5 main myths about polyamory

First, let’s explain what polyamory is. Suddenly you thought it was some skin disease or Mediterranean algae. Polyamory is a system of relationships between a man and a woman, in which romantic relationships with other people are allowed with the mutual consent of partners. Not to be confused with polygamy, which is essentially polygamy or polyandry. And of course, polyamory differs from ordinary betrayal since there is no agreement between partners in the latter, and the love affair with an outsider or outsider is carefully hidden.

That is, in a polyamorous relationship, for example, a woman not only knows that her partner is walking to the left but, as a rule, encourages his love expeditions. Supporters of this concept argue that such a democracy can strengthen relationships since they are built on trust and mutual respect.

As you can imagine, polyamory causes a lot of ethical controversies, dividing society into its supporters and opponents. And the latter has developed several myths regarding this form of relationship. We do not take sides, but we only want to debunk some of these myths to explain this social phenomenon to some extent.

High likelihood of contracting HIV

Back in the 70s in the West, there was an explosion in the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and in the 80s, this led to horrifying statistics. Back then, researchers found that the risk of contracting AIDS was higher in those who have many s3x partners. Nevertheless, a lot has changed since then, and the level of public awareness and medical methods of combating the disease has led to its partial containment.

But the love of people to have multiple s3xual partners has just remained the same. This makes the statistics even more interesting, indicating that polyamory has lower rates of STI infection than monogamous who cheat on each other. This is because polyamory is well aware of infection risk and, therefore, is more likely to visit a doctor for preventive purposes regularly.

Lack of relationship satisfaction

Another common misconception regarding polyamory couples. It seems to many that since partners need relationships with other people, they are not completely satisfied with each other. The degree of satisfaction in a relationship depends on your expectations, and how well you live with your partner matches them.

Simply put, if you get that portion of freedom you need in your relationship, you will feel accordingly. For example, if a person is monogamous by nature, then he doesn’t need to have connections on the side to be happier in a relationship. The same is the case with polyamory. Their loyalty to new romances is not a sign of dissatisfaction with the main partner but an integral part of the conditional family code.

Polyamorous relationships are bad for children

This myth is also fairly common among opponents of polyamorous relationships. This is not to say that polyamory is the ideal environment for raising children. But the likelihood that children will be unhappy in ordinary families is no lower than in a similar situation among polyamorous. In any pair, there are common problems for everyone.

In this sense, neither polyamorous nor monogamous are immune from marital hardships that can harm relationships. For example, the likelihood that a child will live in an incomplete family with one of the parents in a monogamous couple is not lower, if not higher, than in a polyamorous one. And in general, according to statistics, people in polyamorous relationships feel happier, which means that potentially more comfortable conditions will be created for their children.

No strings attached

It’s hard to believe that there can be any commitment or spousal commitment in a relationship that allows s3x on the side. But the fact is that the latter is not directly related to sexual fidelity. The essence of polyamory is to have multiple s3x partners at the same time without destroying the marriage.

For polyamory, the safety of relations with their main partner is paramount, and therefore it is easier for them to make compromises. By allowing freedom in their personal lives, they consistently show respect for mutual needs and arguments and dialogue. For polyamory, the main thing is the feeling of comfort for oneself and one’s partner.

This is a kind of egoistic altruism, where both have equal freedom, which means they are always equal rights. Suppose for monogamous couples, the integrity of the family is the most important thing, and they are ready to sacrifice their happiness for this. In that case, polyamory, in this sense, are more honest with themselves, and therefore their marriage may have some conventions. Still, in essence, it is the same marriage, only with happy people.

Polyamorous relationships are not long-lasting

The emergence of this myth is most likely due to an attempt to comprehend such a marginal relationship through the traditional perception of ordinary people. “Well, since polyamorous so easily associate themselves with others, it means that they are frivolous and their affairs are not long-lasting.”

The strength of a marriage depends on how its participants feel about it. And in this sense, even adherents of monogamy cannot be insured against short relationships if they were not initially ready for them. It must be understood that polyamory is an adherent of this form of relationship precisely because of its devotion to a partner.

You don’t have to be in a relationship to walk to the left. Since polyamory does this, it means that he recognizes the value of his union, and open connections on the side are a manifestation of honesty towards a partner so that the relationship with him lasts longer. To some extent, polyamory is much more honest than those who support monogamy, which shakes the foundation of their relationship by secret betrayal. Whether the union of a polyamorous couple is much stronger than a traditional one, it is impossible to say for certain. But the fact that it is no less durable is for sure.