Sapiosexuals, people who "fall in love" with intelligence & bull; hello healthy

Do you find it easy to feel amazed and attracted to people of above average intelligence? Do you enjoy brain teasing conversations and discussions? If so, you are probably a sapiosexual. If the term may sound familiar to you, this article will discuss more about this currently popular term.

What is sapiosexual?

The word "sapiosexual" itself comes from the term "sapiens", which means wise. So, it can be said that sapiosexual is someone who has an attraction to other people based on the level of intelligence and content of their thoughts.

Reporting from NPR.org, the popularity of the term started to increase when an online dating app, OkCupid, introduced various sexual orientation options to its users. One of them is sapiosexual.

Each person has their own preferences in choosing a partner, from physical appearance, taste in music, to common hobbies. Some of them have emotional, even sexual, attraction to people with a certain level of intelligence.

According to Diana Raab, Ph.D., in her article in Psychology Today, people who claim to be sapiosexual believe that the human brain is the largest sex organ. They are more passionate and enthusiastic about the interlocutor who is curious, sharp-minded, and open to new things.

If likened as foreplay in sex, the things that can "stimulate" a sapiosexual are philosophical, political, or psychological conversations. However, this attraction does not always lead to sexuality.

Sometimes, sapiosexuality can also occur in casual friendships. For example, you prefer to be friends with smart people because you can discuss political or economic issues, in a way that is part of sapiosexuality.

This phenomenon is supported by a research journal found in Intelligence . The study, which was conducted on 383 adults, looked for what qualities to look for in a partner, as well as their attractiveness to different levels of intelligence.

The results show that "intelligence" ranks second on the most preferred qualities in a partner, after "kindness and understanding".

Why does a sapiosexual “fall in love” with their partner's level of intelligence?

Raab added in his article that human identity is formed from what happened during his childhood, including how he views relationships.

The factors that underlie this include relationships with parents, first love experiences, and first intimate experiences with a partner.

It is possible that we are looking for a partner with traits or qualities that we never have. This phenomenon turns out to also help us get to know ourselves more deeply.

For example, when you were a child, people around you often said you weren't smart enough. Or maybe, you have parents who always demand that you get first place in school.

That's why, after growing up, you always want to be a smarter person, and you also look for these qualities in your potential partner. It is these aspects of your childhood that can influence your sexual and romantic preferences.

However, it is possible for a sapiosexual to also consider other qualities in addition to their partner's intelligence. For example, such as physical appearance, kindness, or sense of humor.