Polyamory can be a side effect of trauma, but there is currently no solid evidence that it is related to childhood trauma. The only thing you need to be concerned about is consensual non-monogamy exacerbating symptoms of a pre-existing psychological condition.
Motivations for engaging in polyamory include, among others, those related to autonomy, sexual diversity, identity development, and belonging.
Research, however, finds that people in polyamorous relationships are in fact, often quite happy with their arrangements: They report the same levels of relationship satisfaction as married partners, as well as high sexual satisfaction.
As with monogamous relationships, polyamorous relationships can be healthy or unhealthy — happy or unhappy — depending on the behaviors and actions of the people who engage in them. Many people in polyamorous relationships are satisfied and happy.
Polyamory, in particular, can be difficult for avoidant attachers because these relationships require a high degree of emotional intimacy and vulnerability – two common triggers for avoidant attachers [3].
Polyamory is a category on the Ethical Non-Monogamy (ENM) or Consensual Non-Monogamy (CNM) spectrum. The ENM/CNM spectrum encompasses all sexual or romantic relationship choices which include multiple partners.
In the vast majority of polyamorous relationships, jealousy does come up at some point. However, jealousy can be broken down to determine what your real concerns are. When you recognize what is bothering you, it is possible to manage this challenging feeling.
Lack of agreement over time can lead to feelings of neglect and the ending of a relationship. Spending quality, meaningful, intentional and dedicated time nurturing a relationship is essential if it is to be successful. Broken promises around time seem to be the number one difficulty in poly relationships.
Maintaining high levels of emotional and sexual intimacy.
A survey of 340 polyamorous adults shows their polyam relationships lasting an average of eight years. The most typical polyam relationship involves a primary committed couple, with each member free to explore other relationships.
Being polyamorous means you're open to the idea of loving multiple people and having multiple romantic relationships simultaneously. (The term "polyamory" comes from the Greek word "poly," which means many, and the Latin word "amory," which means love.)
Polyamorous respondents reported being “very happy with life” overall, while the general population stated that they were, “pretty happy with their life.” Polyamorous people also rated their personal health significantly higher than the general population as well.
Fear of Intimacy and Commitment
Therefore, polyamory is “a form of escape from commitment, from responsibility.
Increased Intimacy, Romance, and Love
The most obvious benefit of polyamory is the opportunity to develop deep, intimate, romantic and sexual relationships with multiple people. To not have our capacity for love to be stifled by a partner, and not to stifle a partner's capacity for love.
Rather, people in healthy polyamorous relationships may view jealousy as an indication of deeper personal problems, like feeling insecure or inadequate. When they feel jealous, they confront that emotion head on in order to keep their relationships honest and strong.
People with narcissistic traits are drawn to polyamory mainly because they believe it relieves them of true intimacy and commitment, while providing them with copious amounts of attention.
Most things about breakups are identical in monogamy and polyamory. They're largely between the people directly involved in the breakup - the worst things that can happen are long-running resentment or making an ass of yourself in wallowing in the end of the relationship with unhealthy coping mechanisms.
Essentially, first night effect is a phenomenon that many polyamorous folks experience whereby they feel either guilt or shame after their first preapproved nonmonogamous encounter.
At its core, solo polyamory refers to people who are open to dating or engaging in multiple meaningful relationships without having a 'primary partner': one person to whom they're committed above all other partners.
Polyamorous couples have different ideas about how to manage rules and boundaries within their relationships. Sometimes, these rules can act as a big red flag. Requiring a secondary/new partner to be romantically or sexually involved with both people or break up entirely is a big show-stopper for me.
'Twenty-percent of couples have experimented with consensual non monogamy [but] open marriage has a 92% failure rate. Eighty-percent of people in open marriages experience jealousy of the other.
Well, you can, but chances are it isn't going to go very well because the “rules” of monogamy, which are about exclusivity and allegiance to one person, don't apply. Polyamory requires creating new relationship parameters that are agreed upon by all.
However, polyamory tends to be built around the ideas of honesty, communication and centring the feelings of everyone involved, so in most cases ethical non-monogamy doesn't equate to cheating.
Polyamory is emotionally challenging, no question. Jealousy, insecurity, and other negative emotions are all a part of any romantic relationship. Instead of trying to avoid painful emotions, however, polyamorists try to face them head on.
Some polyamorous partners prefer to date as a couple, triad or group, and are looking for compatibility romantically and sexually among everyone. Others only have relationships one on one, though often those involved meet and are friends.