Looks, personality, and everything in between: Understanding sexually attractive characteristics among cisgender and gender diverse individuals

Sexual arousal, or feeling “turned on,” is experienced by many, yet an endless variety of factors influence how this response is manifested. Literature on the topic of sexually arousing partner characteristics is limited and focuses on primarily majority samples. The present mixed-methods study sought to answer the overarching question of what partner characteristics are considered sexually arousing by a diverse sample. Participants ( N = 344) were recruited through social media to complete open-ended questions inquiring about partner-related aspects of what turns them on sexually in the following domains: physical characteristics, personality traits, and nature of connection. Thematic analysis revealed nine themes and 28 subthemes overall, with few differences in frequency of endorsement between cisgender men and women or between gender diverse and cisgender participants. Quantitative analyses indicated differences in preferences for physical, though not for personality or connection characteristics among cisgender men and women and gender-diverse individuals. Results suggest broad conceptualizations of turn-ons, paving the way for future comprehensive perspectives inclusive of diverse samples.