We present the results of an investigation into the biographies, letters, and archives of approximately 50 well-known figures in Western intellectual and artistic history in the post-Enlightenment era. In this article, in the interest of space, we have limited our remarks to the biographies and partners of Virginia Woolf, Frida Kahlo, Max Weber, Edna St. Vincent Millay, William Moulton Marston, Erwin Schrodinger, and Victor Hugo. While some of these non-monogamous relationships are well known, some of the evidence of their existence has been ignored, misrecognized, or intentionally obscured. The results of this survey demonstrate that contemporary patterns of non-monogamies are deeply rooted in historical precedence. Our hope is that by outlining some of the themes in our historical findings we can help modern researchers better interpret their own quantitative and qualitative research. Additionally, we look particularly closely at relationships between metamours. A great deal of previous psychological and sexological research has focused on competitive behavior in sex and relationships, particularly competition between rivals. However, relatively little attention has been given to collaborative (or symbiotic) behavior. Our research has located a wealth of examples of metamours supporting one another in material, social, and psychological ways throughout their lives. Furthermore, we suggest that while our existing societal and social-scientific norms primarily focus on competitive sexual behaviors, much can be learnt from historically documented practices of consensual non-monogamy. These practices—however flawed—point to potentially emancipatory ways of living, loving and building relationships, families, and communities—as some contemporary research has demonstrated. Moreover, a future world might benefit from a turn to far more collaborative relationships—and such behavior is well within the realm of possibility.

我们展示了对后启蒙时代西方知识和艺术史上大约 50 位知名人物的传记、信件和档案的调查结果。在本文中，为了节省篇幅，我们将评论限制在弗吉尼亚·伍尔夫、弗里达·卡罗、马克斯·韦伯、埃德娜·圣文森特·米莱、威廉·莫尔顿·马斯顿、欧文·薛定谔和维克多·雨果的传记和合作伙伴上。虽然这些非一夫一妻制关系中的一些是众所周知的，但它们存在的一些证据却被忽视、误认或故意掩盖。这项调查的结果表明，当代的非一夫一妻制模式深深植根于历史先例。我们希望通过概述我们历史发现中的一些主题，我们可以帮助现代研究人员更好地解释他们自己的定量和定性研究。此外，我们特别密切地关注元摩之间的关系。以前的大量心理学和性学研究都集中在性和关系中的竞争行为，特别是竞争对手之间的竞争。然而，对协作（或共生）行为的关注相对较少。我们的研究发现了大量的异恋者在他们的一生中以物质、社会和心理方式相互支持的例子。此外，我们建议虽然我们现有的社会和社会科学规范主要关注竞争性性行为，从历史记载的非一夫一妻制的自愿做法中可以学到很多东西。这些做法——无论多么有缺陷——都指向了潜在的解放生活方式、爱和建立关系、家庭和社区——正如一些当代研究所证明的那样。此外，未来世界可能会受益于转向更加协作的关系——这种行为完全在可能性范围内。