Sexual attraction refers to the strong desire for another person physically, mentally, or both. It can range from intense infatuation to casual attraction, lustful love, and passionate romance. Sexual attractions come in various forms and intensities.
They are all characterized by an interest in physical closeness and/or emotional bonding with someone else. People may feel attracted to anyone regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, age, appearance, socioeconomic status, religion, education level, occupation, interests, hobbies, habits, or social circle.
The feeling of sexual attraction is often accompanied by an increased heart rate, flushed face, butterflies in the stomach, sweaty palms, nervousness, anxiousness, excitement, anticipation, and heightened awareness. This results in feelings such as joy, pleasure, happiness, delight, bliss, eagerness, zeal, longing, enthusiasm, exhilaration, thrill, elation, ardor, warmth, giddiness, euphoria, ecstasy, rapture, fervor, ferocity, yearning, enchantment, charm, fascination, charisma, magnetism, and captivation.
In what ways does sexual attraction alter perceptions of fairness, equity, and procedural justice? The following sections will delve into this topic.
Equality
When two people have sexual attraction towards each other, it alters their perception of equality. They no longer see themselves on equal footing because one person is usually physically weaker than the other during intercourse.
When a man is sexually attracted to a woman who weighs more than him, he might perceive her as stronger than himself because she can easily overpower him during physical intimacy. This leads to a sense of vulnerability that makes him feel less powerful. Likewise, when a woman is attracted to a taller man, she may view herself as less important because she cannot reach his eyes or lips without standing on her toes. Therefore, there are instances where sexual attractions make partners unequal.
Justice
Sexual attraction also affects how people judge fairness. It is unjust for an employee with a crush at work to get promoted even if they lack the skills or experience needed for the job. Similarly, it's unfair for a teacher to give preferential treatment to a student who has been flirting with them outside class. Sexual attraction can lead to favoritism in the workplace, school, family, and society, which goes against the principles of justice. Fairness means treating everyone equally, regardless of their gender, race, ethnicity, age, appearance, socioeconomic status, religion, education level, occupation, interests, hobbies, habits, or social circle. When sexual attraction distorts this, it becomes challenging to achieve true justice in society.
Procedural justice
Procedural justice refers to the way legal proceedings and decisions are made. In the context of sexual attraction, procedural justice is impaired when people manipulate the system to their advantage.
A lawyer may use their charisma and charm to win a case, not based on merit. A politician might use their influence to win votes instead of running a clean campaign. A doctor could bend rules to prescribe medication that benefits their partner instead of the patient. These examples show how sexual attraction can compromise the procedures used to reach a just decision.
In what ways can sexual attraction alter perceptions of fairness, equity, and procedural justice?
Sexual attraction may influence how individuals perceive fairness, equity, and procedural justice by affecting their biases towards others and their willingness to compromise on personal preferences for the benefit of their partner. Attractiveness is often associated with social status, power, and dominance, which can lead people to believe that those who are attractive have more control over resources and decision making.