Abstract
Scientific study of polyamory and the individuals who practice it has seen a sharp increase in the last decade, revealing data and subjective experiences that support their capacity to be closely intimate and fulfilling, to bolster personal development, to provide a positive and stable family environment, and to mutually strengthen the bonds of each relationship involved. Understanding the unique experiences and challenges faced by polyamorous lovers is essential for cultural competence in relational research, clinical practice, institutional regulations, and moving toward greater social acceptance. Examined here are the associated stigmas and their impacts on polyamorous individuals, the motivations people have for becoming and remaining poly, the underlying values of the concept, the benefits these relationships can carry, prosocial behaviors that facilitate successful polyamory, the different ways multiple consensual relationships are arranged and interpreted, need fulfillment, the dynamics of poly families, and how jealousy and compersion interact within polyamorous contexts.
Recommended Citation
O'Harra, K.
(2024).
Characterizing the Polyamorous Experience Through Research,
Best Integrated Writing, 6.
Included in
Medicine and Health Sciences Commons, Other Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Commons