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Non-monogamy
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== Major forms of non-monogamy == In the Western world, from a legal perspective, marrying more than one person is not permitted, as the law recognises only monogamous marriage—a union between two individuals.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Witte |first=John Jr |title=The Western Case for Monogamy over Polygamy |date=2015 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=9781316182031}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Barker |first=Nicola |date=2018-11-13 |title=The Evolution of Marriage and Relationship Recognition in Western Jurisdictions |journal=UN Women Discussion Papers |doi=10.18356/1c046084-en |isbn=978-92-1-047602-7 |issn=2521-6112}}</ref> However, in many other regions, particularly Muslim-majority countries, polygamy is legally recognized and culturally normalized.<ref name=Purwanto>{{Cite journal |last1=Purwanto |first1=Muhammad Roy |last2=Mukharrom |first2=Tamyiz |last3=Syibly |first3=M. Roem |last4=Nurozi |first4=Ahmad |date=2021 |title=Polygamy in Muslim Countries: A Comparative Study in Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia |journal=Advances in Economics, Business and Management Research |series=Proceedings of the 2nd Southeast Asian Academic Forum on Sustainable Development (SEA-AFSID 2018) |volume=168 |location=Paris, France |publisher=Atlantis Press |isbn=978-94-6239-347-9 |doi=10.2991/aebmr.k.210305.082|doi-access=free }}</ref> Another key characteristic that distinguishes different forms of nonmonogamous relationships is whether they are practiced with the knowledge and consent of all involved parties. These distinctions allow non-monogamy to be broadly categorised into three major forms: * '''Culturally institutionalised non-monogamy''' refers to legally and culturally sanctioned practices of non-exclusive relationships that are formalised, regulated, and embedded within specific cultural traditions. The most prominent example is [[polygamy]], which includes [[polygyny]] (when a man has more than one wife at the same time), and, less commonly, [[polyandry]] (when a woman has more than one husband), and [[polygynandry]] (a group marriage when more than one husband is married to more than one wife).<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Al-Sharfi |first1=Mohammad |last2=Pfeffer |first2=Karen |last3=Miller |first3=Kirsty A. |title=The effects of polygamy on children and adolescents: A systematic review |journal=Journal of Family Studies |date=2016-09-01 |volume=22 |issue=3 |pages=272–286 |doi=10.1080/13229400.2015.1086405 |issn=1322-9400}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Goodwin |first=Robin |title=Personal Relationships Across Cultures |date=2013-05-13 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-203-43416-1 |edition=1st |language=en |doi=10.4324/9780203434161}}</ref> Other culturally embedded practices, such as [[Nikah mut'ah|temporary marriages]] (e.g., ''Nikah Mut'ah'' in Shia Islam), may also fall under this category.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hasannia |first1=Ali |chapter=Temporary Marriage Among Shiite and Sunni Muslims: Comparative Study of 'Istimtā', Mut'ah, and Misyār |date=2021 |title=Temporary and Child Marriages in Iran and Afghanistan |pages=31–45 |editor-last=Hosseini |editor-first=S. Behnaz |place=Singapore |publisher=Springer Singapore |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-981-33-4469-3_2 |isbn=978-981-334-468-6 |last2=Masoudian |first2=Mostafa}}</ref> * '''Consensual non-monogamy''' (CNM), also known as ethical non-monogamy (ENM), refers to a relationship that explicitly allows for extra-dyadic romantic or sexual relationships.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Conley |first1=Terri D. |last2=Ziegler |first2=Ali |last3=Moors |first3=Amy C. |last4=Matsick |first4=Jes L. |last5=Valentine |first5=Brandon |date=May 2013 |title=A Critical Examination of Popular Assumptions About the Benefits and Outcomes of Monogamous Relationships |journal=Personality and Social Psychology Review |language=en |volume=17 |issue=2 |pages=124–141 |doi=10.1177/1088868312467087 |pmid=23175520 |issn=1088-8683}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Burleigh |first1=Tyler J. |last2=Rubel |first2=Alicia N. |last3=Meegan |first3=Daniel V. |date=2017-04-03 |title=Wanting 'the whole loaf': zero-sum thinking about love is associated with prejudice against consensual non-monogamists |journal=Psychology & Sexuality |language=en |volume=8 |issue=1–2 |pages=24–40 |doi=10.1080/19419899.2016.1269020 |issn=1941-9899}}</ref> Consensual non-monogamy can take many different forms, depending on the needs and preferences of the individuals involved in specific relationships. The most studied and prevalent forms of consensual non-monogamy are [[Swinging (sexual practice)|swinging]], [[polyamory]], and [[open relationship]]s.