What exactly is Polyamory?
Derived from the Greek for for “many” (poly-) and the Latin word for “love” (amor), polyamory means many loves. However, in practice, polyamory is often defined as “consensual non-monogamy,” which means open, honest, transparent agreement among partners to love more than one.
While it is a matter of controversy, some people believe that they are hard-wired or born polyamorous. For others, it is viewed as a lifestyle choice.
Other lifestyle choices and relationship agreements like swinging, polygamy, and open relationships may or may not overlap with polyamory. Polyamory may be a practice, a lifestyle, an identity, or an orientation.
A 2014 study found that polyamorous individuals scored higher on relationship-related variables such as conscientiousness and agreeableness than their monogamous counterparts.
Support Group
Chicago Polyamory MeetUp Group
Meets monthly on 1st Saturdays, 10am – 12pm (CST).
Founded by polyamory and kink aware elders, Rami Henrich and Cindy Trawinski, this group is a community building effort formed in response to interest from the polyamory community. Antonia Jurkovic, Psy.D. joins Cindy Trawinski, Psy.D. as an ongoing co-facilitator. View upcoming and archived events on the LifeWorks Psychotherapy website.
If you are a member, you may RSVP at the Chicago Polyamory Meetup site.
Polyamory Reading and Resources
Below are KPACT’s recommended educational resources on polyamory and consensual/ethical non monogamy.
Academic Articles
- Hemphill, S, Simon, S & Haydon, B. (2016) Exploring Personal & Professional Understanding of Nonmonogamous Relationships: Reflections on a Group Work-Informed Workshop (PDF, 646kb), published in Social Work with Groups
- Henrich, R. & Trawinski, C. (2016) Social and therapeutic challenges facing polyamorous clients (PDF, 474kb), published in Sexual & Relationship Therapy
- Easton, Dossie. “Making Friends with Jealousy: Therapy with Polyamorous Clients.” (2010)
Research Organizations
- Community-Academic Consortium for Research on Alternative Sexualities (CARAS)
- The Alternative Sexualities Health Research Alliance
- Center for Positive Sexuality
Advocacy
General Information
- Love’s Not Color Blind: Race and Representation in Polyamorous and Other Alternative Communities, Kevin Patterson
- The Ethical Slut, Dossie Easton and Janet hardy
- Polysecure, Jessica Fern
- Stories From the Polycule, Dr. Elisabeth Sheff
- Opening Up: A Guide to Creating & Sustaining Open Relationships, Tristan Taormino
- Designer Relationships: A Guide to Happy Monogamy, Positive Polyamory, and Optimistic Open Relationships
- Eight Things I Wish I’d Known About Polyamory Before I Tried It and Frakked It Up, Cunning Minx
- The Polyamorists Next Door: Inside Multiple-Partner Relationships and Families, Elizabeth Sheff
Recent articles
View all polyamory articles.
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