Wanting ‘the whole loaf’

Zero-sum thinking about love is associated with prejudice against consensual non-monogamists

Bibliographic Data

ID12978554
AuthorsTyler J Burleigh, Tyler Burleigh (University of Guelph, corresponding author), Alicia N Rubel (Brock University), Daniel V Meegan (University of Guelph)
Year2016
Volume8
Issue1-2
Pages24-40
Publication date2016-12-14
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenuePsychology and Sexuality (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1941-9902 • E-ISSN: 1941-9899
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/19419899.2016.1269020
OpenAlexW2564670020
LanguageEN
Citations received20
References cited33

Consensual non-monogamy (CNM) is a relationship in which individuals agree that romantic or sexual relationships with others are permissible or desirable (e.g. polyamory or open relationships). Although anti-CNM prejudice is prevalent, it is not well understood. We propose that one of the bases of anti-CNM prejudice is zero-sum thinking about love – the perception that one person’s love gained is another’s love lost. We outline our theory and then present three studies that test our predictions. In these studies, participants read a vignette that depicted characters who were in a CNM or monogamous relationship, and then judged aspects of the characters and their relationship. In Study 1, participants who read the CNM vignette judged the protagonist’s love for their initial romantic partner before and after they became involved with a second partner. Zero-sum thinking was operationally defined as the within-subject change in love ratings. In Studies 2 and 3, participants rated their agreement with items from a new preliminary measure of zero-sum romantic beliefs. We measured CNM devaluation by asking for ratings of the relationships and of individuals in the relationships. Supporting our predictions, in all three studies we found that zero-sum thinking about love was associated with increased CNM devaluation. We end by briefly discussing the implications of our findings

Developmental psychology · Perception · Prejudice (legal term · Psychoanalysis · Romance · Vignette · Zero (linguistics · LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy · Marriage and Sexual Relationships · Psychology · Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology · Social Psychology