Desire Diagnostic

Find out what's really happening to your desire

A science-backed diagnostic for intimacy in long-term relationships. 56 questions. 7 research domains. A precise map of what's sustaining desire — and what's suppressing it.

Built on peer-reviewed research by Gottman, Perel, Nagoski, Basson, and Aron. Take it alone or with your partner.

Free to start • Private • Takes ~15 minutes

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How it works

Three steps to a diagnosis

01

Take the assessment

56 carefully designed questions across 7 research-backed domains. Takes about 15 minutes. Every question matters.

02

Get your analysis

An AI analyst trained on the relationship science literature interprets your pattern — what's suppressing desire, what's protecting it, and why.

03

Compare with your partner

Share your invite code. When both of you complete the assessment, interaction effects and relational dynamics are detected automatically.

What we measure

Seven domains of desire

Each domain maps to a distinct body of research. Together, they form the most complete picture of what sustains — or suppresses — desire in long-term relationships.

01

Attachment & Vulnerability

How safe do you feel being emotionally naked with your partner?

Based on Bowlby's attachment theory and Hazan & Shaver's adult attachment research. Secure attachment independently predicts higher desire (Mikulincer, 2006).

02

Closeness vs. Otherness

Can you still see your partner as someone separate, mysterious, and not fully known?

Drawing from Perel's erotic distance model and Muise (2024) on celebrated otherness. Too much closeness suppresses desire as reliably as too little.

03

Biological & Physical Baseline

What is your body actually working with right now?

Grounded in neuroendocrine research. Testosterone, cortisol, sleep, and exercise directly modulate desire (Gettler, 2011; Brotto, 2010).

04

Imagination & Erotic Space

Is there room in your mind for desire to live?

Informed by Nagoski's dual control model and Perel's work on erotic imagination. Desire = accelerators minus brakes (Nagoski, 2015).

05

Mutual Responsiveness

Do you both actually show up for each other — emotionally and physically?

Built on Gottman's bid-response research and Basson's circular model of desire. Partners who respond to 86%+ of bids stay together (Gottman, 1999).

06

Role Dynamics & Power

Have you become co-managers of a life instead of lovers in one?

Rooted in Gottman's contempt research and role theory. Chronic role imbalance is the #1 predictor of relationship failure (Gottman & Silver, 2012).

07

Identity & Aliveness

Are you someone worth desiring right now?

Based on Aron's self-expansion theory. Growth-promoting relationships sustain desire; stagnation suppresses it (Aron et al., 2000).

The evidence base

Grounded in real science

Every question traces back to published, peer-reviewed research on desire, attachment, and relationship functioning.

JG

John Gottman

Bid-response patterns, contempt prediction, repair after conflict

EP

Esther Perel

Erotic distance, celebrated otherness, imagination as engine of desire

EN

Emily Nagoski

Dual control model — desire as accelerators minus brakes

RB

Rosemary Basson

Circular model of desire — intimacy → arousal → desire

AA

Arthur Aron

Self-expansion theory — growth-promoting relationships sustain desire

MM

Mario Mikulincer

Adult attachment and sexual functioning in long-term couples

Better together

Take it with your partner

When both of you complete the assessment, the real insights unlock. The AI analyst identifies interaction effects — pursuer-distancer dynamics, fusion traps, desire discrepancies — patterns neither of you can see alone.

Start the assessment first. You'll get a partner code to share when you finish. Or use the “Join Your Partner” button above if you already have a code.

Desire doesn't just fade.
It gets blocked.

Find out what's blocking yours. The diagnostic is free to start, private, and takes about 15 minutes.