There is a thin line between eroticism and sexuality. Some may use the two terms interchangeably, but there lies distinct differences between them. Ester Perel, a renowned psychologist and expert on relationship matters perfectly draws the line between eroticism and sex through her book Mating in Captivity:Unlocking erotic intelligence. According to her, sexuality is demonstrated by the biological, instinctive urge that animals have to procreate, while eroticism is mainly shown through the ability of humans to incorporate emotion, aesthetics and imagination into sex. Think of it in this way; animals engage in sex purely out of instinct, while we on the other hand transform this act from just purely physical contact to a much more vibrant experience through the incorporation of passion, lust imagination and creativity. After all, we are social beings, right?
Going by the dictionary definition, eroticism is basically a state of sexual excitement and arousal. If you faithfully attended all your Science classes, you are obviously familiar with the biological nitty-gritties of both male and female arousal. However, when we delve deeper into the minds of both sexes, we find that different factors trigger sexual excitement in both men and women. Visual cues are a vital aspect in male arousal. When a man sees a sensual image or message, it is registered in his brain and as a result, he gets turned on. Ever heard of the phrase, a man’s brain lies between his legs? Well, now you get the picture. Women on the other hand get less turned on by erotic images and mostly attach romanticism and emotion to sex in order to get in the mood. Consequently, men have a greater sex drive than women and this has been scientifically proven to be true.