Beyond the Dyad: a Review of the Novel Insights Gained From Studying Consensual Non-monogamy

Balzarini, Rhonda Nicole; Muise, Amy

doi:10.1007/s11930-020-00297-x

Cited by 23 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…The primary/secondary model is that of an already formed couple in which a third person is added to the relationship as a lover of one or both partners (Weitzman et al, 2009). The definition of a partner as "primary" is the result of numerous elements: cohabitation, marriage, sharing of expenses, and sharing of children (Balzarini & Muise, 2020). This model also includes another type of relationship: the poly/mono model, in which a partner is polyamorous while the other is exclusively monogamous (Taormino, 2008).…”

Section: Polyamory As a Liminal Objectmentioning

confidence: 99%

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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Section: Polyamory As a Liminal Objectmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Discursive Construction of Polyamory: Legitimising an Alternative to Monogamy

Montali

Frigerio

Spina

et al. 2022

Sexuality & Culture

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“…There has been a growing interest in consensual non-monogamy from researchers, therapists, educators, and the public (Balzarini & Muise, 2020;Cardoso et al, 2021).…”

Section: Conservation or Openness To Change Values Vary According To ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Stigmatization of Consensual Non-Monogamous Partners: Perceived Endorsement of Conservation or Openness to Change Values Vary According to Personal Attitudes

2022

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Studies have shown that romantic partners in consensual non-monogamous (CNM) relationships are targets of stigmatization. However, little is known about the underlying mechanisms and the conditions under which such stigmatization occurs. In two experimental studies (combined N = 772), we asked participants to read the description of two partners in a relationship (monogamous vs. open relationship vs. polyamorous) and make a series of judgments about those partners. Overall results showed that CNM (vs. monogamous) partners were perceived as less trustworthy and as having more sexual health concerns (Studies 1 and 2), and as being less committed and less sexually satisfied (Study 2). Results from a conditional mediation analysis (Study 2) further showed that participants with negative attitudes toward consensual non-monogamy perceived CNM (vs. monogamous partners) as having less conservation and more openness to change values, which was then associated with more stigmatization. In contrast, participants with positive attitudes toward consensual non-monogamy perceived CNM (vs. monogamous partners) as having more openness to change values, which was then associated with less stigmatization. Taken together, these results extended the literature focused on prejudice, discrimination, and stigmatization of minority groups and highlighted key elements that can be used to buffer stigmatization.

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“…Sharply contrasting with this mononormative view is consensual non-monogamy (CNM), which includes diverse relationship structures in which partners mutually agree to have multiple sexual and/or emotional relationships simultaneously and with the consent of all partners (for reviews, see Balzarini & Muise, 2020;Rubin et al, 2014). There has been increased interest in CNM relationships (Moors, 2017) and a non-trivial number of people have reported past experiences in CNM relationships (up to 25% in the U.S. and Canada; Fairbrother et al, 2019;Haupert et al, 2017;Moors, Gesselman, et al, 2021).…”

Section: Examining the Role Of Mononormative Beliefs And Internalized...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Through social comparison and social categorization processes, however, individuals who depart from the normative script prescribed by monogamy (i.e., mononormativity) tend to be met with negativity. Indeed, an increasing number of studies have shown that individuals who engage in CNM are targets of stigmatization and discrimination (for a review, see Balzarini & Muise, 2020). Being continuously exposed to mononormativity and CNM stigmatization can lead to internalized negativity and can have detrimental effects on how individuals perceive themselves and their partners, and how they behave in relationships.…”

Section: Examining the Role Of Mononormative Beliefs And Internalized...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Examining the role of Mononormative Beliefs, Stigma, and Internalized Consensual Non-Monogamy Negativity for Dehumanization

Rodrigues¹,

Brooks²,

Balzarini³

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Interest in consensually non-monogamous relationships (CNM) has been increasing in the general population in recent years. However, given the cultural dominance of monogamy and the normative expectations often imposed through socialization (i.e., mononormativity), people in CNM relationships may experience negativity, which can become internalized and harm their individual and relationship health. The present study investigates if internalized mononormativity is associated with more self- and partner-directed stigma and if internalized CNM negativity is an underlying mechanism for these associations. Results showed that participants who endorsed more mononormativity beliefs also reported more internalized CNM negativity. In turn, participants who experienced more internalized negativity also reported more self-directed CNM stigma, attributed more negative (vs. positive) emotions to themselves, and treated their partners as more immature, unrefined, exploitable, and emotionless. These results show that mononormativity and internalized negativity are significant contributors to individual and relational functioning.

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Beyond the Dyad: a Review of the Novel Insights Gained From Studying Consensual Non-monogamy

Cited by 23 publications

References 48 publications

The Discursive Construction of Polyamory: Legitimising an Alternative to Monogamy

The Discursive Construction of Polyamory: Legitimising an Alternative to Monogamy

Stigmatization of Consensual Non-Monogamous Partners: Perceived Endorsement of Conservation or Openness to Change Values Vary According to Personal Attitudes

Examining the role of Mononormative Beliefs, Stigma, and Internalized Consensual Non-Monogamy Negativity for Dehumanization

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