Jump to content

What Asexual People Sexually Fantasize About (Science Of Us Article)


Janus the Fox

Recommended Posts

Janus the Fox

http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2016/11/what-asexual-people-fantasize-about.html

This article by Jesse Singal discusses the separation of sexual fantasy and attraction/desire.  It concluded that fantasy (of presumably small study) are not much different than anybody else (dated 26th November 2016 by New York Magazine - SCIENCE of US). This quote is of particular note: -

Quote

the similarity between the groups on several of these measures is striking. For example, nearly half of asexual women and three quarters of asexual men reported both experiencing sexual fantasy and masturbating, despite reporting a lack of sexual attraction to other people and identifying as asexual. Further, there was significant overlap in the sexual fantasies experienced by participants, regardless of their asexual or sexual status.

Otherwise it is of an interesting read allbeit a short article with a link to the study Sexual Fantasy and Masturbation Among Asexual Individuals: An In-Depth Exploration [Yule, M.A., Brotto, L.A. & Gorzalka, B.B. Arch Sex Behav (2016)] (Dated - 23rd November 2016)

Link to post
Share on other sites
Hermit Advocate

Interesting. It's good that people are researching asexuals as an orientation and not as a subject of mental deficiency.

Link to post
Share on other sites
Fluffy Dragon

that's actually very interesting and insightful

Link to post
Share on other sites
  • 4 weeks later...
Janus the Fox
23 hours ago, scarletlatitude said:

Here is the research article directly linked to this: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10508-016-0870-8/fulltext.html

Is the same link in the OP :)

Link to post
Share on other sites

It's good there is a study. Although its conclusions are hardly new, I think it's good there is now another paper.

It's good for the non-aces to read up and stop theorizing stupid things and it's also good for our own community. I feel some people needs to spend more time reading up what's already out there rather than promoting what *they* think asexuality should be to fit *their* personal needs. Studies are not flawless but it's a fast way to get a summary of many opinions that have been reviewed/curated to avoid anyone to sidetrack or obfuscate the majority just by talking better or more or louder.

Link to post
Share on other sites
  • 3 weeks later...

Here's a link to a pdf of the study, from one of the main researchers (Lori Brotto)'s website.

 

One of the results tables: 2d0jnma.png

 

The researchers were surprised at the relatively high percentage of asexuals that both masturbate and experience sexual fantasy (51% for females, 75% for males).  They write in the conclusion: "Sexual fantasies have long been thought to reveal an individual’s innermost desires. However, the current data suggest that if this is true, individuals do not necessarily act on these desires. An asexual individual may not experience sexual attraction, but may nonetheless engage in sexual fantasy, perhaps to facilitate physiological sexual arousal and masturbation. The sexual fantasies may not be reflections of innate sexual wants or desires."

This is very similar to what Lost247365 has in the thread Activities that do not Invalidate Your Asexuality:

  • We can Masturbate. Despite this we are still neutral or repulsed by the idea of having sex with another person.
  • We can fantasize about sex or about people, characters, and celebrities. Envisioning people other than ourselves, and/or viewing it in third person as opposed to imagining it in first person, does not mean you desire sex. Further, sexual attraction in a fantasy or in fiction is exactly that, fantasy and fiction.
Link to post
Share on other sites

While I'm glad people are doing research into what makes asexuals tick, I can't help but feel a little miffed that the only thing allosexuals seem to want to know about us is whether or not we masturbate. That's really no one's business but our own. No one goes around asking allosexuals about their masturbation habits. I'd be much more interested in learning whether or not asexuality has a genetic component, and if so, what evolutionary purpose this genetic variation serves. 

Link to post
Share on other sites

@Starfall there is actually a study where they looked at the few markers known for gays (number of siblings, finger lengths...) and checked it they adjusted to asexuals. So they are not looking at just that, there are other studies too.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.
×
×
  • Create New...