Polyamory

Tonina Liriel Aurel and Cornelia Schadler

Chapter Chapter 10 in Research Handbook on Partnering across the Life Course, 2025, pp 117-128 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Over the past few decades, polyamorous relationships, which involve more than two consenting adults, have become increasingly visible in North American and European countries despite not being legally recognized. However, there is a lack of consensus regarding the definition and characteristics of these relationships. To address this issue, this chapter provides a review of various attempts to define and characterize polyamorous partnerships. This includes distinguishing between definitions based on the partnership structure and individual self-identification as polyamorous. Additionally, the chapter offers a brief historical overview of polyamory and its legal recognition. Another section of the chapter summarizes empirical characteristics of these relationships, such as incidence, properties, everyday practices, and demographics. The final section discusses consequences of polyamorous relationships, such as relationship wellbeing, power dynamics, and transgression of gender roles, drawing from both existing literature and the authors’ own empirical research. The chapter concludes with a discussion of research gaps that require further attention.

Keywords: Polyamory; Consensual non-monogamy; Queer kinship; Chosen family (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
ISBN: 9781803923376
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