Sexual Attitudes, Erotophobia, and Sociosexual Orientation Differ Based on Relationship Orientation

Abstract

Consensual nonmonogamy (CNM) is an overarching term for relationship orientations that differ based on the degree to which consensual sexual and emotional needs are fulfilled outside of a dyad. Despite the diversity of CNM relationship orientations and growing research examining CNM, it is unclear whether the sexual attitudes, inclination to approach/avoid sexual stimuli (i.e., erotophobia-erotophilia), and sociosexuality differ among individuals who identify with distinct CNM relationships. Further, as the agreements made in CNM relationships permit extradyadic relationships, important differences might emerge for CNM and monogamous individuals. A convenience sample (N = 641) of individuals who self-identified as monogamous (n = 447), open (n = 80), polyamorous (n = 62), or swinger (n = 52) provided ratings of their sexual attitudes, erotophobia-erotophilia, and sociosexuality. Results indicated that swingers had the most permissive and instrumental attitudes, were the most erotophilic, and were the most unrestricted sexually. Conversely, monogamists scored the lowest on these traits. No differences emerged between relationship orientations for attitudes toward communion and birth control. These findings have important implications for sexuality research because they reinforce the view that some underlying differences and similarities exist between monogamous and CNM individuals.

Notes

¹ As individuals can consider themselves to be monogamous, polyamorous, etc., regardless of their current relationships status (e.g., when single), we included individuals who are single as well as in a relationship in our analyses. However, the results reported held when we assessed effects among those who were currently in relationship excluding single participants, and vice versa.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by a grant awarded to Rhonda Balzarini by the Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Western Ontario.