Polyamory: What It Is, Types, & How It Works

What Is Polyamory?

Polyamory is a type of Ethical Non-Monogamy that places an emphasis on deep, intimate relationships with more than one romantic partner. Polyamory is a word derived from the Greek root “poly,” meaning “many,” and the Latin root “amor,” meaning “love.” As the name suggests, polyamory is rooted in the philosophy that we can love more than one person, in the romantic sense, without those feelings of love detracting from one another.

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. ENM/CNM necessitates the informed consent of all participants who are romantically or sexually involved with one another. Polyamorous relationships can be just as healthy as monogamous ones.

“Polyamory requires a great deal of work in the beginning,” says sex therapist Charity Danker, LPC.  “Very clear communication on boundaries, agreements, scheduling, child-rearing etc is a must, and not always easy. The more people you have loving you, the more people you need to love back. Learning time management, conflict resolution and healthy negotiation helps greatly. A beautiful practicality is you have more emergency contacts, lovers to spend your birthday with, and help around your home. You can truly have a tribe.”

Is Polyamory a Sexual Orientation?

Some participants in polyamorous relationships identify with “poly” as an orientation. Being open to multiple, loving relationships is an intrinsic part of who a poly person is. Asking them to be monogamous goes against their nature. Other participants in polyamorous relationships may resonate intellectually with the philosophy of open loving, have a partner who identifies as poly, or feel flexible in their relationship style – sometimes engaging in monogamous romantic relationships, sometimes polyamorous.

Is Polyamory Cheating?

Polyamory is not cheating, it is based on honesty. All partners involved must be aware of the kind of relationship they are entering into and enthusiastically consent to be a part of it. That does not mean that everyone in a polyamorous relationship must identify as polyamorous or is dating multiple partners—there are plenty happy mono/poly relationships. But it does mean that cheating on a partner you have been monogamous with from the inception of your relationship and then calling it polyamory when your other partner is revealed is not polyamory.

If you are in a monogamous relationship and would like to transition to a polyamorous model with your partner, those conversations must happen before any action is taken on your part to become romantically or sexually involved with someone else. It is very difficult, and sometimes impossible, to transition the broken trust of a dishonest hook-up outside of your partnership into a successful, happy polyamorous arrangement.

Polyamory vs. Swinging & Other Forms of Ethical Non-Monogamy

While polyamory focuses on love, other forms of Ethical Non-Monogamy focus more on sex. For example, partners in the “lifestyle” typically consider themselves to be emotionally and romantically monogamous with one another while being open to sexual experiences with others. These experiences may include dating other couples, dating singles, attending swinger clubs or parties, playing sexually together with others, playing sexually separately with others, or some combination of those options.

There is much variability for couples in sexually open relationships in terms of what rules they agree to, including what level of sexual activity is acceptable, what genders are okay to play with, whether couples must always play together, and what depth of relationship with other partners is allowed. Typically, however, love is not part of the equation. Romantic love remains sacred as an implicit or explicit monogamous contract. This sets swinging apart from polyamory, in which love is the whole point.

Polyamory vs. Polygamy

Polyamory is having more than one romantic relationship, whereas polygamy is the plurality of marriage, meaning to have more than one spouse. Polygamy is illegal in the United States. In the eyes of the law, you can have only one legally sanctioned romantic partnership and all of the attendant rights and responsibilities associated with that partnership.

A main reason for the illegality of polygamy is to protect women from participation in polygyny, a relationship structure that is sanctioned by culture or religious doctrine in which men may have more than one wife.

The laws against polygamy are not likely to change within the United States anytime soon. This often leaves members of polyamorous relationships in a culturally mandated hierarchy, wherein only one dyad within the relationship is culturally and legally recognized.

Some polyamorous partners choose to eschew marriage altogether to avoid one or more members being placed in a one-down position. This, however, means losing out on the benefits our legal system affords to legally recognized couples and may mean that a person’s community does not appreciate the commitments made within a polyamorous relationship.

Are Polyamorous Relationships Illegal?

Polyamourous relationships are not legally recognized as domestic unions (you can’t be legally married to multiple people at once), however many people still practice polyamourous relationships. Sometimes, people form a triad or throuple where one partner is married to another, however all three are in a committed relationship to one another.

Types of Polyamory

Polyamorous relationship structures are diverse. Unlike monogamy, which has a clear “relationship escalator” that typically includes dating, monogamy, cohabitation, and marriage, polyamory can look very different for different people.

These are a few basic examples of what a polyamorous relationship could look like. The options for polyamory are diverse and complex. Relationships often evolve over time based on partners’ self-exploration and a practice of deeply connecting and honestly communicating with one another.

