No description available.

[pt] Na cultura ocidental moderna a monogamia é vista como a melhor, senão a única, forma de relacionamento amoroso. A monogamia refere-se à exclusividade emocional e sexual entre dois parceiros amorosos. Por outro lado, relacionamentos não-monogâmicos consensuais (RNMC) são aqueles em que há um acordo de não-exclusividade emocional e/ou sexual entre os envolvidos. Estudos mostram que algumas características individuais se relacionam com a escolha por relacionamentos monogâmicos ou RNMC, tais como níveis de apego, sociossexualidade e personalidade. RNMC fogem a cultura mononormativa e as pessoas que se envolvem nesse tipo de relacionamento são estigmatizadas. O objetivo da presente dissertação foi investigar o papel do tipo de relacionamento na relação entre a Exclusividade em Relacionamentos e o bem-estar subjetivo. Para isso foram desenvolvidos dois estudos. No primeiro, buscou-se construir uma escala para medir Exclusividade em Relacionamentos com itens contextualizados. A escala construída apresentou 11 itens, divididos em dois fatores (Monogamia e Fidelidade), bons indicadores de fidedignidade e evidências de validade satisfatórias. No segundo estudo, utilizou-se escala desenvolvida no estudo anterior para verificar o efeito da Exclusividade em Relacionamentos no bem-estar subjetivos de indivíduos em relacionamentos monogâmicos e RNMC. Os resultados indicaram que só há interação entre o fator monogamia da Exclusividade em Relacionamento com os afetos positivos e a satisfação de vida (fatores do bem-estar subjetivo) no grupo de pessoas em relacionamentos monogâmicos. A conclusão discute a relação entre a cultura mononormativa e a escolha por relacionamentos monogâmicos ou RNMC, assim como o impacto dessa escolha no bem-estar subjetivo. / [en] In modern Western culture monogamy is seen as the best, if not the only, form of loving relationship. Monogamy refers to emotional and sexual exclusivity between two loving partners. On the other hand, consensual non-monogamous relationships (CNMR) are those in which there is an emotional and/or sexual non-exclusivity agreement between those involved. Studies show that there are some individual characteristics that relate to choosing monogamous relationships or CNMR, such as attachment, sociosexuality and personality. CNMR escapes the mononormative culture and people who get involved in these types of relationships are stigmatized. The aim of this dissertation was to investigate the role of the type of relationship in the relationship between Relationship Exclusivity and subjective well-being. Two studies were developed. In the first, we sought to build a scale to measure Relationship Exclusivity with contextualized items. The constructed scale had 11 items, divided into two factors (Monogamy and Fidelity), good indicators of reliability and satisfactory evidences of validity. In the second study, the scale developed in the previous study was used to verify the effect of Relationship Exclusivity on the subjective well-being of individuals in monogamous relationships and CNMR. The results indicated that there is only interaction between the Monogamy factor of Exclusiveness in Relationship with positive affects and life satisfaction (factors of subjective well-being), in the group of people in monogamous relationships. The conclusion discusses the relationship between mononormative culture and the choice for monogamous relationships or CNMR, as well as the impact of this choice on subjective well-being.

Flersamhet är ett svenskt begrepp som beskriver personer som lever polyamoröst, i öppna relationer eller på andra sätt har icke-monogama relationer med samtycke. Vårt samhälle har en väldigt stark monogaminorm som ofta påverkar personer som lever utanför den på ett negativt sätt. Den aktuella studien ämnade att ta reda på vilka erfarenheter personer som jobbar med psykologisk behandling (psykologer, psykoterapeuter och kuratorer eller liknande) har av att ha flersamma klienter i terapi eller behandlande samtal, samt vilka erfarenheter som är viktiga och betydelsefulla i behandling med flersamma klienter. Fyra psykologer intervjuades och data analyserades med reflexiv tematisk analys. Deltagarnas berättelser tyder på att utmaningen som behandlare står inför när det träffar flersamma klienter oftast gäller sig själva och sitt eget arbete, snarare än klienterna. De behöver förhålla sig till ideal kopplat till flersamhet, behandlarrollens ideal och hur de påverkas av samhällsnormer i stort och monogaminormen specifikt. Kunskap beskrivs som en av de viktigaste aspekterna och psykologerna behöver förhålla sig till vem som har ansvar över att tillräcklig och rätt kunskap ska finnas hos behandlarna. Det beskrivs även som en viktig aspekt att förhålla sig till sin professionella roll som behandlare och att reflektera över vad som är ett bra bemötande gentemot flersamma klienter. Resultatet visar att psykologens identitetsarbete är ett övergripande tema som deltagarna behöver förhålla sig till på ett eller annat sätt. / Consensual non-monogamy, CNM, describes people who are polyamorous, have open relationships or other non-monogamous relationships with consent. Our society has a strong monogamy-norm that often will affect people who do not conform to it, often in a negative way. The current study aimed to explore what experiences people who work with psychological treatment (psychologists, psychotherapists and counselors and the like) have of therapy with CNM clients, and which experience they deem important and meaningful in therapy with CNM clients. Four psychologists were interviewed, and the data was analyzed with reflexive thematic analysis. The participants' descriptions suggest that the challenge faced by psychologists primarily revolves around themselves and their own work, rather than the clients. They need to navigate ideals associated with CNM, the ideal role of the psychologist, and how they are influenced by societal norms at large, and monogamy in particular. Knowledge is identified as one of the crucial aspects and they need to navigate questions and concerns regarding who has responsibility that sufficient and appropriate knowledge is held by the psychologists. Another important aspect is to navigate their own professional role as psychologists and reflect on what constitutes positive treatment towards CNM clients. The findings indicate that the psychologist’s process of identity work is an overarching theme which the participants need to navigate in one way or another.

