Sapiosexual: being attracted to intelligence.

Judging people's attractiveness by their intellectual capacity.

What does it mean to be sapiosexual? The concept of sapiosexuality has become increasingly popular in recent years, and it tells us about the relationship between two very important concepts in our lives: sexual attraction and cognitive abilities that help us learn fast and well.

Throughout this article we will see what it is to be sapiosexual, what are the characteristics that present this psychological characteristic, and what it implies in the affective field and in the field of human sexuality.

Sapiosexual: attraction to intelligence

It has been several decades since scientists began to search for the answers to falling in love and attraction, something that affects the lives of all of us. In fact, in the article "The chemistry of love: a very potent drug" we reviewed what is known so far about this phenomenon, reviewing the Biological and hormonal factors that act on our brain.

However, we must bear in mind that, when talking about the different sexual orientations, we are moving in a swampy terrain; after all, all this is very subjective and, therefore, difficult to investigate. Perhaps that is why the concept of sapiosexuality and sapiosexuality are so fascinating..

Beyond knowing the importance of neurochemicals such as dopamine, norepinephrine or serotonin, one wonders: "What is it that makes us fixate on the sapiosexual?what is it that makes us notice one person and not another?". The answer to this question is difficult. As anthropologist Helen Fisher explains, "No one knows the exact answer. We do know that there is a very important cultural component. Timing is also crucial: you have to be willing to fall in love. People tend to fall in love with someone they are close to; we fall in love with people who are mysterious, who we don't know well.

We are therefore attracted to complex peopleWe are therefore attracted to complex people, those whom our mind is unable to grasp in a single conversation and who have a highly variable repertoire of behaviors. In short, one of the criteria we are looking for in a potential partner is that he or she can adapt to many contexts: that is, that he or she is intelligent.. This is where the concepts of sapiosexuality and sapiosexual person come into play.

• You may be interested in reading: "10 scientifically proven ways to be more attractive".

What is a Sapiosexual?

The truth is that people are attracted, repelled or ignored for reasons that are not always right to define. For clinical psychologist Mila Cahue, "there is a strong mental component. There are no fixed rules as to why we want someone. Everything from genetics to sentimental learning comes into play".

Therefore, we can say that there are many causes that define our tastes when we are attracted to someone. when it comes to being attracted to someone. The cultural element, the educational model or our own experiences, among other factors, will create our mental map that will be decisive in triggering the chemical cascade of attraction or falling in love.

For example, there will be individuals who will look at physical attractiveness, money, or the fun that the other person can provide. But far from a perfect body, an enviable economic position, or a highly desirable social life, there are people who are attracted to the "bogeyman", that is, intelligence. Whoever feels attraction for that quality in the opposite sex, is a "sapiosexual".

Those who admit being attracted to "the insideand, more specifically, by the intellectual capacityThe sapiosexuals, usually start their foreplay with interesting conversations (about politics, philosophy, etc.) and are aroused by the "insight" of another person. The sapiosexual feels stimulated or challenged by the other person's way of thinking.. Basically, he finds the intellect of his sexual partner as his most appealing trait.

More women than men

What is the profile of sapiosexual people? Although the term sapiosexual applies to both men and women, it seems to be more predominant in the female sex. predominates more in the female sex. According to the sexologist Miren Larrazábal, president of the Spanish Federation of Sexology Societies (FESS), "apparently, when we are asked what values we look for in attraction, apart from physique, we value intelligence very highly. This does not mean that men value her less, but they respond first with other variables that are a priority for them".

In addition, Larrazábal thinks that the fact of opting for an intelligent man is not due to a good conversation, but that "a woman assumes that an intelligent man will have more economic resources, or may have a better professional career". This would be a way of saying that what attracts is not intelligence per se, but the greater facility of intelligent men to provide a healthier and more viable life in material terms. Goodbye romanticism?

On the other hand, there are studies according to which people who point to intelligence as a sexually attractive attribute are relatively rare: about 8%.about 8%. On the other hand, there does not seem to be a rule that the higher the intelligence, the higher the level of attraction, since preference is felt for those who are slightly above average in terms of IQ (a score of around 120 IQ, the average being 100), but not for those who far exceed this measure.

On the other hand, about 45% of people indicate that intelligence is among the traits they look for when evaluating the attractiveness of other people and their potential as a potential mate... something that does not mean it is true.

In any case, sapiosexuals remain a group that has been a very poorly studied groupThe ability to appreciate intelligence and originality is rare, or is it that more research is needed to bring these people to light?

Sapiosexuals, technosexuals, metrosexuals....

On the other hand, we can also talk about the sapiosexual as that person who considers that the attractiveness of someone is in his intelligence and does not look too much in more aesthetic criteria, as well as we also talk about the technosexuals or metrosexuals, who show their attractiveness through technological gadgets or exaggerated care of the body, respectively.

Now then... Are sapiosexuals members of an alternative sexual orientation? It is difficult to argue in favor of this idea; after all, such a trait is comparable to any of the preferences that people may have for psychological or physical characteristics and that no one considers to be another sexual orientation. By definition, the latter depend on the sex of the person who generates desire or attraction, and it would not be justified to change this criterion for any other that escapes the male-female dichotomy.

In short, sapiosexuality is one more piece of the repertoire of criteria we use when choosing who we would like to be with. criteria we use when choosing who we would like to be with. If we are going to spend time with someone, they had better offer us at least a good conversation, an interesting way of looking at life, and experiences that stimulate our intelligence. Thus, being sapiosexual may be an answer to this medium- and long-term goal related to the search for companionship that also fulfills us intellectually.

Bibliographical references:

• Cover, R. (2018). Emergent Identities New Sexualities, Genders and Relationships in a Digital Era. London: Routledge.
• Fernandez, Graciela (2011). "Is Humanism Sustainable?". Cuadernos de Ética. Accessed November 19, 2012.
• Fisher, Hellen (2004). Why we love: the nature and chemistry of romantic love.
• Gignac, G. E., Darbyshire, J., & Ooi, M. (2018). Some people are attracted sexually to intelligence: A psychometric evaluation of sapiosexuality. Intelligence, 66, 98-111.