Counseling Clients in Polyamorous Relationships

Weitzman, Geri D.

doi:10.4324/9781315678610-31

Cited by 5 publications

(17 citation statements)

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“…T here is limited research on the religious and spiritual identities of people who engage in consensual nonmonogamy (Balzarini et al, 2018;Jenks, 2014;Nearing, 2001;Sheff, 2014;Walston, 2001;Weitzman, 2007). Existing literature focuses on prevalence, behaviors, and effects of stigma (Conley et al, 2013;Haupert et al, 2017).…”

Section: Spirituality Among Consensually Nonmonogamous Peoplementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Existing literature focuses on prevalence, behaviors, and effects of stigma (Conley et al, 2013;Haupert et al, 2017). Some data has been gathered on demographic factors such as race, sexual orientation, gender, income bracket, and educational level of consensually nonmonogamous people, but little exists on the religious and spiritual orientations of this population (Jenks, 2014;Walston, 2001;Weitzman, 2007). The six aforementioned studies that examined religion in multiply partnered people used specifically polyamorous samples (Balzarini et al, 2018;Jenks, 2014;Nearing, 2001;Sheff, 2014;Walston, 2001;Weitzman, 2007); two of these studies were not peer-reviewed (Nearing, 2001;Weitzman, 2007).…”

Section: Spirituality Among Consensually Nonmonogamous Peoplementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some data has been gathered on demographic factors such as race, sexual orientation, gender, income bracket, and educational level of consensually nonmonogamous people, but little exists on the religious and spiritual orientations of this population (Jenks, 2014;Walston, 2001;Weitzman, 2007). The six aforementioned studies that examined religion in multiply partnered people used specifically polyamorous samples (Balzarini et al, 2018;Jenks, 2014;Nearing, 2001;Sheff, 2014;Walston, 2001;Weitzman, 2007); two of these studies were not peer-reviewed (Nearing, 2001;Weitzman, 2007). Polyamory differs from other forms of consensual nonmonogamy in that, going beyond an open sexual nonexclusivity, polyamorous identified individuals often make emotional, ethical, and interpersonal commitments that may result in longer-term relationships and increased involvement in each partner's life.…”

Section: Spirituality Among Consensually Nonmonogamous Peoplementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Jenks (2014) compared responses from differently identified consensual nonmonogamists (e.g., swingers, polyamorists) and a general population; the study found that those identifying as polyamorous were significantly more liberal, less religious, and more spiritual than the other two groups. Weitzman (2007) descriptively summarized the religious orientations of polyamorous bisexuals. Of the 2,169 respondents in Weitzmen's study, the largest percentage identified as pagan/Wiccan (27%), followed by Christian (11%), Jewish (4%), Unitarian (4%), and Buddhist (2%).…”

Section: Spirituality Among Consensually Nonmonogamous Peoplementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Six studies have gathered data about the spiritual or religious identities of polyamorous people (Balzarini et al, 2018;Jenks, 2014;Nearing, 2001;Sheff, 2014;Walston, 2001;Weitzman, 2007), but no studies to date have investigated how spiritual identities and philosophical perspectives inform the practices of those who are openly and consensually partnered with multiple people simultaneously. Moreover, because transpersonal theorists have discussed the relevance of nonmonogamous paradigms of loving to spiritual development and self-actualization (e.g., Ferrer, 2007;Welwood, 1985Welwood, , 1996, this study also examines the degree to which nonmonogamous sexual behavior and spirituality are linked.…”

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confidence: 99%

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The religious and philosophical characteristics in a consensually nonmonogamous sample

2019

IJTS

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Consensual nonmonogamy refers to the variety of ways people partner romantically and/or sexually with multiple others. This study examined the spiritual identities of people who self-identify as consensually and openly partnered with more than one person, as well as if and how these identities changed since childhood. Moreover, to deepen previous transpersonal research that investigated how nonmonogamous paradigms of loving contribute to spiritual development, the study also examined between group differences of whether nonmonogamous sexual behavior and spirituality are emotionally linked. Data were gathered from 484 participants; they were mostly college-educated, Caucasian, bisexual women in their 30s, who were raised in moderately conservative, Judeo-Christian households. The majority self-identified as polyamorous. Between-group differences tests revealed that participants reported lower degrees of religiosity and greater degrees of liberalism since childhood, and a change from more traditional to nonreligious but spiritual values in adulthood. Data also suggested that pagan spiritualities may provide more supportive philosophical and spiritual frameworks that normalize and validate nonmonogamous behavior, nonheterosexual interests, sexual desire, and the sacredness of sexuality. Clinical implications of these findings are discussed.

