What comes in your mind when you hear the word "Attraction"? Were you thinking of sexual attraction?. When it comes to attraction is pretty much all people talk about. No one really teaches you about any other kind. This makes distinguishing our feelings from different people quite challenging. To make things a bit cleaner here are five type of attraction you may experience in your life.
1) Platonic Attraction
A Platonic Relationship is a closed Relationship between two person in which sexual desire is not existent. Platonic attraction is the desire to have a platonic relationship or do platonic things with a specific person. What is considered platonic is very contextual, Platonic feelings can be just as intense or confusing as any other attraction, and are in no way secondary to any of them.
2) Sensual Attraction
This is the desire to have physical, but not inherently sexual, contact with a specific person. This can include holding hands, cuddling, kissing etc. Though it often coexists with other attraction, it doesn't always have to. Being sensually attracted to someone doesn't necessarily mean you are attracted to them in another capacity.
3) Romantic Attraction
This is the desire to have a romantic relationship or do romantic things with a specific person. Romantic attraction is usually assumed to be bundled with sexual attraction, or that they are one and the same. But that isn't always the case. It's possible to be attracted to someone romantically without the additional sexual attraction, or even sexual attraction. What is considered romantic might overlap somewhat with what is considered platonic.
4) Sexual Attraction
This is the desire to have a sexual relationship or do sexual things with a specific person. Sexual activities are typically defined by having some sort of genital contact. This attraction can exist independently from other form of attraction though many experience it alongside romantic attraction.
5) Aesthetic Attraction
This is finding pleasure in the appearence of a specific person in the same way you might find a piece of artwork or pretty scenery. Since it usually accompanies sexual attraction it's easy to confuse the two if you don't have a strong frame of reference or lack experience. Aesthetic attraction can also exist separately from other attractions thinking someone is nice to look at doesn't always mean you want to do anything with them it's important to acknowledge that given the complexity of the human mind and body the way people experience attraction is unique to the individual.
So don't freak out if something you feel is different than what someone else feels.