Investigation of Consensually Nonmonogamous Relationships

TLDR

The authors argue that monogamy bias hampers research on relationship quality and conduct studies to assess and model the functioning of consensually nonmonogamous relationships. They conducted a basic study assessing CNM relationship quality in multiple ways and developed a model contrasting CNM with monogamous relationships. The first study found few differences in relationship functioning between monogamous and CNM couples, and a second study revealed that researchers presenting CNM data, especially those favoring polyamory, are perceived as more biased due to stigma.

Abstract

We proposed that the premise that monogamy is the exemplary form of romantic partnership underlies much theory and research on relationship quality, and we addressed how this bias has prompted methodological issues that make it difficult to effectively address the quality of nonmonogamous relationships. Because the idea that consensually nonmonogamous (CNM) relationships are functional (i.e., satisfying and of high quality) is controversial, we included a basic study to assess, in a variety of ways, the quality of these relationships. In that study, we found few differences in relationship functioning between individuals engaged in monogamy and those in CNM relationships. We then considered how existing theories could help researchers to understand CNM relationships and how CNM relationships could shed light on relationship processes, and we proposed a model of how CNM and monogamous relationships differ. Finally, in a second study, we determined that even researchers who present data about CNM are affected by the stigma surrounding such relationships. That is, researchers presenting findings favoring polyamory were perceived as more biased than researchers presenting findings favoring monogamy.