Hello, Milk. Are you in the psychology field? You sound very insightful in the area. If so, I wanted to ask you about the issue with Will as a father. Would that be a case of GSA? Thank you sm.

That’s nice of you, I am. I am a researcher in the psych field. Sure, we could definitely talk about this.

For those who don’t know, GSA stands for Genetic Sexual Attraction.

Genetic Sexual Attraction is a term used to describe the intense romantic or sexual feelings that can arise between biologically related individuals who meet for the first time in adulthood or after a prolonged separation. This phenomenon is most commonly observed in cases of adoption reunions, where family members, especially siblings, parents, and children, meet after years of separation and experience a strong emotional and physical pull toward one another.

GSA is not classified as a formal psychiatric disorder but has been studied within psychology due to its implications on attachment, family dynamics, and human attraction. It is important to distinguish GSA from traditional incestuous abuse, as GSA occurs between consenting adults who often report feelings of mutual infatuation, rather than coercion or manipulation.

One of the paradoxes of GSA is that it contradicts the Westermarck Effect, a theory proposed by Finnish anthropologist Edvard Westermarck. This theory suggests that children raised in close proximity, even if not biologically related (such as step-siblings or childhood friends), tend to develop sexual aversion toward one another due to early desensitization. This mechanism serves as an evolutionary safeguard against inbreeding.

However, in cases of GSA, this early desensitization never occurs. When long-lost relatives meet for the first time as adults, they lack the psychological conditioning that would have prevented attraction. Instead, they experience what is known as genetic mirroring, which is the subconscious recognition of shared traits, which can feel familiar and deeply intimate, sometimes translating into romantic attraction.

GSA is often fueled by psychological projection, where the individual projects unmet emotional needs onto their newly discovered relative. For example, a daughter meeting her biological father for the first time as an adolescent may romanticize him as the ideal male figure in her life, unconsciously filling the emotional void left by an absent paternal relationship. Similarly, a father may project idealized qualities onto his daughter, especially if he has feelings of guilt or longing for the lost time.

This can create an intense sense of emotional fusion, where both parties feel like they have “found their missing piece.” The mix of shared genetic traits and the excitement of reunion amplifies these emotions, making the attraction feel overwhelming and uncontrollable.

From a Freudian perspective, forbidden relationships carry an inherent erotic charge due to societal prohibitions. The Oedipus complex suggests that children experience unconscious attraction to their opposite-sex parent during early development but typically repress these desires due to social conditioning. In cases of GSA, the barriers that would have suppressed these instincts during childhood never formed, and when reunited later in life, these latent desires may surface.

Psychoanalysts have noted that taboo intensifies desire. The very fact that such relationships are deemed unacceptable can make them feel more passionate and consuming, as they exist outside the boundaries of conventional societal norms.

Despite the strong emotions involved in GSA, most societies have strict incest laws that criminalize sexual relationships between close relatives, even if they are consenting adults. These laws exist not only to prevent genetic defects in offspring but also to uphold the stability of family structures, as such relationships can cause emotional distress and disrupt family dynamics.

Individuals who experience GSA often struggle with profound internal conflict, guilt, and shame due to the moral and societal implications of their feelings. Some seek therapy to navigate these emotions, but the topic remains controversial and under-researched in clinical psychology.

GSA challenges conventional understandings of attraction, attachment, and family relationships. While it can be explained through genetic familiarity, psychological projection, and the allure of taboo, it remains a deeply controversial and emotionally charged phenomenon. Psychological support is often necessary for those affected, as the impact of these relationships can be profound, leading to identity confusion, emotional turmoil, and social isolation.

In terms of those conversations about Will’s hypothetical fatherhood, I believe this situation would happen but would not be engaged with, due to Will’s high level of repression and guilt, which in this case of course it serves well. Although for the daughter, this would be very difficult, as she would likely suffer from his attempt at rejection and perhaps creating distance between them to avoid his feelings.

This isn’t to say that Will is a bad person, please have nuance and critical reading skills. This is an abnormal thing that can happen due to many different things and is something that goes beyond the control of the individual. Of course, engaging with it is another story.