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In society & in our science, we seem fine with the idea that platonic love is endless. But, when it comes to romantic love, we view this as limited to “one and only.” Ryan, Chopik (@Chops310), & I examined attachment & relationship quality among 357 polyamorous people. A thread.
In this study, we sought to answer three questions: | 2/12
Do people in polyamorous relationships have similar attachment orientations with each of their partners? | 3/12
Yes. In fact, people oriented themselves similarly—and securely—toward both of their romantic partners (levels of avoidance & anxiety were lower than established norms) | 4/12
Does the attachment relationship with a given partner affect relationship quality in that relationship (within-relationship effects)? | 5/12
Yup. Higher levels of anxiety & avoidance were linked with lower relationship satisfaction, sexual satisfaction, and commitment (replicates a large body of research on monogamous relationships) | 6/12
Does the attachment relationship with a given partner affect relationship quality in another concurrent romantic relationship (cross-relationship effects)? | 7/12
No. Anxiety & avoidance with one partner was unrelated to relational outcomes in the other relationship. There isn’t a compensatory or “spill-over” effect happening. | 8/12
Although people engaged in poly are stereotyped as having insecure & low quality relationships with motives to compensate for unmet needs, our research shows that the attachment bond (which was secure) in one relationship did not influence functioning with other partners. | 9/12
Our research suggests that people who have multiple concurrent romantic and sexual relationships treat these relationships as distinct and independent—forming an attachment with each partner based on the specifics of that relationship. | 10/12
Interesting evidence to add to the attachment debate about how attachment operates: “gist”/global v. relationship-specific | 11/12
Thanks for coming to my Twitter paper presentation. Free access until 6/22!!!!!!!!! (download now for your research, syllabi updates, + beach reading): sciencedirect.com/science/articl… | 12/12
