Love and sex: polyamorous relationships are perceived more favourably than swinging and open relationships

Three’s a crowd: public awareness and (mis)perceptions of polyamory

“…Importantly, these perceptions contradict what empirical research on CNM relationships actually shows: People in CNM relationships report that their relationships are more emotionally intimate (Morrison, Beaulieu, Brockman, & O Beaglaoich, 2013); that they are just as happy in their relationships (Cox et al, 2013); and that they are more likely to get tested for HIV, practice safe sex and discuss sexual safety (Conley, Moors, Ziegler, & Karanthanasis, 2012;Cox et al, 2013) compared to their monogamous counterparts. Within CNM, polyamory is viewed more favourably than both swinging and open relationships (likely a result of polyamory's emphasis on emotional connections as opposed to purely sexual ones; Matsick et al, 2013). Outside of CNM, however, polyamory is viewed just as negatively as is emotional and sexual infidelity (Burris, 2013).…”

Re-examining the effectiveness of monogamy as an STI-preventive strategy

“…The pressure to be monogamous is intense. Those who adopt consensually non-monogamous lifestyles (CNM; relationships in which all partners agree that having sexual and/or romantic relationships outside of a committed relationship is permissible) are perceived in an exceedingly negative light (e.g., as irresponsible and having low-quality relationships) (Conley et al, 2012a;Moors et al, 2013;Matsick et al, 2014). Stigma against non-monogamy may promote dangerous sexual practices in several ways, considered below.…”

Around Consensual Nonmonogamies: Assessing Attitudes Toward Nonexclusive Relationships

“…In addition, a confound was introduced because the monogamous couple was described as always having been monogamous; in contrast the ''consensually nonmonogamous'' couple was described as having opened up their relationship only one year previously, thus implying that GRUNT-MEJER AND CAMPBELL 2 Downloaded by [Cambridge University Library] at 05:50 11 August 2015 they were dissatisfied in some way. Matsick et al (2013) addressed the first of these two critiques by delineating three types of consensually nonmonogamous relationships: swinging, open, and polyamorous relationships. They addressed the second critique by asking their 126 participants, who were mostly undergraduates, to rate abstract descriptions of relationships rather than vignettes of specific people.…”

“…Two recent studies (i.e., Matsick et al, 2013) on perceptions of consensual nonmonogamy used the theoretical concept of stigma, defined as a negative attitude toward people displaying a norm-violating characteristic (Dovidio, Major, & Crocker, 2000). This theoretical framework does not, however, include components that are incorporated in current concepts of stigma, such as experience of separation, status loss, and discrimination (Link & Phelan, 2001).…”

“…Whatever the prevalence of consensual nonmonogamy, and whether or not it is on the rise, it is certain that there is an increasing amount of academic research being conducted on these types of relationships (for a review, see Barker & Langdridge, 2010). Rubel and Bogaert (2014) and Matsick, Conley, Ziegler, Moors, and Rubin (2013) delineated three types of consensual nonmonogamy that are consistently discussed in the literature: swinging, open relationships, and polyamory. Definitions of these three styles are subject to debate (for discussions, see Barker, 2005;Haritaworn, Lin, & Kleese, 2006;Klesse, 2006), but they are most commonly described as follows: Swinging is a relationship in which a couple engages in extradyadic sex, usually at parties or social situations where both partners are present.…”