Critical incidents that help and hinder the development and maintenance of polyamorous relationships. Issue 4 (2nd October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Duplassie, Danielle; Fairbrother, Nichole
• Is Part Of: Sexual and relationship therapy. Volume 33:Issue 4(2018)
• Page Start: 421
• Page End: 439
• Publication Date: 2018-10-02
• Subjects: Polyamory -- relationship development -- relationship maintenance -- critical incidents; Sex therapy -- Periodicals; Marital psychotherapy -- Periodicals; 616.6906
• DOI: 10.1080/14681994.2016.1213804
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1468-1994

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This study explored the critical incidents that facilitated and hindered the development and maintenance of polyamorous relationships. The first author conducted semi-structured, open-ended interviews with eleven people who had been in a polyamorous relational dynamic for a minimum of one year in the two years prior. Participants were asked to report the critical incidents that helped or hindered their ability and/or desire to develop and/or maintain the relationship. Flanagan's (1954) Critical Incident Technique was the chosen method for gathering and analyzing the data. Of the 1398 incidents that were elicited, 832 were found to be helpful to participants' ability or desire to develop and maintain polyamory, while 566 were found to be hindering of participants' ability or desire to develop and maintain polyamory. The results indicate that polyamory can be facilitated by clear communication; having access to adequate support and resources; having beliefs and experiences that are beyond mainstream culture; embracing sexuality; finding the right people to be in relationship with; processing difficult emotions; having a desire for variety in relationships; addressing practical needs; having spiritual beliefs that align with polyamory; and experiencing fun and excitement through polyamory. Benefits and limitations of the study are discussed, as well as suggestions for future research.