Here are nine common types of polyamory:

1. Triad

Some polyamorous couples choose to date other singles together, seeking a long term partner with which to become a “triad” or “throuple.” Women who are open to dating couples together are often called “unicorns,” due to the popularity of single women in the ENM/CNM community and the difficulty of finding one. Men who are open to dating couples together are sometimes called “dragons.”

2. Quad

Some polyamorous couples choose to date other couples together, hoping to find a long-term relationship called a “quad.” In a quad, all partners may have a sexual and romantic relationship with one another, or perhaps only cross-gender partners have a relationship with one another, or any combination of the four people involved. Sometimes there are romantic relationships without sex, particularly when an asexual or graysexual partner is part of a relationship.

3. Vee

Very commonly in polyamory one person dates two people separately. They are then the “pivot” in a vee style relationship. Their two partners are “metamours” to one another and those two people might never meet, or they may become close friends, but they do not have a romantic relationship.

4. Solo Polyamory

A solo poly person typically prefers to live alone and has multiple partnerships that they do not define in a hierarchical manner.

5. Polycule

A polycule encompasses everyone on the relationship map, including all of your partners and metamours, whether or not they cohabitate. There may be polycule meetings or discussions to consider decisions which have implications for everyone involved.

6. Hierarchical Poly

In a hierarchical polyamorous relationship, there is a “primary” couple who may cohabitate, combine finances, have children together or participate in other aspects of a shared life. This couple defines the rules for how they are allowed to explore “secondary” relationships.

They may explore relationships together or separately, they may have established constraints around sex or time spent with other partners or they may have “veto power” which allows either person to end their partner’s secondary relationships if they are unhappy with them.

7. Anchor Partners

Some polyamorous partners define their relationship as an “anchor” or “nesting” partnership, instead of primary. These monikers indicate that hierarchy is not present and all partners are considered equal, while still acknowledging that shared life commitments such as home, finances or children are a factor in defining the relationship.

8. Kitchen-Table Poly

Kitchen-table poly is when everyone within a polycule is ideally able to sit around a table and conduct open discussions about their relationships. Partners and partners of partners can comfortably reach out to one another and talk directly about requests, concerns, or emotions.

9. Parallel Poly

Parallel poly is when metamours do not interact with one another. If a person in a vee-style relationship has requests or concerns, they discuss those with one partner, who then determines how to navigate the issue with their other partner.

10. Polyfidelity

Some polyamorous relationships become “closed” and members engage in “polyfidelity.” This is when all members of a poly relationship agree not to seek romantic or sexual connections outside of the established relationship structure. Polyfidelity often occurs when “polysaturation” has been reached, or the inability to add additional partners due to time and energy constraints.

11. Relationship Anarchy

In relationship anarchy, all participants are free to connect with others romantically and sexually without the restriction of rules, labels, or hierarchy. Relationships evolve organically between the partners involved, which are rooted in trust, communication and autonomy. Relationship anarchists may still have anchor partners that they live with or share other commitments with.

The Benefits of Having a Poly Relationship

There are benefits to having a polyamourous relationship, including:

• Compersion—an experience of genuine joy a person has for their partner who they know is enjoying the company and physical and emotional intimacy from others.
• Improves communication between all parties
• Allows people to try new things and experiences
• Self expression is valued and encouraged
• Lower pressure to meet the emotional and physical needs of a partner

Some Complications of Polyamory

Polyamory is challenging. Because the default in our society is monogamy, there is very little modeling to look to in media, culture, peer groups and families for what a healthy polyamorous relationship could look like. Most of the examples in mainstream culture are presented in the context of sensationalism instead of examples of how polyamorous relationships may thrive.

The paradigm shift from monogamy to polyamory requires skilled communication and a willingness to devote time and energy to finding the resources that will make your relationships successful.

The following issues are common topics of conversation that poly partners are likely to have to navigate:

Jealousy/Insecurity

Even the most secure and emotionally grounded people are likely to run up against jealousy or insecurity when navigating polyamorous relationships for the first time. Your nervous system can hijack your logical mind and make you feel as if you are in danger.

This kind of fear reaction can cause nausea, anxiety, racing thoughts, insomnia, tears or emotional reactivity. Mindfulness practices, emotional awareness and good communication habits can help you and your partners navigate jealousy and insecurity issues when they arise.

Being Intentional With Time

Love may be infinite, but time is finite. Time is also your most valuable resource in cultivating intentional, rewarding experiences with your partners. If you are usually a go with the flow kind of person who doesn’t plan ahead, that may have to change.

Whether you end up with regular nights of the week that you see different partners or make dates as options become available, your current partner or partners will need a heads-up so that they can make their own plans. Once you have three or more people in the mix, calendaring can get complex.

