Often abbreviation to SAM, the split attraction model is primarily used by bisexual+ and asexual people to describe the differences within their sexual and romantic attractions.

One such example of the split attraction model is to describe an individual who is both asexual and aromantic (aroace), that is, an individual who experiences little or no sexual or romantic attraction towards others. Other asexual individuals may experience romantic attraction, and as such, describe themselves as being asexual, but biromantic, homoromantic, panromantic, etc.

Similarly, aromantic individuals may experience sexual attraction, and as such, describe themselves as bisexual/aromantic, homosexual/aromantic, pansexual/aromantic, etc.

Within the bisexual+ community, the split attraction model might be useful for describing their experiences of sexual and romantic attraction that differ; for example, an individual might be sexually attracted to multiple or all genders (bisexual), but only romantically attracted to one (e.g. homoromantic, heteroromantic).

Similarly, an individual may be primarily or exclusively sexually attracted to one gender, for example, homosexual (gay, lesbian), but romantically attracted to multiple or all genders (biromantic).

The extent to which people identify with the split attraction model may vary; for some individuals with different romantic and sexual attractions, they may identify solely by the common sexuality label (gay, lesbian, bisexual, asexual, etc), or indeed, only with the common romantic equivalents (biromantic, etc).

Put simply, the split attraction model is useful for individuals to describe and identify, or provide nuance to, their sexual and romantic attractions if distinct.