Remember that GSA is a normal, natural, and common reaction to the circumstances.
GSA is a very strong, perhaps overwhelming or overpowering, attraction that can happen when one meets or reunites with a close genetic relative after having no or minimal contact since about age seven or before whether or not they know of their relation. Examples can include half-siblings who don't meet until their teens, 20s, 30s, middle age, or golden years. It can be a daughter who only has seen her father for a few minutes at a time since she was six years old and she's now 19. It can be a mother who gave up her son or daughter for adoption at birth and that child finds her at age 25. It can be a man whose brother donated sperm, and a resulting child, now an adult, has met him. There are seemingly countless other examples.
GSA tends to happen along the lines of gender and sexual orientation. For example, it is highly unlikely to happen between, say, a father and son who are strictly heterosexual, or between a gay brother and his lesbian sister. When the genders and sexual orientations do align, there's about a 50 percent chance that someone in the reunion or introduction will experience GSA. Sometimes, the feelings are mutual.
This can happen regardless of one's opinions about close relatives having sexual or romantic relationships, regardless of whether or not one is in a closed and happy relationship.
So how do you recognize GSA in yourself or someone else?
There isn't a surefire way to know if someone else is experiencing GSA, short of knowing they are making advances on you or someone else.
Here are the relevant questions to evaluate the situation:
1) Is this person a close genetic relative to you? Or, are these people close genetic relatives to each other?
2) Was there minimal or no in-person contact with this person or between these people since the younger/youngest person was about age seven or younger?
3) Is there a strong attraction to them or between them? Or does this person have a strong attraction to you?
The last one, which is really the question at hand, can be tricky if you're not the person with the feelings that are in question. You know if you are feeling a strong attraction, but you might not be sure what other people are feeling. If you're really bold, and the circumstances are right, you can flat-out ask them, and hope that they are honest. Otherwise, clues to look for include, but aren't necessarily limited to: how they look at you or each other, body language which indicates wanting to be closer, frequent touches or looking for excuses to touch, hugging and embracing more than usual, smiles, flirting, perking up or getting excited when together and being reluctant to leave or part, looking for excuses to spend more time together - especially without others, and jealousy or envy of partners or potential partners.
What should you do about it?
That depends. Keep in mind that there is no good reason why consenting adults should be denied their rights to love each other how they mutually agree.
If this is about your attraction to them or their attraction to you, that's one thing.
But if it is about other people being attracted to, or involved with, each other, that's something else.
Here are further links that might help you.
If You Need Help
Successful GSA Relationships
GSA Is Not a Mental Disorder or Character Flaw
Should You Do It?
Cautious Consanguinamory
GSA and Stepping Out
If Your Partner is Experiencing GSA
Tips For Switching to Polyamory
For Family and Friends of Consanguineous Lovers
The Consanguinamorous and Allies Have a Place to Talk
This is How You Contact Keith
What are the signs of Genetic Sexual Attraction? What are the symptoms of Genetic Sexual Attraction? How do you know if someone has Genetic Sexual Attraction?
great article about how gsa works
ReplyDelete