Auto (orientation)

From LGBTQIA
Autosexual
Autosexual.png

Orientation: Any
Prefix: Auto-
Main Umbrella: Aspec

Attracted To: Self

Auto is an orientation prefix encompassing the attraction to oneself, the Greek prefix auto- meaning self or same.[1][2] The manners one may experience this include:

  • having a difficult time with various attraction-related actions with other individuals, but fine carrying them out in fantasies with oneself;
  • feeling little or no attraction to others, but feel attraction to oneself;
  • fantasizing about attraction-related interaction with oneself;
  • feeling attraction to oneself more than what is considered "normal".

History

Autosexual is thought to have been coined by sex therapist Bernard Afelbaum in 1989. He used the term to refer to individuals who have trouble getting turned on by someone else sexually. Today, it is used to refer to individuals who are primarily or exclusively attracted to oneself.[3]

Related Terms

Label Relationship Description Difference
Ectosexual Opposite Ectosexual is the attraction to individuals other than oneself. Ectosexual excludes attraction to oneself.
Self-Partnered / Soloamorous Similar An individual who is partnered, committed, or in a relationship with oneself. Self-partnered and soloamorous are types of relationships. One does not have to be autosexual to be self-partnered or soloamorous.

Orientations

Label Orientation Flag Creator(s)
Autoaesthetic Aesthetic Autoaesthetic.jpg[4] Unknown
Autoalterous Alterous Autoalterous.png[5]

Autoalterous Alternate.jpg[6]

Unknown
Autodomestic Domestic Autodomestic.png[7] felix-makes-flags
Autoromantic Romantic Autoromantic.png[8] Unknown
Autorose Sexual and Romantic Autorose.png[9] Dusky134
Autosexual Sexual Autosexual.png[10] Unknown
Autospiritual Spiritual Autospiritual.png[11] felix-makes-flags

Prefixes and Suffixes

Label Prefix / Suffix Flag Description Creator(s)
Autoflexible -flexible Autoflexible.png[12] An individual who is primarily attracted to oneself, but occasionally experiences attraction to others.[12] Yuri from thenelsonsystem#0156
Autoflux -flux Autoflux.png[13]

AutoFluxSimplified.png[14]

An individual whose attraction to oneself fluctuates and changes in intensity.[14] Lovenderr, Calamity Call, LoveIIyyy

Flags and Symbols

It is unknown where the non-symbol autosexual flag originated, but it may have been created or influenced by aturinfortheworse who created the autosexual flag including a heart symbol.[15]

Resources

  1. Ekeledo, Ngozi. "What ‘Autosexual' Means—According to People Who Are Actually Autosexual". LX Home, 13 May, 2022, https://www.lx.com/health/relationships/main-what-autosexual-means-according-to-people-who-are-actually-autosexual/52769/.
  2. "auto-". Dictionary.com, https://www.dictionary.com/browse/auto#:~:text=a%20combining%20form%20meaning%20%E2%80%9Cself%2C%E2%80%9D%20%E2%80%9Csame%2C%E2%80%9D%20%E2%80%9Cspontaneous%2C%E2%80%9D. Accessed on 26 Feb, 2024.
  3. Anonymous. "'I'm autosexual and I fancy myself more than other people'". BBC, 20 May, 2019, https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/85b0bae2-b9fb-4358-9519-4d68aafaf49c.
  4. Pride-Flags. "Autoaesthetic (2)". DeviantArt, 11 Mar, 2021, https://www.deviantart.com/pride-flags/art/Autoaesthetic-2-872895432.
  5. Pride-Flags. "Autoalterous". DeviantArt, 10 Mar, 2017, https://www.deviantart.com/pride-flags/art/Autoalterous-668105623.
  6. Pride-Flags. "Autoalterous (2)". DeviantArt, 11 Mar, 2021, https://www.deviantart.com/pride-flags/art/Autoalterous-2-872895429.
  7. felix-makes-flags. "Autodomestic". Tumblr, 24 Dec, 2021, https://web.archive.org/web/20220120180218/https://felix-makes-flags.tumblr.com/post/671462451413467136/autodomestic. Archived on 20 Jan, 2022.
  8. Pride-Flags. "Autoromantic". DeviantArt, 10 Mar, 2017, https://www.deviantart.com/pride-flags/art/Autoromantic-668105598.
  9. Dusky134. "Autorose". LGBTQIA+ Wiki, 15 May, 2021, https://www.lgbtqia.wiki/wiki/Autorose.
  10. Paiige1. "Autosexual". LGBTQIA+ Wiki, 4 Jun, 2020, https://www.lgbtqia.wiki/wiki/Autosexual.
  11. felix-makes-flags. "Autospiritual". Tumblr, 24 Dec, 2021, https://web.archive.org/web/20220120180334/https://felix-makes-flags.tumblr.com/post/671463476484571136/autospiritual. Archived on 20 Jan, 2022.
  12. 12.0 12.1 the-planetary-nebula. "Autoflexible". Tumblr, 27 Jul, 2021, https://the-planetary-nebula.tumblr.com/post/657850687829475328/autoflexible.
  13. DeathByGlamourrrr. "Autoflux". LGBTQIA+ Wiki, 30 Dec, 2020, https://www.lgbtqia.wiki/wiki/Autoflux.
  14. 14.0 14.1 LoveIIyyy. "Autoflux". LGBTQIA Wiki, 30 Dec, 2020, https://www.lgbtqia.wiki/wiki/Autoflux.
  15. aturinfortheworse. "autosexual flag". Tumblr, 2012, https://aturinfortheworse.tumblr.com/post/14158699799/autosexual-flag.