Autosexual & Autoromantic

Autosexual people experience sexual attraction primarily or exclusively toward themselves, finding themselves sexually attractive. It is distinct from masturbation (a behaviour anyone may engage in) and from narcissism (a personality construct); autosexual people may or may not seek sexual contact with others. Autoromantic people experience romantic attraction toward themselves, such as having romantic feelings for oneself or going on self-dates.

Greek/Latin auto- (self) + sexual/romantic.

Emerged in online LGBTQ+ and ace-spectrum communities in the 2000s–2010s as community members sought language for self-directed attraction. Related to but distinct from aegosexual (which involves attraction to sexual scenarios not involving oneself). The terms remain relatively niche but are recognized within microlabel and A-spec communities.

• "Autosexual is just narcissism." Autosexuality describes a pattern of attraction, not a personality disorder. Narcissistic Personality Disorder involves a lack of empathy and grandiose self-importance; autosexuality is simply experiencing oneself as sexually attractive without those implications.
• "Autosexual people can't have relationships." Many autosexual people have fulfilling relationships with others; self-directed attraction does not preclude other-directed attraction.
• "Autoromantic is self-obsession." Autoromantic describes a pattern of romantic feeling toward oneself - a form of self-love - not a clinical condition.