Encephaloromantic, also known as encephalromantic or encieromantic, is an identity on the aromantic spectrum in which one does not experience romantic attraction until an intellectual bond is formed, or until one experiences mental attraction. An intellectual bond is related to sharing of wisdom, knowledge, hobbies, aspirations, and interests. One can only experience romantic attraction to those whom they intellectually bond with and/or experience mental attraction to. However, this does not mean one will be romantically attracted to everyone they intellectually bond with/experience mental attraction to. It just opens it up as a possibility.
This is not "romantic attraction to smart individuals," nor is it a romantic orientation which one can use to gatekeep intelligence. It is only to be used in the context of mental attraction and close intellectual bonds. For example, one who loves music, or knowledge relating to it, may experience attraction to those that they can talk about music with.
Encephaloromance can be used as an identity on its own, or can be used alongside another identity (examples: pan-encephaloromantic, encephaloromantic biromantic, omniencephaloromantic).
Encephaloromantic is a subset of mesi aromantic, aliquaromantic, demiromantic, and apresromantic.
The sexual equivalent is encephalosexual.
History
Encephaloromantic was coined by an anonymous wiki user on October 22, 2020. It was coined because the only similar existing label was sapioromantic, which is classist, ableist, problematic, and controversial.
Rather than focusing on things like IQ or academic intelligence, encephaloromance is based on sharing of interests, knowledge, and other similar things one can bond over intellectually.
Etymology
Encephalo- or encephal- means "relating to the brain." Since intellectual bonds over hobbies, interest, knowledge, etc. are related to the brain/mind, encephaloromance worked as an appropriate label. This term was almost called cerebroromantic or neuroromantic, but those terms were already in use for different identities/concepts.
Encie was coined on October 23, 2020. It has no meaning, aside from being a shortened version of encephal-. It's meant to be easier to say and remember.
Flag
The encephaloromantic flag was created by an anonymous wiki user on October 22, 2020. Orange represents creativity. White represents wisdom and spirituality. Blue represents mental attraction and intellectual bonding. Green represents the aromantic spectrum.