Bisexuals are people who are attracted to more than one gender. Research has found that bisexuals experience sexual attraction for both men and women but do not necessarily experience romantic attractions for both genders. Bisexuals may have romantic interests in either males or females. This means that some bisexuals might exclusively date members of the same gender while others may prefer dating members of different genders.
Research suggests that bisexual individuals can identify themselves according to their level of attraction towards opposite genders.
Someone can identify as heteroflexible if they are primarily attracted to opposite genders but occasionally feel attraction to similar genders. Similarly, some individuals can consider themselves homo-curious if they find themselves feeling attraction to same-gender partners sometimes. In this context, bisexuality is considered a spectrum rather than an either/or label.
Bisexuality is often misunderstood because it falls outside mainstream cultural ideals about sexual orientation. According to many societies, sexual identity is seen as being either male or female, and anyone outside these two categories is regarded as abnormal.
Several theories explain why bisexuality exists, including the idea that genetics play a role in determining sexual orientation. Genes may influence individual behavior through sexual hormones released during fetal development. Other factors include environmental influences such as culture, family environment, and personal experiences. Despite its prevalence, bisexuality remains largely invisible due to social stigma associated with non-monosexual identities. Many people believe that sexual and emotional desires must be mutually exclusive. Thus, bisexuals face rejection from both gay and straight communities. As a result, most bisexuals remain closeted out of fear for judgment, discrimination, and lack of support.
Sexual desire is one of the central human needs, leading to the creation of intimacy. This need can only be satisfied when there is congruency between physical and psychological aspects of relationships. Intimacy involves feelings, thoughts, and behaviors that promote closeness between two parties. Intimate relationships involve sharing personal information with another person, trusting them to share yours, confiding in them, and creating shared experiences. These activities help build connection and enhance mutual understanding. In this context, bisexual individuals experience similar levels of desire as heterosexuals or homosexuals.
Their level of intimacy depends on how comfortable they feel expressing themselves within their relationship. Bisexual men and women are often pressured to conform to gender norms by choosing either male or female partners despite their attractions towards multiple genders. Therefore, bisexuals who choose to date exclusively opposite-sex partners might not fully understand their sexual identity because they have never dated someone outside their preferred gender. Similarly, bisexuals who exclusively date same-sex partners may find it challenging to engage in romantic and sexual activities.
How does bisexuality interact with cognitive and affective processes involved in the experience of desire and intimacy?
Bisexuality has been linked to various cognitive and affective processes involved in the experience of desire and intimacy. Studies have shown that people who identify as bisexual are more likely to report experiencing both romantic and sexual attraction towards individuals of different genders than those who identify exclusively as heterosexual or homosexual (Garnets & Pattison, 2017).