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Category: Project

Description: Consensual Non-Monogamy (CNM) is a non-normative relationship that can generally be defined as relationships in which the involved individuals have openly agreed that they can have other sexual and/or affective partners. Despite growing interest in CNM, little research has been conducted regarding characteristics of the involved individuals, as well as comparing CNM individuals and monogamous individuals’ characteristics. Expanding this research is important, as CNM constitutes a sizeable minority group, and CNM individuals and relationships are subject to stigma and dehumanization. The present study compares CNM and monogamous individuals in terms of personality (including dark personality) and mating orientations (sociosexuality and long-term mating) in young Spanish university students. Main results indicate that CNM individuals do not differ much in personality, nor are they prone to higher dark personality traits when compared to monogamous individuals. Regarding mating orientations, CNM people are prone to higher sociosexuality levels and lower levels of long-term mating. Interestingly, results show positive correlations between sociosexuality and dark personality in monogamous individuals, but this is uncertain in CNM individuals. In conclusion, young Spanish university CNM individuals seem to be more pro-sex than monogamous people and less committed to the romantic love narrative of long-term mating, but these individuals are not more untrustworthy, self-centered, ruthless, or malevolent. Results are also discussed regarding their implications in the stigma and dehumanization of CNM people.