Initial Motivations for Engaging in Polyamorous Relationships

Polyamory is a relationship style in which partners consensually agree to engage in sexual and/or emotional relationships with concurrent partners. Compared with other forms of consensual non-monogamy (CNM), polyamory practitioners tend to report greater relationship satisfaction and less jealousy....

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Archives of sexual behavior 2024-02, Vol.53 (2), p.629-644
Main Authors: Tatum, Alexander K., Flicker, Sharon M., Peralta, Imara, Kubicki, R. J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Behavioral Science and Psychology
Deviance
Humans
Jealousy
Motivation
Original Paper
Personal relationships
Psychology
Public Health
Sexual Behavior
Sexual Behavior - psychology
Sexual consent
Sexual Partners - psychology
Sexuality
Social Sciences
Citations: Items that this one cites
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Polyamory is a relationship style in which partners consensually agree to engage in sexual and/or emotional relationships with concurrent partners. Compared with other forms of consensual non-monogamy (CNM), polyamory practitioners tend to report greater relationship satisfaction and less jealousy. However, the unique motivations leading people to engage with polyamory are less understood. Previous research has examined motivations for engaging in CNM relationship styles, in general, but no research has focused exclusively on the motivations of polyamory practitioners. The present study draws on the open-ended responses of 63 U.S. American adults who reported previous or current engagement in at least one consensually polyamorous relationship. Thematic analyses revealed four themes guiding participants’ initial motivations for polyamory engagement: values alignment, relationship factors, external triggers, and sexuality. The study’s themes are discussed in the context of self-determination theory and situated in the existing body of CNM and polyamory research. Directions for future research provide next steps for examining outcomes associated with specific polyamory motivations.
ISSN:0004-0002
1573-2800
1573-2800
DOI:10.1007/s10508-023-02750-z