Chris's article

In our society, it appears that platonic love is infinite, but romantic love is finite. No one would blink if they heard someone say they loved several family members or friends. If someone said they were deeply in love with multiple romantic partners—and everyone knew about it—moral panic would almost certainly ensue. How widespread is the desire for polyamorous relationships in which partners have multiple emotional and sexual relationships? For decades, national polling surveys have tracked Americans' dating habits. However, these studies have ignored relationships that are consensual deviations from monogamy.

There has been an increase in web searches for polyamorous relationships over the last decade, as well as media stories about couples openly discussing such relationships. Let’s check out how common the concept of polyamorous relationships is among Americans.

What Is Polyamory?

Polyamory is defined as "committed, sexual, and romantic relationships with multiple people at the same time.”  The willingness to engage and prior involvement in polyamory are both common in the US and other parts of the world. One in every six people wishes to engage in polyamory, and one in every nine has done so at some point in their lives. To put this into perspective, the number of people who want to engage in polyamory is comparable to the number of Americans who want to move to another country. In the United States, prior involvement in polyamory is as common as obtaining a graduate degree.

While the desire for and prior engagement in polyamory appears to be widespread among Americans, polyamorous relationships are highly stigmatized. Only a minority of partners who are not personally interested in polyamory seem to respect people who engage in polyamory. That is, the vast majority of those who are not personally interested in polyamory have a negative attitude toward it. 

Previous research shows that polyamorous and other forms of consensually non-monogamous relationships are stigmatized by many people (for example, open relationships, swinging, etc.). Polyamorous relationships are perceived as having low relationship quality, being immoral, being harmful to children, and having a slew of other negative connotations.

Research into Polyamorous Relationships

A growing body of research indicates that the general public has misconceptions and judgments about polyamory. According to popular polygamy dating and matchmaking services, polyamorous people report similar levels of passionate love, attachment, and satisfaction with multiple partners. Furthermore, people in polygamous and monogamous relationships report similar levels of relationship quality, such as commitment and satisfaction. In some cases, polygamists experience less jealousy than monogamists and enjoy unique benefits, including diversified fulfillment of needs. 

In many places, polyamorous people are stereotyped as being responsible for the spread of sexually transmitted infections. Even though people who engage in polyamory have a greater number of sexual partners, they prefer safer sexual practices than those in monogamous relationships and have similar STI contracting rates.

Social studies research has largely ignored various types of intimate relationships. It turns out that a desire for and prior involvement in polyamory is common—probably more common than you thought.

Published By: Sister Wives 

Matchmakers Inc

Polyamory, a term referring to the practice of engaging in romantic or sexual relationships with multiple people simultaneously, has become increasingly common in recent years. While many people still view monogamy as the only acceptable form of a romantic relationship, more and more individuals are coming forward to share their experiences with polyamory. In this article, we will highlight eight polyamorous celebrities who have publicly discussed their non-monogamous relationships.

Jada Pinkett Smith

Actress Jada Pinkett Smith is perhaps best known for her role in the TV show "Gotham" and her marriage to actor Will Smith. However, Pinkett Smith has also been open about her experiences with polyamory. In a 2018 episode of her Facebook Watch series "Red Table Talk," Pinkett Smith revealed that she had been in a non-monogamous relationship with musician August Alsina while still married to Smith.

Bella Thorne

Actress and musician Bella Thorne has been open about her experiences with polyamory, even appearing in a documentary about the topic called "Her & Him." In a 2019 interview with Good Morning America, Thorne stated that she is "a very open person" and that she has been in consensual non-monogamous relationships in the past.

Nico Tortorella

Actor and LGBTQ+ activist Nico Tortorella has been an outspoken advocate for polyamory, writing about their experiences with non-monogamy in their 2018 book "Space Between." Tortorella has also discussed their polyamorous relationships in various interviews, stating that "love is not a finite resource."

Tilda Swinton

Oscar-winning actress Tilda Swinton has been in a polyamorous relationship with artist Sandro Kopp and writer John Byrne for several years. Swinton has described her relationships as "loving and open" and has stated that she sees no reason why people should be restricted to loving only one person at a time.

Willow Smith

Singer and actress Willow Smith, the daughter of Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith, has also been open about her experiences with polyamory. In a 2019 episode of "Red Table Talk," Smith discussed her desire to be in a polyamorous relationship, stating that she believes "the history of marriage and the history of relationships" needs to be reevaluated.

Megan Fox

Actress Megan Fox has been in a polyamorous relationship with musician Machine Gun Kelly and her estranged husband, Brian Austin Green. In a 2020 interview with Nylon, Fox discussed her desire for "a partner who is also your teammate" and her belief that "you can have multiple people in your life that you love."

Evan Rachel Wood

Actress Evan Rachel Wood has been open about her experiences with polyamory, stating in a 2019 interview with Nylon that she is "very open to exploring different types of relationships." Wood has also described herself as "pansexual" and has been an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community for many years.

Amber Heard

Actress Amber Heard has been in a polyamorous relationship with artist Tasya van Ree and her ex-husband Johnny Depp. In a 2011 interview with Elle, Heard discussed her experiences with non-monogamy, stating that "I don't believe in doing anything that isn't honest."

Published By: Sister Wives 

Matchmakers Inc