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Differences and Similarities in Sexual Attitudes, Opinions, and Sociosexual Orientation Based on Relationship Orientation
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Description: Consensual non-monogamy (CNM) has become increasingly visible in public and academic discourse. CNM is an umbrella term for relationship orientations that differ based on the degree to which consensual sexual and emotional needs are fulfilled outside of a dyad. Despite the diversity of CNM relationship orientations and the growing research examining CNM, it is unclear whether the sexual attitudes, inclination to approach or avoid sexual stimuli (i.e., erotophobia-erotophilia), and sociosexuality of individuals differ among individuals who identify with distinct CNM relationship. Further, as the agreements made in CNM relationships permit for extradyadic relationships, important differences might emerge for those who identify as CNM compared to monogamous individuals. A convenience sample (N = 641) of individuals who self-identified as monogamous (n = 447), open (n = 80), polyamorous (n = 62), or swinger (n = 52) provided ratings of their sexual attitudes, erotophobia-erotophilia, and sociosexuality. Results indicated that swingers had the most permissive and instrumental sexual attitudes, were the most erotophilic, and were the most unrestricted sexually. Conversely, monogamists scored the lowest on these traits. No differences emerged between relationship orientations for attitudes towards communion and birth control. These findings have important implications for sexuality research because they reinforce the view that some underlying differences and similarities exist between monogamous and CNM individuals.