<ref name=Richards-Barker>{{Cite book |last1=Richards |first1=Christina |url=https://sk.sagepub.com/Books/sexuality-and-gender-for-mental-health-professionals |title=Sexuality and Gender for Mental Health Professionals: A Practical Guide |last2=Barker |first2=Meg |date=2013 |publisher=SAGE Publications Ltd |isbn=978-0-85702-843-3 |location=London |doi=10.4135/9781473957817}}</ref><ref name=Rubel-Bogaert>{{Cite journal |last1=Rubel |first1=Alicia N. |last2=Bogaert |first2=Anthony F. |date=2015-11-22 |title=Consensual Nonmonogamy: Psychological Well-Being and Relationship Quality Correlates |journal=[[The Journal of Sex Research]] |language=en |volume=52 |issue=9 |pages=961–982 |doi=10.1080/00224499.2014.942722 |issn=0022-4499 |pmid=25189189}}</ref> In a swinging relationship a couple tend to engage in sexual activities with people other than their primary partner, typically at a party or in another social settings.<ref name="Matsick 339–348">{{Cite journal |last1=Matsick |first1=Jes L. |last2=Conley |first2=Terri D. |last3=Ziegler |first3=Ali |last4=Moors |first4=Amy C. |last5=Rubin |first5=Jennifer D. |date=2014-10-02 |title=Love and sex: polyamorous relationships are perceived more favourably than swinging and open relationships |journal=Psychology & Sexuality |language=en |volume=5 |issue=4 |pages=339–348 |doi=10.1080/19419899.2013.832934 |issn=1941-9899}}</ref> Polyamorous relationships are those in which people experience both sexual and emotional relationships with multiple partners concurrently, placing emphasis on a romantic and emotional aspects of the relationship, rather than on strictly sexual.<ref name="Matsick 339–348" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Grunt-Mejer |first1=Katarzyna |last2=Campbell |first2=Christine |date=2016-01-02 |title=Around Consensual Nonmonogamies: Assessing Attitudes Toward Nonexclusive Relationships |journal=The Journal of Sex Research |volume=53 |issue=1 |pages=45–53 |doi=10.1080/00224499.2015.1010193 |issn=0022-4499 |pmid=26241075 |url=https://research.stmarys.ac.uk/id/eprint/858/1/Grunt-Meyer%20%26%20Campbell%202015.pdf |language=en}}</ref> An open relationship is a relationship arrangement in which one or both partners seek sexual relationships independently of each other.<ref name="Matsick 339–348" /> Some authors suggest the concept of [[relationship anarchy]], which describes intimate relationships characterised by principles aligned with anarchism, that include autonomy, the rejection of hierarchies, the absence of state intervention, rejection of societal norms, and a focus on community interdependence.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nordgren |first=Andie |date=2006 |title=The short instructional manifesto for relationship anarchy |url=https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/andie-nordgren-the-short-instructional-manifesto-for-relationship-anarchy |access-date=2024-04-04 |website=The Anarchist Library |language=en}}</ref> Unlike culturally institutionalised non-monogamy, CNM typically exists outside legal frameworks, as it does not involve formal marriage to multiple partners, but relies on mutual consent. * '''Secretive non-monogamy''' (or '''non-consensual non-monogamy'''), commonly known as [[infidelity]] or cheating, refers to a situation in which one or both partners in a committed relationship engage in secret extra-dyadic sexual or romantic relationships with one or more additional partners, without the knowledge or consent of the other partner/s.<ref name=Rubel-Bogaert/><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Kelberga (Kelberg) |first1=Anna |last2=Martinsone |first2=Baiba |date=2022-09-21 |title=Motivation of non-monogamous adults to engage in sex with their different partners |journal=Frontiers in Psychology |volume=13 |doi=10.3389/fpsyg.2022.961949 |doi-access=free |issn=1664-1078 |pmc=9533024 |pmid=36211920}}</ref> It is important to note that the above-described categories are not mutually exclusive or collectively exhaustive as individual experiences often diverge from standard definitions due to the intricate nuances inherent in the complexity of human sexual relationships.<ref name="Matsick 339–348" /><ref name=":12">{{Cite journal |last1=Scoats |first1=Ryan |last2=Campbell |first2=Christine |date=December 2022 |title=What do we know about consensual non-monogamy? |journal=Current Opinion in Psychology |language=en |volume=48 |pages=101468 |doi=10.1016/j.copsyc.2022.101468 |doi-access=free |pmid=36215906}}</ref> The fluid and complex nature of human sexual and romantic relationships allows for diverse expressions that may not fit neatly into a single category, with subtle nuances often blurring the boundaries between these forms.<ref name=":2"/><ref name=Richards-Barker/><ref name="Matsick 339–348"/>
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