Divergent sexualities

[emjay]

In object sexuality, do you anthropomorphize the object in question, in the sense of attributing to it human agency and/or personality? ie both of which seem to me necessary aspects of love and attraction.

I can't speak for every OS, but every one I've known certainly ascribes personality to their beloved.  Sexology research by Amanda Marsh (as poor as it is) indicates that many OS are animists of some kind holding that their beloved object has a soul, personality, gender etc and speaks to them (either in their mind, or via signs/sounds like creaking of metal in heat etc).  It is very similar to religious relationships with God and Jesus and spirits in this regard, and similar also to imaginary friends.  Marsh's research also notes that many OS have synesthesia to some degree (which likely contributes to how they experience their object or abstract lovers).

Many people anthropomorphise objects, pets, plants, their cars, etc - it seems an extension of that.  I also think the perception of beauty or aesthetic admiration can get entangled with erotic sensation/arousal in the brain - so some people (I have experinced this) can find something beautiful (like a nice car or sunset) gives them an erotic charge at times.  The brain is a funny thing.

Most OS I've known could also be described as highly empathic and sensitive, and quite imaginative.  Many (though not all) are ASD.

That's good to know at least, thanks. I've only ever met one "OS" person besides you, and they were attracted to buses, and I have to say I was completely baffled by it, and by their matter of fact... talking about it as if it was the most normal thing in the world... way of talking about it. I was polite but I did give them a wide berth after that (I met them at a public event, so it was a somewhat unexpected subject of conversation ).

Anyway, to hear you say that there is anthropomorphization involved makes it at least a little bit more fathomable, from a psychological and/or neural perspective, so thanks for that. I'll probably give that documentary a watch at some point too.