Polyamorous relationships under severe strain during the pandemic The Conversation (original) (raw)
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Polyamory: Gender and non-monogamy on the Internet
Identities have an advantage and a disadvantage, all rolled into one: it is through identity that one can engage in identity politics and the reclaiming of rights and recognition; but it is also through them that one becomes a subject, and thus becomes subjected to normalization. The ability to engage in identity politics is the ability to exert power, but also the unavoidability of having power being exerted upon those who do so.
Three’s a crowd: public awareness and (mis)perceptions of polyamory
Psychology & Sexuality, 2015
In order to extend the literature on consensual nonmonogamy, we conducted two studies that examined public awareness and perceptions of polyamory. Specifically, we identified individual differences that predict people's attitudes towards polyamory and also explored whether manipulations grounded in prejudice-reduction theory might lead to more positive perceptions. In both studies, individuals reporting more traditional traits (e.g. political conservatism and religiosity) had more negative attitudes towards polyamory. In addition, participants' prior exposure to polyamory (i.e. familiarity with the term polyamory or knowing someone polyamorous) was positively related to attitudes towards polyamory, consistent with Allport's contact hypothesis. Finally, an experimental manipulation revealed that participants who either received additional information about polyamory (consistent with the notion that increased knowledge about outgroups can reduce prejudice; Pettigrew & Tropp) or were asked to consider the advantages and limitations of monogamy (consistent with value selfconfrontation theory; Rokeach) exhibited more positive attitudes towards polyamory than did participants who only received a standard definition of polyamory. As our results represent some of the first empirical findings on perceptions of polyamory, implications for addressing the stigmatisation of this relationship style are discussed.
Not Monogamous? Not a Problem: A Quantitative Analysis of the Prevalence of Polyamory
Many researchers have indicated that non-monogamous lifestyles are perhaps far more common than is currently believed. Although there is more discourse surrounding non-monogamy than in previous decades, the degree of scholarly attention given to such lifestyles is still minimal. There are various types of non-monogamous relationships such as swinging, polygamy, polygyny, polyandry, and others. This study examines the prevalence of polyamory; often described as simultaneous, consensual, non-monogamous relationships. Qualitative interviews of individuals in various types of polyamorous relationships will be conducted; questions will be discussed as to how they define their polyamorous experiences and relationships. This information will be used to corroborate items for the Polyamorous Propensity Scale, which will measure an individual’s inclination toward polyamorous attitudes. Based on prevalence rates of polyamory, future research, clinical interventions, and general awareness will be needed to better support this community.
Polyamory as Emerging Relational Structure
1 This study conducts a survey of attitudes toward monogamy and polyamory in university students. It finds that while traditional monogamous assumptions still dominate, especially among young people and women, there is some acceptance of non-normative romantic relational structures. It also found that men and people over the age of 25 were more likely to be receptive to the possibility of poly relational structures.
The good, the bad, and the ugly: Lay attitudes and perceptions of polyamory
Sexualities, 2019
Although consensual non-monogamies have grown in exposure and popularity among both the public and academics, they remain largely marginalized and stigmatized. While some research has examined individuals’ perceptions of non-monogamies as a whole, few have focused specifically on perceptions of polyamory. The aim of this study was to explore and render explicit such attitudes and perceptions using an inductive approach to research. Online unsolicited narratives were sought for the purpose of this study. A total of 482 comments posted in response to three articles on the topic of polyamory were collected and analyzed using thematic analysis. Five overarching themes were identified: polyamory as 1) valid and beneficial; 2) unsustainable; 3) perverse, amoral, and unappealing; 4) acceptable; and 5) deficient. The findings provide insight on individuals’ reactions to polyamorous relationships and beliefs surrounding monogamy, and are further discussed in light of previous research on stigma, and of contemporary discourses on relationships, love, and commitment.
Journal of Constructivist Psychology, 2005
According to the writings of members of the polyamorous community, polyamory is a type of nonmonogamous relationship orientation in which it is considered acceptable to love more than one person and emphasis is placed on openness and honesty within one's relationships. The proliferation of websites, E-mail groups and books on the topic since the mid 1990s mean that polyamory can be seen as a burgeoning sexual story . However, very little has been written academically on the topic, despite its fascinating potential to challenge mainstream discourses of monogamy and infidelity and to reveal the constructed nature of "compulsory heterosexuality" . In this article I draw on social constructionist and personal construct psychology perspectives to examine the ways in which polyamorous individuals construct their personal and group identities in relation to conventional monogamy and to explore the implications of polyamory for a person's own sense of self.
SEXUAL AND RELATIONSHIP THERAPY, 2021
The study aims to examine the experiences of pre-marital, noncohabiting partners while coping with the Covid-19-induced lockdown. With specific focus on sexual intimacies, our interest is to investigate the degree or extent by which the pandemic has constrained people’s sexual interests and expressions with the intention to determine whether or not the overall relationship would be negatively affected by the paucity of sexual encounters. Findings drawn from online interviews involving 28 participants reveal that the pandemic has indeed affected sexual intimacy aspirations among partners, with some participants calling these times as “dry season.” For this very reason, the pandemic has also emerged as a sexual issue. Further results reveal that partners employ technology-based strategies in order to satisfy their sexual desires during these times when restrictions in movement are in place. Trust, love, communication and understanding serve also to assure partners of the integrity of the relationship. The study suggests that the loss of physical sexual encounters during lockdowns is not sufficient to result in negative relationship outcomes.
Defining Polyamory: A Thematic Analysis of Lay People’s Definitions
Archives of Sexual Behavior
This study aimed to analyze laypeople’s definitions of polyamory and compare definitions presented by people who are not willing to engage in consensual non-monogamy (CNM) and those who are or are willing to be in a CNM relationship. This exploratory qualitative study used data collected from a convenience sample through a web survey, where people answered the question “What does polyamory mean?” We conducted thematic analysis to examine patterns in meaning and used demographic data to compare themes among groups. The final sample comprised 463 participants aged 18–66 years (M = 32.19, SD = 10.02), mostly heterosexual (60%). Of the total sample, 54% were in a monogamous relationship, followed by 21% not in a relationship, and 13% in a non-monogamous relationship. Analysis showed that people define polyamory mostly as a set of behaviors in a relationship, followed by the potential of multiple relationships or feelings for multiple people. Definitions also include emotional, sexual, a...
Global Networks: Strategies and learning with peers | Report No 1 from Wasan Island (August 2017), 2017
The network mindset is about untying some of our ideas about the ways things have to be. What if we allowed ourselves, our organizations, our team- mates, more freedom to explore our roles? Beyond giving permission, what if we challenged each other to be more available to discover different ways of being? It is said that no one person can fulfill all of our needs. We acknowledge that no one organization can, on their own, solve any one of our social or envi- ronmental issues. The point, though, is not that we lack the ability to act alone – but about growth and possibility. The point is not about fear – but about the courage to offer more of you to the world, and to be open to receive more of the world’s gifts. To be open to mutual joy. To be open to discovering that you have more inside you and that you can be offered more than you might have let yourself believe – more talent, more insight, more wisdom, more ability, more energy, more fulfillment. To be open to trans- formation. To be open to letting each connection develop you in delicate and immense ways. Whatever your personal opinion of polyamory is – consider it a metaphor, a thought experiment – what kind of lover are you? Generous, inspired, hesitant, shy, searching, mysterious, queer, quixotic, cherished or imaginative? In a network, how do you bring your best self forward, and who is that? https://socialinnovationexchange.org/sites/default/files/uploads/wir\_i\_globalnetworks.pdf