Cupioromantic describes an individual who wishes a romantic relationship however would not expertise romantic attraction to others, based on sexologist Carol Queen, Ph.D. Additionally typically referred to as kalosromantic, it’s thought of a micro-label beneath the aromantic umbrella, which refers to individuals who have little to no romantic attraction towards others. Cupioromantic of us are sometimes romance-favorable, however this is not all the time the case.

To know the cupioromantic expertise, it’s essential to first perceive that there’s a distinction between sexual orientation and romantic orientation. They’ll co-exist, however they don’t seem to be the identical, Queen explains. Sexual orientation focuses on who you discover sexually engaging (heterosexual, bisexual, and many others.). Moreover, an individual may also be asexual, whereby they expertise little to no sexual attraction to others in any respect. Romantic orientation focuses on who you’re feeling romantically enthusiastic about (heteromantic, biromantic, and many others.). An individual may also expertise little to no romantic attraction to others in any respect, often called aromantic. 

Cupioromanticism is a romantic orientation, which offers with romantic attraction—the driving want to be romantically concerned with somebody you want. Queen says individuals usually assume somebody should expertise romantic attraction or romantic want for one more individual with a view to be in or search a romantic relationship, however this can be a false impression. That is the place cupioromanticism is available in.

“There are definitely loads of discordant relationships on this axis—one accomplice romantically loves/wishes the opposite, the opposite one is a part of the connection however would not really feel the identical method,” Queen explains. “Typically a relationship adjustments right into a configuration like this over time (one individual’s romantic emotions fade, the opposite’s don’t). Typically they begin out this manner within the first place.” 

Licensed therapist Rachel Wright, LMFT, notes that some individuals do take problem with the particular time period cupioromantic. “Many individuals don’t like this time period, saying it represents conformity with amatonormativity, which is the view that romantic relationships are extra favorable than different sorts of relationships,” she explains.