Around consensual non-monogamies – assessing attitudes toward non-exclusive relationships

Consensual non-monogamy is a term used to describe intimate romantic relationships which are sexually and/or emotionally non-exclusive. The present study examined the social norms which are violated by different forms of consensual nonmonogamy,and the negative judgements that result. We asked 375 participants to rate hypothetical vignettes of people involved in one of five relationship types (monogamy, polyamory, an open relationship, swinging, and cheating) on items related to relationship satisfaction, morality, and cognitive abilities. The monogamous couple was perceived most favourably, followed by the polyamorous couple, then the open and swinging couples who were rated equally. Participants judged the cheating couple most negatively. Although social norms of sexual and emotional monogamy are important, we conclude that the aspect that has the most effect on judgements is whether the relationship structure has been agreed to by all parties

Implicit Theories of Attraction

Implicit Theories of Attraction, Bohns, V. K., Scholer, A. A., & Rehman, U. © 2015. Copyright Guilford Press. Reprinted with permission of The Guilford PressSexual satisfaction is an important component of relationship well-being within romantic relationships. Yet, relatively little is known about the psychological factors that predict responses to the inevitable sexual challenges couples face. Four studies provide evidence that implicit theories of sexual attraction as either fixed or malleable predict responses to sexual challenges. In Studies 1 and 2, individual differences in these beliefs predicted (above and beyond other implicit theories, relationship beliefs, and measures of sexual desire) perceptions of success for a relationship lacking sexual chemistry. In Study 3, these beliefs predicted actual relationship outcomes in committed couples. Finally, in Study 4, these beliefs predicted willingness to engage in destructive behaviors in response to a sexual challenge—but not in response to a non-sexual challenge—in a hypothetical long-term relationship. This latter finding was mediated by expectations that the problem faced by the couple was solvable

Perceived attitudes towards romanticism; a cross-cultural study of American, Asian-Indian, and Turkish young adults

The Knox & Sporakowski attitudes toward romantic love scale, a list of 13 desired qualities in a prospective partner, and a demographic questionnaire were distributed to a total of 641 young adults at three international universities in America, Turkey, and India. The sample consisted of 200 American young adults in Western U.S., 223 Turkish college students in Central Turkey, and 218 Indian young adults enrolled at a university in Western India to determine their perceived attitudes toward romanticism. The second objective was to investigate whether age, gender, and parents' marital status were related to romanticism, A third objective was to examine cultural differences in the American and Turkish respondents' attitudes about preferred qualities in a potential mate. Results showed that the American young adults were most romantic, followed by the Turkish students, and Indians had the lowest romanticism score. Female college students in all three cultures were significantly more romantic than males. Age and parents' marital status were not related to romanticism. Cultural differences were found in conjunction to desired qualities in a prospective partner. American and Turkish young adults differed significantly in their attitudes toward the following attributes: having similar political ideologies, being well educated, being affectionate, having a good job, having similar interests, and not having a prior marriage. Gender differences were also found with regard to desired qualities in a potential partner. Males and females differed significantly in their rankings of having a good job. being physically attractive, having similar political ideologies, being well educated, and not having a prior marriage. Implications for researchers and practitioners are discussed