If adsorption equilibrium and mutual saturation of the phases is not achieved instantly, it is possible to distinguish the initial spreading tension, σ_i^αβδ, from the final spreading tension, σ_i^αβδ, when equilibrium has been reached. In the case in which σ_i^αβδ is positive, while σ_i^αβδ is negative, the system is said to exhibit autophobicity.