The Split Attraction Model

Also known as “SAM” for short.

The split attraction model is a model that states romantic and sexual attraction are two different things and can be experienced differently.

For example, if an individual labels their sexuality as bisexual it’s often assumed that the individual is both romantically and sexually attracted to two more genders unless otherwise stated. However, this may not necessarily always be the case. It could be possible that they are aromantic and bisexual in that they do not experience romantic attraction towards any genders but may experience sexual attraction towards two or more genders. Or even heteromantic and bisexual in that they only experience romantic attraction to only a gender that is the “opposite” or “different” than thier own but experience sexual attraction to two or more genders.

Sexuality isnt always congruent. Romantic and sexual attraction dont always align with each other.

Originally, the model was used by the a-spec community to help describe their experiences with the complexities of sexuality. However, the model may also be used outside of the a-spec community if an individual experiences attraction differently.

Experiencing attraction differently is known as having “split attraction” or being "variorientated". The opposite of having split attraction/ being variorientated would be perioriented.

There are romantic orientation counterparts to  sexual orientation counterparts to help distinguish the difference between the way an individual experiences romantic and sexual attraction.

Below are possible combinations:

•Aromanticism: is the absence of romantic attraction to any genders. Some people are  both aromantic and asexual in that they do not experience romantic and sexual attraction towards any genders.

Aromantic Bisexual- Absence of romantic attraction towards any genders but sexual attraction to two or more genders.

Aromantic Demisexual- Absence of romantic attraction towards any genders but sexual attraction when an emotional bond is formed with an individual.

Aromantic Heterosexual- Absence of romantic attraction towards any genders but sexual attraction to only a gender “opposite” or “different” than the individual’s own gender.

Aromantic Homosexual- Absence of romantic attraction towards any genders but sexual attraction to only a gender the same as the individual.

Aromantic Pansexual-  Absence of romantic attraction towards any genders but sexual attraction regardless of gender.

•Biromanticism: is the romantic attraction to two or more genders. Biromantic is the romantic counterpart to bisexual. Some people are both biromantic and bisexual in that they are both romantically and sexually attracted to two or more genders.

Biromantic Asexual- romantic attraction to two or more genders but absence of sexual attraction towards any genders.

Biromantic Demisexual- romantic attraction to two or more genders but sexual attraction when an emotional bond is formed with an individual.

Biromantic Heterosexual- romantic attraction to two or more genders but sexual attraction to only a gender “opposite” or “different” than the individual’s own gender.

Biromantic Homosexual- romantic attraction to two or more genders but sexual attraction to only a gender the same as the individual.

Biromantic Pansexual - romantic attraction to two or more genders but sexual attraction regardless of gender.

•Demiromanticism: is the romantic attraction when an emotional bond is formed with an individual. Demiromantic is the romantic counterpart to demisexual. Some people are both demiromantic and demisexual in that they do not romantic or sexual attraction unless an emotional bond is formed with an individual.

Demiromantic Asexual- romantic attraction when an emotional bond is formed with an individual but absence of sexual attraction to any genders.

Demiromantic Bisexual - romantic attraction when an emotional bond is formed with an individual but sexual attraction to two or more genders.

Demiromantic Heterosexual - romantic attraction when an emotional bond is formed with an individual but sexual attraction to only a gender “opposite” or “different” than the individual’s own gender.

Demiromantic Homosexual- romantic attraction when an emotional bond is formed with an individual but sexual attraction to only a gender the same as the individual.

Demiromantic Pansexual- romantic attraction when an emotional bond is formed with an individual but sexual attraction regardless of gender.

•Heteromanticism: is the romantic attraction to only a gender “opposite” or different than an individual’s own gender. Heteromantic is the romantic counterpart to heterosexual. Some people are both heteromantic and heterosexual in that they are both romantically and sexually attracted to only a gender that is “opposite” or different than their own.

Heteromantic Asexual - romantic attraction to only a gender “opposite” or different than an individual’s own gender but absence of sexual attraction to any genders.

Heteromantic Bisexual - romantic attraction to only a gender “opposite” or different than an individual’s own gender but sexual attraction to two or more genders.

Heteromantic Demisexual - romantic attraction to only a gender “opposite” or different than an individual’s own gender but sexual attraction when an emotional bond is formed with an individual.

Heteromantic Homosexual - romantic attraction to only a gender “opposite” or different than an individual’s own gender but sexual attraction to only a gender the same as the individual.

Heteromantic Pansexual- romantic attraction to only a gender “opposite” or different than an individual’s own gender but sexual attraction regardless of gender.

•Homoromanticism: is the romantic attraction to only a gender the same as the individual’s own gender. Homoromantic is the romantic counterpart to homosexual. Some people are both homoromantic and homosexual in that they are both romantically and sexually attracted to only a gender the same as their own.

Homoromantic Asexual- romantic attraction to only a gender the same as the individual’s own gender but absence of sexual attraction to any genders.

Homoromantic Bisexual- romantic attraction to only a gender the same as the individual’s own gender but sexual attraction to two or more genders.

Homoromantic Demisexual- romantic attraction to only a gender the same as the individual’s own gender but sexual attraction when an emotional bond is formed with an individual.

Homoromantic Heterosexual- romantic attraction to only a gender the same as the individual’s own gender but  sexual attraction to only a gender “opposite” or “different” than the individual’s own gender.

Homoromantic Pansexual- romantic attraction to only a gender the same as the individual’s own gender but sexual attraction regardless of gender.

•Panromanticism:  is the romantic attraction regardless of gender. Panromantic is the romantic counterpart to pansexual. Some people are both panromantic and pansexual in that they are both romantically and sexually attracted to people regardless of gender.

Panromantic Asexual - romantic attraction regardless of gender but absence of sexual attraction towards any genders.

Panromantic Bisexual - romantic attraction regardless of gender but sexual attraction to two or more genders.

Panromantic Demisexual - romantic attraction regardless of gender but sexual attraction when an emotional bond is formed with an individual.

Panromantic Heterosexual - romantic attraction regardless of gender but sexual attraction to only a gender “opposite” or “different” than the individual’s own gender.

Panromantic Homosexual - romantic attraction regardless of gender but sexual attraction to only a gender the same as the individual.