Rules & Boundaries

Establishing expectations for your relationship through rules and boundaries is an important step towards all partners feeling emotionally safe. Rules are external agreements mutually decided on by established partners, such as how late you can stay out or how often you can go on dates with other partners. Newbies to the poly world tend to lean heavily on rules, which can actually set you up more for broken trust and disappointment.

Don’t go overboard with the minutiae of your agreements thinking they will keep your established relationship safer. Instead, rely more on clarifying boundaries, which are about what you control. Boundaries include your bodily autonomy and how you manage your own mental state and emotional reactivity. For example, a boundary could be not having sex after your partner goes on a date until a certain amount of time has elapsed or your partner has taken a shower.

How to Talk About Polyamory With a Partner

If you are currently in a monogamous relationship and think that transitioning to polyamory sounds right for you and your partner, it can be tricky to know where to begin.

Danker encourages, “Conversations about polyamory are best served when sober, levelheaded, and fresh in the relationship, or immediately following the realization that one party is interested in experiencing others. I professionally believe after a few dates is best. Having a conversation about fantasies, masturbation practices, sexual desires and limitations are a great place to start. This helps establish some wants, desires, and fears around emotional and physical connection with others.”

Here are six tips for discussing polyamory with your partner:

1. Be Intentional

Don’t off-handedly mention after a couple of drinks that you’d be interested in dating a guy at work and then ask if maybe your partner would be down to open things up. Carefully consider what you want to say in a way that is vulnerable, kind and clear. Let your partner know that you have something serious you want to discuss and set aside time without distractions to sit down and be deeply present with one another.

2. Start with What Works

Talk about all the ways in which you love your relationship with your partner and what you don’t want to change. Make it clear that you are not going anywhere and that this would not be a downgrade to your relationship.

3. Use “I” Statements & Feeling Statements

Think carefully about what you want to say in this format to help you clarify your thoughts and feelings. If you find yourself wanting to talk more about what is not working with your partner, it may be time to slow down and address issues in your current relationship first before changing the paradigm.

Polyamory is not a quick fix for relationship problems. It requires a strong foundation predicated on exactly this kind of communication. Speaking from an emotional place about your perspective will help your partner hear you and understand where you are coming from.

4. Focus On Love

Polyamory is all about love. Talk about the abundance of love that is in your relationship and the ways in which you envision expanding on that by opening up to other partners. Ask your partner about their experience of love and whether they can imagine having those feelings for someone other than you if they knew it didn’t mean the end of your relationship.

5. Don’t Rush

You have probably been thinking about this conversation for a while. You might be ready to start an Ok Cupid profile tomorrow, but all this information is brand new to your partner. Give them some time to digest what you’ve discussed.

Offer one or two resources to them which articulate how you are feeling (a podcast episode or chapter of a book) without going overboard on material. Let them process in their own time and be available to talk when they are ready. If they don’t bring the topic back up on their own within a week or two, gently ask what their follow-up thoughts have been to your conversation. Listen more than speak.

6. Don’t Do It Alone

Talk with your partner about how having outside help to navigate this tricky conversation further could be useful. A trained ENM/CNM therapist can help guide the conversation in a more fruitful direction if an initial try ended up in hurt feelings, misunderstandings, or just didn’t get very far. Making this suggestion also lets your partner know that you are serious—about both polyamory and making your relationship with them continue to work.

How to Talk to Your Loved Ones About Polyamory

Coming out to friends and family can be a big deal. Given all the myths and misconceptions surrounding polyamory, some people may choose to keep one or more of their relationships private. This can create ongoing issues with partners feeling excluded. Family photos, holidays, trips and milestone events will be reserved for the couple that is recognized and affirmed in the community until your relationships are out in the open.

Before talking about polyamory with important people in your life, carefully consider how to frame the conversation in a way that they can understand. Emphasize that you have been intentional in manifesting these relationships and that all of your partners have an important place in your heart.

How Talking With a Mental Health Professional Can Help

If you think you may be polyamorous, or would like to try a polyamorous relationship structure either with a current partner or on your own, then speaking with a knowledgeable mental health professional can help you take the next steps in exploring.

Optimally, you should find a couples counselor or individual therapist who has extensive prior experience in working with polyamorous relationships, not just a mental health professional who claims to be non-judgmental of ENM/CNM relationship styles.

Implicit bias frequently appears in therapy around non-monogamy when a therapist is unskilled at working within a non-monogamous paradigm. It is imperative that your counselor knows the issues to look for and skills to impart when helping couples or individuals embark on a polyamorous path.

There is still a substantial stigma in our culture against polyamory and it can be hard to find professionals you can trust. To find polyamory-knowledgeable professionals, visit polyfriendly.org. You can find mental health counselors as well as lawyers, doulas, and religious clergy, among others.