Poly relationship (from 'polygamy', 'polyamory' et al.) is a blanket term covering forms of interpersonal relationship in which some or all participants have multiple marital, sexual, and/or romantic partners. Such relationships are also sometimes termed nonmonogamous. Polygamy, literally many marriages in ancient Greek, is a marital practice in which a person has more than one spouse simultaneously (as opposed to monogamy where each person has a maximum of one spouse at any one time). ... Start of polyamory contingent at San Francisco Pride 2004. ... A blanket term is a word or phrase that is used to describe multiple groups of related things. ... This article is in need of attention. ... Marriage is a relationship and bond, most commonly between a man and a woman, that plays a key role in the definition of many families. ... Human sexuality is the expression of sexual feelings. ... Romantic love is a form of love that is often regarded as different from simply sexual love, or lust. ...
Forms of poly relationships, described in more detail at their respective pages, include:
group marriage (also termed polygynandry), in which several people form a single family unit, with all considered to be married to one another
PolyFamilies, similar to group marriage, but some members may not consider themselves married to all other members
polyamory, in which participants have multiple romantic partners
polyfidelity, in which participants have multiple partners but restrict sexual activity to within a certain group
open relationships, in which one or both members of a committed couple are sexually active with other partners; in particular, open marriage
swinging, similar to open relationships, but commonly conducted as an organised social activity
group sex and orgies involving more than two participants at the same time
ménage à trois, a sexual (or sometimes domestic) arrangement involving three people
Many of these terms are flexible in definition, because the boundaries between sexual attraction and romantic love are not sharply defined. In addition, usage creates distinctions beyond the raw definitions of the words. Thus, even though some relationships might technically be considered both polygamous and polyamorous, 'polygamy' usually signifies a codified form of multiple marriage, based on established religious teachings, while 'polyamory' is based on the preferences of the participants rather than established precedent. The term polygyny (Greek: poly many, gynaika woman) is used in related ways in social anthropology and sociobiology. ... In social anthropology and sociobiology, polyandry (Greek: poly many, andras man) generally means a woman marrying more than one man. ... Polygamy, literally many marriages in ancient Greek, is a marital practice in which a person has more than one spouse simultaneously (as opposed to monogamy where each person has a maximum of one spouse at any one time). ... Plural marriage is a sort of polygamy (more specifically a form of polygyny) formerly practiced by some members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during the Churchs 19th century founding days and currently practiced by some of the smaller mormon sects. ... The Salt Lake City temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the largest attraction in the citys Temple Square. ... Group marriage is a form of marriage in which more than one man and more than one woman form a family unit, and all members of the marriage share parental responsibility for any children arising from the marriage. ... PolyFamilies are polyamorous families. ... Start of polyamory contingent at San Francisco Pride 2004. ... Polyfidelity is restricting ones sexual activities nonpreferentially to a single group of people, each of whom follows the same rules and has sex only within the group. ... An open marriage is a marriage where both parties agree that they are permitted the right to have sexual relationships outside the marriage, without regarding this as sexual infidelity. ... Swinging, sometimes referred to in North America as the swinging lifestyle or simply the lifestyle (although this simplified term is also used by people into Leather and BDSM), includes a wide range of sexual activities conducted between three or more people. ... Group sex is sexual behaviour involving more than two people at the same time. ... Orgy has several meanings, including a drunken revelry, a religious rite involving ecstatic dancing, an unrestrained indulgence (for example, an orgy of destruction), or group sexual activity. ... A ménage à trois (also sometimes known as a trio, threesome, or three-way) is a sexual relationship involving three people. ...
The term 'poly relationship' is generally used only where all participants acknowledge the relationship as nonmonogamous. Thus, it is not applied where one person has multiple partners due to infidelity. In a religious context, infidelity is lack of the faith that a religion requires; one who lacks such faith is an infidel. ...
Most people, including sex therapists, are raised to regard nonmonogamy as sinful or destructive and are reluctant to acknowledge that sexual openness can work quite well for many couples provided that conflicts arising from jealousy and other issues are adequately anticipated and addressed.
Nonmonogamy tends to be more common among gay male couples and also tends to be more successful.
Just as nonmonogamy is a common issue for many gay male couples, lesbian couples often suffer from fusion or the existence of such intense closeness and intimacy that the individual identities of the two women become completely submerged in the couple (Nichols, 1990,1988).
In general, because problems about monogamy and nonmonogamy appear to arise from the gendered constitution of sexual relations and personal identity, it may seem that their solution is for women to become stronger, more autonomous individuals, with a better-defined sense of who they are, independent of those to whom they relate.
The solution to conflict about nonmonogamy, it may therefore seem, is for women to opt for the culturally masculine avenue of developing a strong, self-sufficient, independent identity, which does not incorporate the selves of sexual partners.
The ideology of nonmonogamy also assumes, without much justification, that sexual desires themselves are entirely unbidden and unchosen, that people cannot help how they feel sexually for other people, and that they have no liberty to direct and redirect the sexual focus of their attention.
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