In the world, the phenomenon of fictosexuality — a romantic or sexual attraction to fictional characters from books, movies, video games, or anime — is gaining momentum. About this informs Daily Mail.
Experts note that this in itself is not harmful, but can cause isolation if fictional connections completely replace real ones. London-based sexologist Isabel Kirsch defines fictosexuality as “romantic or sexual attraction to fictional characters.”
“It may seem strange at first. But for many people, this feeling is as real and intense as the attraction to a person in real life.” says Kirsch.
Some people see pseudosexuality as a lifestyle and do not feel romantically attracted to real people. Leah Levy, a sex expert at the dating app Flure, calls this phenomenon an “exclusive” attraction to fictional characters.
The specialist explains that for ficosexuals, romantic or sexual interest arises exclusively in the world of fiction:
“More broadly, fictosexuality is feeling an emotional or sexual connection to characters in books, movies, games, or anime. Sometimes it’s an emotional connection, sometimes it’s a physical attraction. These characters are often idealized: they seem safe, loving, and emotionally open—in a way that isn’t always the case with real people.”
Annabelle Knight, a sexual relationship expert at the British intimate goods brand Lovehoney, points out that sympathy for a fictional character does not necessarily indicate pseudosexuality.
“If you’ve ever felt strong sympathy for a fictional character while reading a novel, that doesn’t automatically make you a ficosexual. Like any other sexual preference, the term is not all-encompassing and exists to help people better understand what they might feel, not to separate or wall off.” Annabelle remarked.
She also added that fictosexuality is often considered part of the “asexual umbrella” because it refers to people who are only attracted to fictional characters. Leah Levy confirms this, noting that ficosexuality is often classified as an asexual or aromantic spectrum, “although not everyone who identifies as ficosexual is asexual.”
According to Isabel Kirsch, it can manifest itself through a strong emotional or sexual connection with a fictional character, fantasizing about a relationship with him.
“It’s about feeling more satisfied with fictional relationships than dating in the real world, or avoiding physical relationships because fantasy seems safer or more exciting. Some people describe feeling true love, loyalty, and even heartbreak associated with these characters.”, she explained.
Fictosexuality can also manifest itself in creative hobbies, such as writing fan fiction or creating illustrations dedicated to favorite characters. According to experts, although ficosexuality is not a pathology, it can lead to a feeling of isolation and loneliness if it becomes the only form of emotional contact.
