart for romantic attraction is autoromantic, which describes the same thing in the register of romance: a relationship with oneself that has the texture of one.
Autosexual is not narcissism
The word gets read as a personality flaw with a technical name, which imports a clinical term that means something quite different and much less pleasant.
Narcissism is about needing admiration from others. Autosexuality is about where attraction points, and the two have nothing to do with each other.
Saying it well
Say this
- I am autosexual.
- Attraction pointed at myself.
- Autosexual and asexual, which is not a contradiction.
- Autoromantic too, as it happens.
Not this
- So you are just vain
- Everyone masturbates
- That is narcissism
- So you cannot love anyone else
Questions people actually ask
What does autosexual mean?
Sexual attraction directed primarily at oneself.
Is autosexual the same as narcissism?
No. Narcissism concerns needing admiration from others; autosexuality concerns where attraction points.
Can you be autosexual and attracted to others?
Yes. It combines with any orientation or none.
What is autoromantic?
The same thing in the register of romantic attraction.