Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Relationship Formation02:12

Relationship Formation

40.0K
What do you think is the single most influential factor in determining with whom you become friends and whom you form romantic relationships? You might be surprised to learn that the answer is simple: the people with whom you have the most contact. This most important factor is proximity. You are more likely to be friends with people you have regular contact with. For example, there are decades of research that shows that you are more likely to become friends with people who live in your dorm,...
40.0K
Social Exchange Theory02:06

Social Exchange Theory

34.5K
We have discussed why we form relationships, what attracts us to others, and different types of love. But what determines whether we are satisfied with and stay in a relationship? One theory that provides an explanation is social exchange theory. According to social exchange theory, we act as naïve economists in keeping a tally of the ratio of costs and benefits of forming and maintaining a relationship with others (Rusbult & Van Lange, 2003).
34.5K
Secondary Motives: Affiliation Motivation and Aggression Motivation01:21

Secondary Motives: Affiliation Motivation and Aggression Motivation

337
Affiliation motivation is the intrinsic desire to connect with others and belong to a social group, which plays a crucial role in forming and maintaining personal relationships. This type of motivation is essential for psychological well-being, as it provides individuals with a sense of community and support. An example of this is a student who joins a study group in order to feel a sense of connection. People with high affiliation motivation actively seek social approval, take satisfaction in...
337
Sternberg's Triangular Theory of Love02:15

Sternberg's Triangular Theory of Love

39.5K
We typically love the people with whom we form relationships, but the type of love we have for our family, friends, and lovers differs. Robert Sternberg (1986) proposed that there are three components of love: intimacy, passion, and commitment. These three components form a triangle that defines multiple types of love: this is known as Sternberg’s triangular theory of love. Intimacy is the sharing of details and intimate thoughts and emotions. Passion is the physical attraction—the...
39.5K
Primary Motives: Sleep, Sex, and Pain Avoidance01:24

Primary Motives: Sleep, Sex, and Pain Avoidance

653
Primary motives such as sleep, sex, and pain avoidance are crucial drivers of behavior in humans and animals. These motives ensure survival, reproductive success, and overall well-being by prompting actions that meet essential bodily needs.
Sleep is a fundamental physiological drive that fosters a state of restfulness crucial for several bodily functions. It facilitates body restoration, the process by which the body repairs, rejuvenates, and maintains itself during sleep, including memory...
653
Egoism and Altruism01:55

Egoism and Altruism

92.0K
Voluntary behavior with the intent to help other people is called prosocial behavior. Why do people help other people? Is personal benefit such as feeling good about oneself the only reason people help one another?
92.0K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Workplace Harassment of Transgender People: A Narrative Review.

Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland)·2026
Same author

"I Know How to Identify and Communicate My Needs": A Qualitative Study of the Self-Perceived Strengths of People in Polyamorous Relationships.

Journal of marital and family therapy·2026
Same author

Beliefs About the Precarity of Manhood and Violence Against Women: A Cross-Cultural Exploration.

Journal of interpersonal violence·2025
Same author

Revisiting the Five Love Languages Framework: Toward a More Flexible Model of Love Expression.

Journal of marital and family therapy·2025
Same author

How Many Love Languages Are There? Examining Chapman's Five Love Languages Using a Bottom-Up Approach.

Journal of marital and family therapy·2025
Same author

Polyamorous Individuals' Jealous and Compersive Responses to Their Partner's New Relationship Energy: The Role of Mindfulness, Emotion Regulation, Distress Tolerance, and Empathy.

Journal of marital and family therapy·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 8, 2025

The HoneyComb Paradigm for Research on Collective Human Behavior
06:48

The HoneyComb Paradigm for Research on Collective Human Behavior

Published on: January 19, 2019

9.4K

Initial Motivations for Engaging in Polyamorous Relationships.

Alexander K Tatum1, Sharon M Flicker2, Imara Peralta3

  • 1Department of Counseling Psychology, Social Psychology, and Counseling, Ball State University, 1613 W Riverside Ave., Muncie, IN, 47303, USA. atatum@bsu.edu.

Archives of Sexual Behavior
|December 15, 2023
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This study explores why people choose polyamory, a relationship style involving multiple consensual partners. Key motivations include aligning values, relationship dynamics, external influences, and personal sexuality.

Keywords:
Consensual non-monogamyMotivationPolyamoryPolyculesSelf-determination theory

More Related Videos

Observation and Quantification of Mating Behavior in the Pinewood Nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus
09:55

Observation and Quantification of Mating Behavior in the Pinewood Nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus

Published on: December 25, 2016

9.5K
A Conflict Model of Reward-seeking Behavior in Male Rats
06:11

A Conflict Model of Reward-seeking Behavior in Male Rats

Published on: February 20, 2019

7.5K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 8, 2025

The HoneyComb Paradigm for Research on Collective Human Behavior
06:48

The HoneyComb Paradigm for Research on Collective Human Behavior

Published on: January 19, 2019

9.4K
Observation and Quantification of Mating Behavior in the Pinewood Nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus
09:55

Observation and Quantification of Mating Behavior in the Pinewood Nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus

Published on: December 25, 2016

9.5K
A Conflict Model of Reward-seeking Behavior in Male Rats
06:11

A Conflict Model of Reward-seeking Behavior in Male Rats

Published on: February 20, 2019

7.5K

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Relationship Science

Background:

  • Polyamory is a relationship style involving consensual engagement with multiple partners.
  • Practitioners often report higher satisfaction and less jealousy than other consensual non-monogamy (CNM) styles.
  • Unique motivations for polyamory remain underexplored compared to general CNM motivations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the specific motivations of individuals engaging in polyamory.
  • To identify and categorize the primary drivers leading to polyamorous relationship engagement.
  • To contribute to a deeper understanding of polyamory within the broader context of relationship science.

Main Methods:

  • The study analyzed open-ended responses from 63 U.S. adults with experience in consensual polyamory.
  • Thematic analysis was employed to identify recurring patterns in participants' motivations.
  • Data focused on initial motivations for engaging in polyamorous relationships.

Main Results:

  • Four primary themes emerged: values alignment, relationship factors, external triggers, and sexuality.
  • Values alignment reflects a desire for relationships congruent with personal ethics.
  • Relationship factors encompass dynamics within existing or desired partnerships.

Conclusions:

  • Motivations for polyamory are multifaceted, extending beyond simple relationship structures.
  • Understanding these unique drivers is crucial for future research on polyamory outcomes.
  • Findings inform self-determination theory and the existing body of CNM research.