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Section: Spirituality Among Consensually Nonmonogamous Peoplementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Spirituality Among Consensually Nonmonogamous Peoplementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Spirituality Among Consensually Nonmonogamous Peoplementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Spirituality Among Consensually Nonmonogamous Peoplementioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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The religious and philosophical characteristics in a consensually nonmonogamous sample

2019

IJTS

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The Discursive Construction of Polyamory: Legitimising an Alternative to Monogamy

Montali

Frigerio

Spina

et al. 2022

Sexuality & Culture

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Polyamory is an umbrella term denoting the practice of having multiple romantic and intimate relationships with the consent of everyone involved. Within a mononormative culture, becoming polyamorous may be associated with uncertainty and a feeling of being suspended. Moreover, the preferential attitude towards monogamy marginalises polyamory as indecent and corrupt, creating feelings of shame and social isolation. Our research explored the discursive construction of polyamory in Italy by identifying the strategies used to deal with such identity construction and social recognition issues. We conducted 15 semistructured interviews with people who defined themselves as polyamorous. Our discourse analysis identified a narrative that overturns the dominant hegemonic perspective; this narrative presented monogamy as a practice generating difficulties and problems and polyamory as a thoroughly satisfying and adequate relational modality. This narrative was constructed using six discursive strategies, allowing participants to achieve three discursive purposes. By naturalising polyamory and constructing it as a stable trait, participants essentialised polyamory; by providing a normative definition of polyamory and identifying with the polyamorous community, they set up the boundaries of polyamory; finally, by moralising polyamory and attributing transformative power to it, they valorised polyamory. Overall, the definition of a polyamorous order allows for the integration of polyamory into one’s life, even if polyamorists remain a minority group trapped in the public liminality brought about by a mononormative culture.

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Polyamory, monoamory, and sexual fluidity: A longitudinal study of identity and sexual trajectories.

Manley¹,

Diamond²,

Anders³

2015

Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity

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Prior research has documented shifts in sexual orientation identity, attractions, and partnering behavior over time and social context, commonly referred to as sexual fluidity (Diamond, 2008). Social contextual factors may include relationship status and type of relationship, and these may be particularly salient in polyamorous communities where multiple relationships and some degree of fluidity are common. Also common, and potentially important for experiences of fluidity, are nonheteronormativities and nonmononormativities. This study aimed to explore the sexual trajectories (experiences of sexual identity, sexual attractions, and sexual and romantic partnering) over time in people of diverse relational identities and genders. A sample of 55 polyamorous or otherwise consensually nonmonogamous individuals and 61 monoamorous individuals completed online questionnaires regarding sexual identity, attractions, and partnering behaviors at two time points approximately 7 months apart. Relational identity had a number of implications for sexuality. Polyamorous individuals were more likely than monoamorous participants to identify their sexuality in nonpolar and nontraditional ways. Polyamorous women shifted attraction ratings over time at a higher rate than polyamorous men or monoamorous women or men, and differences in present and ideal attractions at Time 1 partially predicted these shifts. Results indicate the importance of relational identity alongside sexual identity and gender in sexuality research.

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Counseling Clients in Polyamorous Relationships

Cited by 5 publications

References 1 publication

The religious and philosophical characteristics in a consensually nonmonogamous sample

The religious and philosophical characteristics in a consensually nonmonogamous sample

The Discursive Construction of Polyamory: Legitimising an Alternative to Monogamy

Polyamory, monoamory, and sexual fluidity: A longitudinal study of identity and sexual trajectories.

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