Male couples place the issue of extra??relational sex (ERS) in their committed relationships at various points on a continuum between monogamy and non??monogamy. Further, many couples move about on this continuum over the course of the relationship, according to their changing wishes and desires. Making the right choice or transitioning from one relationship style to another is not always straightforward and unproblematic. Some male couples may benefit from therapeutic support at these crucial times. This research seeks to contribute to knowledge that could inform sensitive and respectful practice on the part of therapists and others who work with the relational concerns of gay men. Using qualitative methodology the research questions explored how gay men negotiate the place of ERS with their partners, the strategies they use to manage ERS, and their beliefs about the effects of their choices on themselves and their relationship. A purposive sample of 24 Sydney gay men (six single and 18 partnered) aged between 22 and 68 participated in the research. Data were collected through semi??structured interviews and subjected to thematic analysis. Despite diverse experiences of ERS, a core set of processes appeared central to relationship satisfaction and function. The knowledge produced by this research provides a number of ways for therapists to orient themselves to the therapeutic terrain of work with gay men and ERS while remaining alive to the unique and particular characteristics of the male couple relationship before them.

No description available.

Previous research suggests one in five United States (U.S.) adults will engage in consensual nonmonogamy (CNM) in their lifetime (Haupert et al., 2017). Despite a significant number of adults engaging in CNM relationships, there is considerable stigma regarding CNM status. Clients that identify as CNM are marginalized in the process of psychotherapy (Henrich & Trawinski, 2016; Kisler & Lock, 2019; Schechinger et al., 2018). One previous study found that one-third of clients who identify as consensually nonmonogamous reported experiencing inappropriate therapy practices (Schechinger et al., 2018). Inappropriate therapy practices included their therapist pathologizing their relationship structure or expressing judgmental attitudes around their CNM relationship. Clients who experienced inappropriate practices were significantly more likely to terminate therapy prematurely. The present study measures relational therapists’ (n = 775) attitudes, monogamism sensitivity, and knowledge regarding consensual nonmonogamy. Treatment practices when working with clients who identify as CNM were also explored through open-ended questions. A simple linear regression revealed that knowledge of CNM predicted favorable attitudes toward CNM. Furthermore, monogamism sensitivity strengthened the relationship between knowledge and attitudes. Specialized training was not significant in predicting knowledge of CNM or attitudes toward CNM. Thematic analysis revealed four categories related to working with CNM clients in therapy. These categories were general treatment, helpful practices, unhelpful practices, and perpetuating stigma. Results of both the qualitative and quantitative data analyses suggest relational therapy training programs should better prepare clinicians in working with clients who identify as consensually nonmonogamous. Specifically, in addressing how monogamism influences therapists ’clinical judgement.

Normative ideas of what it means to be a ‘good’ parent can often come into conflict with non-monogamy. This thesis explores how non-monogamous parents living in Sweden adhere to certain normative relationship and family practices, while rejecting others. Additionally, this thesis identifies some of the counternormative strategies that non-monogamous parents integrate into their parenting practices. This research is based on data that was collected through nine semi-structured interviews with twelve non-monogamous parents living in Sweden. This data was then analyzed primarily using theoretical frameworks from within the fields of queer studies. Furthermore, concepts of queer kinship and family formation are utilized in order to understand the experiences of the participants. This study reveals that ideals around what it means to be a ‘good’ parent can create hardship for non-monogamous parents who do not adhere to mononormative family structures. The fear of facing stigma, conflict, or the loss of social relationships serves as a strong motivating factor for non-monogamous parents to maintain some normative family practices, such as dyadic parenting dynamics, child-centered lifestyles, and rigid familial borders. At the same time, many parents exercise small, daily acts of counterresistance to these pressures. Motivation for these practices often lies in the desire to open up possibilities for their children to live their lives in a free and authentic way, regardless of their gender, sexuality, or relationship orientation.

No description available.

No description available.

Access to health care services is critical to both personal health outcomes and health equity within a community. While non-monogamous behavior is widespread, stigma surrounding consensual non-monogamy can create barriers to health care access. This research outlines the experiences of non-monogamous women during sexual health care visits, how class acts to modify those experiences, the barriers to health care access that they encounter, and the adaptive strategies they employ. The sample for this research was 23 consensually non-monogamous women. Participants were contacted through online support groups, message boards, and snowball sampling. In-depth interviews about their sexual health care experiences were conducted. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed for themes related to the intersection of non-monogamy and health care experiences. The interactions between health care professionals and non-monogamous women, whether or not those women disclose their non-monogamous status, were often perceived as stigmatizing. Increased class status, both of participant and of provider, was described as increasing experiences of stigma and barriers to care. The information provided by this research may be used to better understand, and thus improve, the barriers health care access experienced by non-monogamous women. Suggestions given by the participants for improving their health care access and decreasing experiences of stigma are included.