Cupiosexuality falls under the spectrum of asexuality, as a more specific term of it.
The term is rarely used, but is increasingly being discussed as an aspect of asexuality, as Tanya M. Bass, PhD, sexologist, explains.
While asexuality describes someone who feels little or no attraction to others, cupiosexuality describes someone who wants a sexual relationship, despite the fact that there is no attraction.
So it refers to an aspect of asexuality when a person may want a sexual relationship but not experience sexual attraction, Bass explains.
It is important to remember that just because someone identifies as asexual does not mean that they are single. Someone who identifies as cupiosexual is an example of this:
"An asexual person simply does not feel sexual attraction, but may have sex for a variety of reasons, including the physical pleasure of sex or the pleasure of the partner / s."
In other words, while a cupiosexual may enjoy the actual experience of having sex and would like a sexual relationship with a partner, they are not sexually attracted to anyone.
Bass explains that the prefix "cupio" means "desire".
Under the asexual umbrella are included gray-sexists, who rarely feel sexual attraction, and demisexuals, who need a strong emotional connection in order to feel sexual attraction to someone.
Source: Cosmopolitan
