Chemistry is influenced by a variety of factors, including intimacy and similar interests.
At a Glance
Chemistry is all about that connection that people share.
It’s what makes you feel drawn to one another and helps you feel in sync.
PhotoAlto / Frederic Cirou / Getty Images
It can happen in any relationship, but often plays a major role in romantic connections.
What Does Chemistry in a Relationship Mean?
When itcomes to human interaction, chemistry manifests in both every day friendships and in relationships.
Simply put, the feeling of chemistry with another person is that of connection.
It’s a draw to someone else that makes you want more of them.
A few common types of chemistry are outlined below.
But we don’t just befriend anyone who feels similar to how we do.
Rather, friendship chemistry plays a large role in who we choose to become friends with.
Instead, it’s the connection and dynamic of feeling productive and inspired with another person.
Sexual Chemistry
Sexual chemistry is what we feel for a person we want to be intimate with.
When someone is long distance, we can react to their image, voice, writing, or video.
Sexual chemistryis often felt viscerally in our bodies.
Romantic Chemistry
Sexual chemistry is usually a part of romantic chemistry, but it isn’t always.
Romantic chemistry is centered around what we think of romance.
Romantic chemistry is typically considered the most intimate form of chemistry.
Can Chemistry Be Acquired Or Created?
Romantic and sexual chemistry are usually what lead us into relationships.
There are many tales, though, of people who fell for one another slowly.
Perhaps they were friends for years first, or work colleagues, or went to school together.
Chemistry may grow slowly in these relationships, and people may become attracted to one another gradually.
They may even slowly develop romantic feelings without realizing it, until the other person expresses them.
Chemistry may grow or increase as you get to know someone.
There are many ways to tell if a lack of chemistry in your relationship is a problem.
For example, affection releases oxytocin, a feel-good chemical.
What This Means For You
Chemistry may change and evolve over time in a relationship.
It may even diminish.
If it does, it’s possible to bring it back through intentionally reconnecting with your partner.
Aykutoglu B, Uysal A.The relationship between intimacy change and passion: A dyadic diary study.Front Psychol.
2017;28(12):1763-1772. doi: 10.1177/0956797617716922
